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MSU

Blood drives planned to combat low levels of donations

Justin Kroll
October 16, 2006

A decline in blood donors during a time when the local American Red Cross says it usually sees its largest amount of donations has Red Cross officials scrambling to find donors. In the last couple of weeks, blood collections decreased by about 70 units a day, which is about 10 percent of the organization's collection goal — especially type O blood. Ann Kammerer, the communication specialist for the Great Lakes Region Blood Services of the American Red Cross, said there are times when not many people are donating blood, but this time of year is expected to be a busy one for donations. "Around summertime and winter holidays, we see less donations because people are on vacations and are unable to make donations," Kammerer said.

MSU

Non-Muslims fast to explore Islam

Lindsay Machak
October 13, 2006

Liz O'Brien isn't Muslim, but she fasted from sunup to sundown on Thursday to learn more about the religion. The interdisciplinary studies in social science sophomore attended a "Fast-A-Thon" in Holmes Hall that was sponsored by the Muslim Students' Association, or MSA.

MSU

U-M holds 'Immigrant Day' event

Steve Eder
October 13, 2006

Correction: The story should have clarified that the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Jamaican Association of Michigan and the Latino Family Services Inc. were co-sponsors of the Prayer For Inclusion. Ann Arbor — About 100 protesters gathered at the heart of University of Michigan's campus Thursday evening, chanting "Go home, YAF" in response to a "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day" event. The event was hosted by U-M's chapter of the Young Americans for Freedom, or YAF, and took place in a commons area on the campus known as The DIAG. Two U-M students were dressed in costume for the event.

MSU

University officials to hire 2 new deans by end of academic year

Fredricka Paul
October 12, 2006

With two deans leaving their positions, MSU officials are working to fill those vacant jobs by the end of spring. Ronald Fisher, dean of the Honors College, will be leaving his position in August and chose not to comment about his departure. Patrick McConeghy, acting dean of the College of Arts and Letters, will also be leaving his position to teach as a German professor. "I had a wonderful time (as dean)," McConeghy said.

MSU

Judge to speak at luncheon on Friday

Kristyn Peterson
October 12, 2006

Judge Michael McConnell will speak at 11:45 a.m. Friday at Kellogg Center for the 2006 Founders Circle Luncheon sponsored by James Madison College Founders Circle. McConnell, a 1976 James Madison College graduate, was nominated by President Bush to the U.S.

MSU

National fraternity disbands MSU chapter

Alex Altman
October 12, 2006

Beta Theta Pi, one of MSU's biggest fraternities, has been "disbanded" for not maintaining an alcohol-free house. "Disbanded status" means the fraternity can't claim to be affiliated with the national chapter or hold any events, such as Rush, as members of the national group. The former MSU chapter broke several fraternity policies, including being issued noise violations, but was disbanded mainly for violating rules pertaining to alcohol, said Stephen Becker, administrative secretary for the national chapter. "The chapter was informed that it would have to adhere to the directives, but it didn't happen," Becker said. Luke Michels, president of the MSU group, said his fraternity followed all of the directives but interpreted them differently than the national chapter. "The men in the house who are 21 said that they should have the right to drink," Michels said. The decision from the national chapter was passed about two weeks ago. A.J.

MSU

ASMSU votes to back Penn State student government

Cash Kruth
October 12, 2006

Student government officials throughout the Big Ten are fighting for student input regarding decisions made by university officials at Penn State University. The university's administration seized control of the Undergraduate Student Government, or USG, and replaced it with the University Park Undergraduate Association, or UPUA, a student advocacy group. ASMSU, MSU's student government, created and passed a bill at its meeting last Thursday showing support for the USG and allowing Roger Ludy, ASMSU's Student Assembly chairperson, to contact Penn State University officials. The Penn State administration eliminated the USG's authority and appointed students to the UPUA, ASMSU officials said. In officially recognizing the USG, ASMSU joins eight of 11 universities within the Association of Big Ten Students, which is composed of Big Ten university undergraduate student governments. Julielyn Gibbons, external affairs vice chairperson for ASMSU's Student Assembly, said if roles were reversed, she would hope other schools would do the same and offer their support. "Unlike ASMSU and other student governments in the Big Ten, we have no power — none," said Nick Stathes, USG's president.

