http://www.statenews.com Two incidents where men were badly beaten in East Lansing’s downtown last month still remain under investigation as the East Lansing Police Department looks for potential suspects. en-us Gryphon 2.2.3b-tsn (woodward)/Foundry5 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:23:02 -0500 webmaster@statenews.com http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48175 “Police are not releasing a description of the attackers” I wonder why… Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:56:29 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48175 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48178 I wonder why they are talking about homeless people at the end of the article if the attackers got out of cars. Do East Lansing homeless own cars? And travel in packs, attacking people for seemingly no reason (not even taking their money)? Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:43:40 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48178 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48181 If you had seen the trauma caused by these acts of calculated brutality, where weapons were used, you would NEVER walk alone in East Lansing, and you would always be prepared to use your pepper spray. This is a warning to people who ignore their surroundings, by listening to their iPods. This was an extremely violent crime on to RANDOM citizens. We must be more cautious! A CCW is a must, where martial law is imminent. SB. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:50:40 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48181 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48185 I severely question the State News’ motive in writing this article. I agree with the above posted. What the hell does the homeless population have to do with this attack. Clearly this was not a group of SUV driving homeless dudes. RELEASE THE DESCRIPTION. If the attackers were white say so. If they were black say so. Have some integrity please. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:19:56 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48185 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48188 “But Alexander said there occasionally are homeless people in the area at night or the morning and the neighborhood can be a little scary.” Really State News? That is pathetic. This obviously has nothing to do with homeless people and putting that in there is an implicit assertion that they are the problem. Again, as an MSU student who walks frequently by these areas where the attacks occured: PRINT THE DESCRIPTION SO STUDENTS CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES! Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:57:42 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48188 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48196 I agree. The inclusion of the homeless in this story when the attack was perpetrated by SUV-owning sadistic thugs was pointless and distracting. If the police do not apprehend these jerks soon, then a description should be provided so that community members can be watchful. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:15:22 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48196 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48198 I hope readers are aware that if they hold a CPL and own a rifle with a folding stock, (AKM, AR15) it can be legally carried concealed in a backpack. NOT ON CAMPUS. *not legal advice Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:49:34 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48198 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48205 Also, did anyone notice that the article says that the first victim’s face was badly beaten, but he didn’t see the attackers? 1. How would he not see the attackers if he had been beaten in the face and 2. Why wouldn’t the police or SN investigate that or at least want to know why he didn’t see the attackers if he was attacked in the face. I would appreciate better attention to detail. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:08:36 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48205 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48206 Just to reiterate what’s already been said: Also, EL police, why wouldn’t you want to have help in catching the assailants? And why mention the homeless? Dropping that in there implies that all homeless people are bad and would DRIVE up in a car and attack people. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:11:18 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48206 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48213 To Ryan: he didn’t see the attackers b/c he was hit in the head from behind first and knocked out. He wasn’t conscious for the rest of the atack. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:39:26 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48213 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48220 of the quotes that you print, statenews. The homeless remark is definitely uncalled for and irrelevant. Also, did anyone else notice that it gives us the area that one of the quoted students lives, and then quotes him telling us how “easy” it would be to break in? Not too smart. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:28:22 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48220 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48224 Come to East Lansing and hide out. Don’t have to worry about being caught, the only ones who know what you look like are the police and you can see them coming a mile away! WHAT KIND OF MORONS ARE IN CHARGE HERE!! You not only put 40,000 students in possible jepordy but you take away 80,000 eyes that could assist in capture…PRINT THE TRUTH, WHAT ARE YOU MORONS THINKING??? Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:44:57 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48224 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48228 sounds more like a battery than an assault. An assault does not involve the physical touching of another. