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MSU, MDOT partener for road study

Ashley Brown

June 14, 2010

A partnership between MSU and the Michigan Department of Transportation, or MDOT, could bring enhanced awareness of traffic and road conditions to drivers after university research with infrastructure-sensing technology is complete. MSU obtained a three-year grant of $400,000 from the Federal Highway Administration to develop a technology that can track and store data from vehicles by the weight of their loads as they drive over sensors in the roadways.

MSU

Bean grant seeks health gains

Meagan Choi

June 14, 2010

Jim Kelly, a professor in the MSU Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, is a co-principal director of a $4 million project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA, which involves 10 institutions to discover new nutritional benefits of the common bean and provide the corresponding tools for plant breeders. Kelly, whose specialty is dry bean breeding and genetics, said the Common Bean Coordinated Agricultural Project, or BeanCAP, will be identifying and matching genetic markers from different dry bean varieties — such as navy, black, pinto and kidney — to about 15 nutritional characteristics, including anti-cancer properties, vitamins and minerals.

MSU

Link discovered between bipolar disorder, hypertension

Ashley Brown

June 14, 2010

A researcher at MSU has found a link between bipolar disorder and hypertension, which he said could help the treatment for both ailments. Dale D’Mello, an associate professor in the MSU Department of Psychiatry, said patients with bipolar disorder tend to suffer from a higher rate of hypertension, obesity, diabetes and more manic episodes than normal patients.

MSU

Glass artist to be featured at MSU

Andrew Krietz

June 14, 2010

The work of glass artist Craig Mitchell Smith will be featured this Friday through Sunday at the MSU Horticulture Gardens. Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is the theme of the show, with each work crafted specifically with the theme in mind.

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MSU Observatory to host free stargazing

Pat Evans

June 14, 2010

Stargazers will have several opportunities to observe the solar system this summer at the MSU Observatory, located on the corner of Forest and College Roads. The public observings will be offered 9:30-11 p.m. June 18 and 19, and July 16 and 17, if weather conditions permit.

MSU

Program teaches students African languages

Aseel Machi

June 13, 2010

Professors and students from across the country gathered Sunday evening at the International Center for a welcoming reception to the Summer Cooperative African Language Institute, or SCALI, which is being hosted by MSU this year. The SCALI program is an eight-week educational language course that combines class time with extracurricular activities, which aim to immerse the student in the language and culture of an African area, director of the MSU African Students Center James Pritchett said.

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MSU Entomology camp to be held

Andrew Krietz

June 13, 2010

The MSU Department of Entomology’s Bug House is hosting Bug Camp for Kids from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 26 at 147 Natural Science Building. The program for six to 11-year-olds will feature numerous games, hands on activities, bug collecting and arts and crafts.

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Geocaching contest held at MSU garden

Aseel Machi

June 13, 2010

With Global Positioning Systems, or GPS, in hand, groups of East Lansing residents searched the Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden at MSU on Saturday for coordinates to win an annual summer geocaching competition. The summer Garden Geocache Event, hosted by the Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden, sent teams of cache enthusiasts to race to several locations around the garden, with prizes hidden at each place. Created in 2000, geocaching is a way of navigating to various areas with predetermined points using a GPS.

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Archaeology program digs deeper

Anthony Odoardi

June 9, 2010

Students and professors are working to find trash deposits near Beaumont Tower this week in what they said could be the backyard of College Hall, the first hall ever built at MSU. The students are part of the Campus Archaeology Summer Field School, a five-week class designed by the MSU Department of Anthropology and the Campus Archaeology Program, which has excavated several areas on campus to find remnants of historic landmarks.

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Kettering University signs deal with MSU

Emily Wilkins

June 9, 2010

MSU’s College of Human Medicine and Kettering University signed an agreement Tuesday that will reserve spots in the college for eligible Kettering premedical students.Kettering juniors who meet the requirements for the College of Human Medicine will complete their senior year at Kettering before being enrolled in the College of Human Medicine.

MSU

Ice cream social bridges cultural gap

Aseel Machi

June 9, 2010

International students attended the MSU Office for International Students and Scholars, or OISS, Ice Cream Social on Wednesday at the International Center. The social is an informal event attempting to create a bridge of communication between international students and professors.

MSU

MSU farming group 1st of its kind in US, wins award

Meagan Choi

June 9, 2010

About 30 years ago, Eunice Foster saw the low number of minority students in agriculture and natural resource programs, and recognized the necessity of a supporting community. In 1982, Foster, an associate dean in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, or CANR, and director of the MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology, became one of the main founders of the MSU student group Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences, or MANRRS, which was the first of its kind and has been expanded nationally.

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MSU debaters to face Emory University

Ashley Brown

June 9, 2010

Coming off of a victory at a national debate competition, two MSU Honors College debaters are in Washington, D.C., on Thursday to argue nuclear weapons policy against one of the best debate teams in the country. Winning the 2010 National Debate Tournament in March, Carly Wunderlich, a spring 2010 alumna, and international relations senior Eric Lanning are taking part in the Center for Strategic and International Studies public debate against Emory University, which was ranked No. 1 before the national tournament.

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New art sculpture causes controversy

Andrew Krietz

June 9, 2010

A sculpture entitled “The Funambulist” installed last Thursday on the north lawn of Snyder and Phillips halls has drawn mixed feelings from students about its appearance and placement, although officials said the sculpture will remain in place. As of Wednesday, more than 200 people have joined a Facebook pages entitled “Petition to Move the Modern Art Sculpture Behind the MSU Gallery.” The group is an attempt to voice student concerns about how the piece clashes with campus scenery, said theater sophomore Kate Busselle, who created the group.

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MSU to replace dying trees at Demonstration Field

Meagan Choi

June 8, 2010

The treeline around Demonstration Field will undergo some changes next week, as several dying trees will be removed and replaced with a more disease-resistant species of tree, MSU officials said. Twenty-three new trees will be planted after MSU Landscape Services removes 11 dying Norway Maple trees.

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Local theatre to premiere 50th anniversary show

Ashley Brown

June 8, 2010

Summer Circle Theatre will celebrate its 50th anniversary where it all began Wednesday, with a tribute performance of “Blithe Spirit,” the theatre’s first performance. Established in 1961, the theatre is a mix of East Lansing community members and MSU student actors working together to provide outdoor theater performances free of charge.

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MSU study finds eating disorder link in genetics

Ashley Brown

June 7, 2010

The way people with eating disorders are treated could change after a recent study by MSU researchers. Led by Kelly Klump, an associate professor in the MSU Department of Psychology, the study is the first of its kind and has found genetics can influence the development of eating disorders, especially in prepubescent girls with higher levels of estradiol.

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MSU Horticulture Gardens 2010 plant sale raises funds

Meagan Choi

June 6, 2010

The first floor of the Plant and Soil Sciences Building was transformed into a jungle Saturday with hundreds of annuals, perennials, herbs, ornamental grasses and hanging plants at the MSU Horticulture Gardens 2010 Plant Sale. The sale was a fundraiser for the gardens, which are independent from MSU.

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Harrison Avenue road work begins

Pat Evans

June 6, 2010

The first phase of a four-phase project to reconstruct Harrison Avenue is set to begin Monday. Harrison Avenue will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Shaw Lane and Kalamazoo Street. The construction is scheduled to continue until Aug. 20.

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Snyder-Phillips unveils new piece of art

Emily Wilkins

June 3, 2010

A new sculpture was erected Thursday in the north lawn of Snyder and Phillips halls. The sculpture, called “The Funambulist,” which means rope walker, represents the balance college students must maintain.