MSU

Accepting community

Lindsay Machak
October 11, 2006

When John Herbst told his friends and family he is gay, it wasn't easy. He knew he was gay, but he didn't quite know how to tell everyone, he said. "It was bubbling up inside me," he said.

MSU

MSU may hire 2 new deans to colleges

Fredricka Paul
October 11, 2006

MSU may be losing two of its current deans by the end of the academic year. Ronald Fisher, dean of the Honors College, will be leaving his position in the spring, said Robert Banks, associate provost and vice president for academic human resources. Banks added he is hoping to have the new dean work with Fisher to ensure the transition goes smoothly. Fisher said he did not want to comment on his departure because he did not "feel it was newsworthy." Members of the Executive Committee of Academic Council, or ECAC, passed a motion Tuesday to begin the search for a new dean.

MSU

GE, mtvU offer $25K for earth-friendly ideas

Alex Altman
October 10, 2006

General Electric Co. and mtvU have teamed up to motivate college students to save the environment. In early September, the groups announced the "ecomagination Challenge," a nationwide contest encouraging college students to think of inventive, cost-conscious ways to improve their campus environments. "We essentially partnered with (General Electric) because we started hearing that the environment and global warming were becoming very serious issues," mtvU general manager Stephen Friedman said.

MSU

College to offer organic farming

Fredricka Paul
October 10, 2006

People now have a chance to get their hands dirty while earning a certificate in organic farming at MSU. The yearlong Organic Farming Certificate Program begins in January and will include a lot of hands-on experience, such as an internship, said Eunice Foster, associate dean for undergraduate and certificate programs in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. "The program has been in development for a couple of years," Foster said.

MSU

ASMSU condemns Young Americans for Freedom event

Cash Kruth
October 10, 2006

Student government officials took an active stance by passing a bill condemning "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day" last Thursday during an ASMSU Student Assembly meeting. Mark Dobson, vice president of the Residence Halls Association, introduced the bill to ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, after he gained support for passing a similar bill within the undergraduate residential government. The event was planned by MSU student group Young Americans for Freedom, or YAF, after the planning of the University of Michigan's YAF event.

MSU

Day focuses on native people

Lindsay Machak  and  Alex Altman
October 10, 2006

Many students on campus celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday instead of Columbus Day. Some student groups, such as the North American Indigenous Student Association, or NAISO, refer to the event as Indigenous Peoples Day because Christopher Columbus claimed the Americas when natives were already there, NAISO co-chairperson Vanessa Welch said. "People that don't know about Native American culture say that Columbus found America when really North Americans were already there," the studio art sophomore said.

MSU

Committees created to include faculty input

Fredricka Paul
October 9, 2006

Five committees were created to help resolve major issues after MSU faculty members said they wanted more input on decisions made within the university. The committees, called the Faculty Voice Task Forces, were created in September 2005 and worked throughout the spring.

MSU

Officials propose new music college

Cash Kruth
October 6, 2006

The addition of a new academic college could be music to the ears of some MSU students and officials. Academic Assembly received a proposal from university officials on Tuesday to support the School of Music's move to becoming a college.

MSU

Student organic farm to host informative event

Laura Leebove
October 6, 2006

The Student Organic Farm Harvest Fest will be held from 1-5 p.m. Saturday. The farm was created in 1999 to provide information to students regarding organically grown food. Events featured at the festival include fresh food, hayrides, farm tours, cider-pressing, face-painting and a pie-eating contest, among other things. The festival will feature live music from local bands Head and Toe, A Story Told and Dali Rocket. The farm is located at 3291 College Road in Holt.

MSU

Nursing center expands patient care

Holly Klaft
October 5, 2006

The MSU College of Nursing Primary Care Center sits inconspicuously among a bevy of other health care providers in the Clinical Center, but it bears a new name and has a broader focus.