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:10:07 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48228 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48230 The description of three of the assailants are: *Suspect #1” Black Male 5’11” 197lbs Short hair w/goatee last seen wearing blue jeans and green hooded sweatshirt *Suspect #2” White Male 6’4” 220lbs Long curly black hair, ear ring Last seen wearing gray jogging pants with a black hooded sweatshirt *Suspect #3” Asian Male 5’4” 125lbs brown eyes, shoulder length black hair last seen wearing black jeans, with a black coat (w/a fur hood) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:21:07 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48230 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48233 There are several reason why you don’t print the name of the suspects/assailants. First, what good does it do if all the police or victim know about the suspects is that they were a group of all black guys, or all white guys, or a mix of black and asian, or white and hispanic? Are you going to avoid all groups of black people? Are you going to avoid groups of all white people? How about blacks and hispanics? whites and asians? It’s not going to work because you still stand the chance of being victimized, and likely by someone you know. Another reason for not printing the description is that it is a matter of journalistic ethics for largely the same reason as above. It makes no sense to promote panic amongst the people. Rather, encourage vigilance. I know most of the people here are thinking that it was a group of black guys from lansing that did this, and it may very well have been. But, the MSU student population is very diverse so don’t be so naive to believe that avoiding certain segments of the population will keep you absolutely safe. As I said above, be vigilant of your surroundings and don’t think that because this is a “college town” that senseless crime doesn’t occur. Taking a stab in the dark, I bet this was a gang initiation. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:27:55 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48233 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48236 Are those descriptions real? That post is not helpful at all if they’re not and will only lead to further confusion. Knowing the suspects descriptions may not be helpful (without sketches at least), but random, brutal acts of violence need to be reported to the public. Definitely another reminder not to walk around anywhere at night alone, whether you’re female or male. At the same time, EL residents need to stand up and speak out against this type of violence. Whether these attackers were MSU students, EL residents, or from outside of town, this is unacceptable. The longer we are complacent about violence in our communities, the worse it will get for all of us. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:40:26 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48236 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48239 ELPD won’t catch these guys, that’d be work that actually SERVEd and PROTECTed the public. I bet you could find multiple people that were issued parking tickets by PACE within one block and 15 minutes of the attacks. That area of East Lansing is THE PRIME region of downtown EL for off-campus students. I live there. This happens unreported a lot more than you’d like to know about. Outsiders know this, too. The one minor miracle in all of this is that it happened to men instead of women. There are a half dozen sororities within two blocks of where this happened. And State News: that whole homeless part was absurd. I guarantee you they are on the receiving end of random beatings a lot more than the dishing end. Regardless, that was just poor journalism. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:20:20 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48239 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48249 @disappointed: that is my point exactly. Descriptions won’t help in a situation like this unless they are actually able to help people describe an assailant (I.e the bad guy had a scar on his face, etc.). To release info that describes a person’s race alone or even also their height (unles it’s unusual, like they’re exceptionally tall or exceptionally short) isn’t productive. The ELPD, as much as some people may not appreciate them, realizes that and is trying not to promote unfounded panic. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:21:23 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48249 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48257 The police don’t want to ‘promote’ unfounded panic? If only every newspaper and tv station across the country could do the same…I can see the stories now, ‘old woman was beaten and robbed but the authorities don’t want you to worry, everything is going to be all right’…sounds like a court case taken to the ‘supreme’ level to me. Someone will eventually have to accept responsibility for this action when someone decides to sue for negligence. ‘Unfounded panic?’, everyone is responsible for their own actions…including criminals. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:12:53 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48257 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48273 To the post “do not sound like assaults:” assault can occur with or without battery. It’s still assault. I hope to god you aren’t in law school. If you are thinking of going to law school, re-think your options. Also, here’s a couple lessons to take from this: 1)don’t walk by yourself at 2am even if you think you can “hold your own.” We live in a city with 40,000 students, crime is going to happen. Don’t put yourself in a vulnerable position. 2)Avoid “verbal confrontations” with a car full of strangers at 2 in the morning. nothing good is going to come of it. Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:46:37 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48273 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48601 Maybe if the police would concentrate more of their efforts on crimes of violence instead of making a HUGE deal out of the little stuff (i.e. kids throwing fireworks, personal marijuana use, blowing a .06 after being stopped while walking home),maybe we would all be a little safer. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:55:30 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48601 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48707 “Concentrate on the big stuff!” You could not have said it better. I hope you’re a permanent EL resident with those views! Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:05:39 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48707 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48815 This is ridiculous. Notwithstanding the stupid and groundless attack on MSU’s homeless population at the end of this article, this just highlights how utterly incompetent the MSU and East Lansing Police Departments are at investigating anything that isn’t “did this 18 year get drunk/did this 18 year old smoke weed?” Do something other than generate revenue for the City. Do something with regard to JUSTICE. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:45:05 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48815 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48900 To EL Police: where are you when all this is going on? Start protecting these students instead of focusing on tickets. Safety should be #1 priority – NO EXCEPTIONS. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:23:02 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/48900