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MSU

Campus event illuminates cultural holidays

By Melissa Kayko Special to The State News Every year, Muslims end a month of fasting during Ramadan, which is signaled by the light of the new moon to begin a celebration of Eid al-Fitr, when followers spend time with family and attend special prayer meetings. Centuries ago, wagon wheels were hung from ceilings and adorned with candles to create the first Christmas advent wreaths. Hanukkah is marked by the lighting of candles on the menorah, while the celebration of African Americans' heritage, Kwanzaa, uses candles to represent seven principles to live out in daily life. The Hindu holiday Diwali is almost always capped off by an explosion of fireworks. These celebrations were brought together at the second annual "Lights to Remember" event at the Communication Arts and Sciences Building on Monday because of the significance of lights they share.

MSU

Committee to hold special session today

Laura Collins
November 22, 2005

A special meeting for the Executive Committee of Academic Council will be held at 3:15 p.m. today in the Administration Building. The meeting is set to discuss a possible reorganization of the provost's office, the creation of task forces dealing with MSU President Lou Anna K.

MSU

Renovated building to further partnership

Laura Collins
November 22, 2005

A reception was held Monday to celebrate a newly acquired space in Erickson Hall and the continuation of a partnership in math and science education. Former classroom space on the second floor of the hall has been remodeled to house the Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education, which has been spread throughout campus since 2003. Promoting Rigorous Outcomes in Mathematics and Science Education, or PROM/SE, is an initiative to better K-12 science and mathematics education in a five-year research effort, funded by a $35 million National Science Foundation agreement. PROM/SE is one of the many different efforts housed in the center, reaching out to 62 school districts across Michigan and Ohio.

MSU

ASMSU passes multiple majors, integrity bills

Melissa Domsic
November 22, 2005

Members of ASMSU's Academic Assembly want to see a new academic integrity code and recognition for multiple majors on their degrees added to university policy. The assembly unanimously passed two bills last week to urge the Academic Governance system to work on implementing these ideas.

MSU

MSU breaks ground on new auto lab

Melissa Domsic
November 21, 2005

Representatives from MSU, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. broke ground on a $10 million automotive and energy research facility on campus Friday. The 29,000-square-foot Energy & Automotive Research Laboratories, where students and faculty will research more efficient engines and fuel sources, will be located at the corner of Service Road and Bogue Street. Vance Zanardelli, chief engineer for Ford's hydrogen internal combustion engine, was one of 10 people who donned hard hats to officially break the ground for the new facility, which is set to be completed next summer. Ford, GM, Consumers Energy, the MSU provost's office, the College of Engineering and individual donors helped fund the facility. The lab will include two indoor testing rooms that will allow researchers to examine how engines and vehicles function with outdoor road conditions, said Harold Schock, a mechanical engineering professor and director of the existing Automotive Research Experiment Station, located at 3361 Hulett Road in Okemos. The experiment station will move to the new on-campus facility. "The idea is to develop and improve technology that will be implemented in automobiles and trucks," Schock said.

MSU

Concert showcases world music

By Holly Klaft Special to The State News The dance began slowly — partners moved gracefully around each other — but it soon became combative as the performers avoided mock blows, each pseudo-strike inching closer to their partners' bodies. "It is a lot more than what you see," said Jose Dantas, a 41-year-old Brazilian native who led the performance on Saturday at the International Center.

MSU

MSU ADHD research disproves 'old myth'

By Nicholas Richer Special to The State News More than half of the people diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, as children continue to have significant impairments into adulthood, said an MSU associate professor Saturday. Joel Nigg, an associate professor of psychology and director of the MSU Adolescent and Adult Attention Study, spoke this weekend during the final lecture of the Spartan Saturday Seminar Series at the Kellogg Center. The faculty-led seminar series focused on contemporary issues and began three hours before each home football game.

MSU

Religious holidays to celebrate with lights

Kristen Daum
November 21, 2005

A "Lights to Remember" presentation will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. today in 148 Communication Arts and Sciences Building. The event will feature different religious holidays and the different lights that represent them, including Kwanzaa, Christmas, Diwali and Hanukkah.

MSU

Weeklong festivities showcase unique Puerto Rican traditions

MSU's campus is the perfect place to celebrate Puerto Rican Culture Week because of its mixture of people, students said. Psychology senior Natalia Mercado grew up in Puerto Rico and said the diversity and curiosity of the campus makes her feel welcome to acknowledge her culture. "If I want to celebrate my culture, if I want to show what it is about — it's easy," Mercado said.

MSU

Event educates, helps promote smoke-free life

Jennifer Toland
November 18, 2005

The 29th Great American Smokeout came and went Thursday with few packs of cigarettes set aside in East Lansing during the national day of smoking abstinence. During the annual event, which is sponsored by the American Cancer Society, smokers are asked to abstain from the act for a day. Some businesses, especially restaurants, participate by going smoke-free for the day, said Lisa Prince, a spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society Great Lakes Division. The cancer society's hope is that smokers will consider quitting smoking for good and the day will raise awareness for smoke-free laws, she said. "It's just for one day," Prince said.

MSU

Panel grades youth sports

Laura Collins
November 17, 2005

A community league soccer game for 6-year-olds has turned into something too serious, said Dan Gould, the director of MSU's Institute for the Study of Youth Sports. "Some of the dads are worried about who is winning, when 6-year-olds should just run around," said Gould, also a kinesiology professor.

MSU

RHA reps sample, critique potential dorm fare

Kristen Daum
November 17, 2005

It smelled like home-cooked food as about 40 Residence Halls Association representatives sat down to dinner in a Williams Hall meeting room. Before them were new food dishes — fried jalapeño bottle caps, Indian curry with basmati rice and blueberry quesadillas.

MSU

New engineering lab to debut on campus

Laura Collins
November 17, 2005

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday to introduce the new site of the Energy and Automotive Research Laboratories on MSU's campus. The site is located south of the Engineering Research Complex, on the corner of Service Road and Bogue Street.

MSU

MSU to offer new doctoral program

Laura Collins
November 16, 2005

A new graduate program about the increasing Chicanos and Latinos present in the United States will be offered at MSU beginning in the fall of 2006. A new report released by the University Committee on Curriculum was approved Tuesday, adding the Chicano/Latino Studies doctoral program to the university's curriculum. Academic Council met Tuesday, the same day as the scheduled Faculty Council meeting, because of the Thanksgiving holiday next week. "It is a very important thing to stake out interest in the Chicano/Latino Studies," said Mike Schechter, chairman of the University Committee on Curriculum.

MSU

Immediate openings offered at preschool

Fredricka Paul
November 16, 2005

There are immediate openings for MSU's Child Development Laboratory morning and afternoon preschool for children 3- to 5-years old. Classes meet Monday through Thursday until April 28. The morning session is from 8:45 to 11:45 a.m.

MSU

Alum honored for service

Laura Collins
November 16, 2005

Standing in the back of the MSU Auditorium in the 1960s, David Hollister's life was changed. As a night student working toward his master's degree, Hollister was handed a flier for one of the many guest speeches held on campus. But this one was different. In a packed auditorium, Hollister said he listened to Martin Luther King Jr.

MSU

Chimps mourn departed friend

His half brother and four other members of his troop sat beside him to touch the body of their companion for one last time. Jo Mendi, a 26-year-old male chimpanzee at John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, died Friday after routine dental surgery. Later that day, the five other chimpanzees Jo Mendi had lived with since 2001 were given an opportunity to bid him farewell. "There was not a dry eye in the place," said Bert Vescolani, director of the zoo.

MSU

Assault program honored

Jennifer Toland
November 16, 2005

Twenty-five years ago, MSU formed one of the first on-campus sexual assault programs in the country. The program was started by students wanting to respond to sexual assault on campus, said Carmen Lane, the advocacy coordinator for the Sexual Assault Crisis & Safety Education Program. A room full of about 40 volunteers, university, local officials, and past and present coordinators celebrated the 25th anniversary of the program on Tuesday. Although the program has grown in many ways, such as having more full-time staff positions, the core values of the program have remained the same, Lane said. "Student volunteers are the core of who we are," she said.