New floors, bleachers, locker rooms and workout equipment are among some of the updated features that greet new and returning students for the first time at IM Sports-West's renovated facility, which opened May 16. The new $5.5 million facility was renovated because the former building was not up to par, said Lawrence Sierra, director of Intramural Sports and Recreation Services.
The idea of MSU's "One Book, One Community" requires freshmen to read one book to unite the students and East Lansing residents by having a common interest, but some professors and students differ on the value of the annual program. This year's book assignment, Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner," is mandatory for all freshmen and encourages East Lansing residents to participate in book-related events from Aug.
Several minority student groups on campus are seeking new members in freshmen and returning students through informational receptions, which are currently being held. The receptions are a way for interested students and returning members to become acquainted with the organizations, and members say the gatherings are successful recruitment tools. On Sunday, the Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs held an open house in the courtyard behind Student Services as its introductory reception. Several university and office officials were on hand for students to meet. Tammye Coles, coordinator for the Black Student Alliance, or BSA, was at the event and said the connections made at these receptions are important. "There has been work done showing (that) students who are, in some way, connected to campus are more likely to seek information or assistance via a professor or student organizations," Coles said.
The hallways of Lyman Briggs School in the basement of Holmes Hall were clean and quiet Monday afternoon.
Sociology Associate Professor Toby Ten Eyck said the news of Hurricane Katrina hitting the New Orleans area takes him back to the time he spent in Louisiana.
Less than a month ago, ASMSU's Web site had half finished pages, broken links and missing information, but with some quick fixes and an outsourced webmaster, the Web site was revamped in time for Welcome Week. "We put as much information on the Web site for students, to show not only what exactly we offer, but what we're giving back to students," said Association Director Jason Bucholz.
Progress on a new on-campus parking ramp located north of Morrill Hall is proceeding on schedule and on budget, university officials said. The construction of Ramp 6 broke ground in May after the completion of the spring semester, but isn't scheduled to be completed until summer 2007. When finished, the $19.5-million structure will rise about five stories tall and offer 730 parking spaces, primarily for faculty and staff members. "It won't be too long before you'll start to see the building take shape above ground," said university engineer Bob Nestle, who is supervising the project. The ramp's external structure will begin to go up in the next two to three months, he said.
Most incoming freshmen have settled into their dorm rooms, but overcrowding might keep some students stuck for days or weeks. On Friday, 220 two-occupant rooms in the residence halls were filled by three instead, said Director of University Housing Angela Brown.
For incoming freshmen, Welcome Week was their first as MSU students, but three new faces on campus have already become a part of university history. Criminal justice freshman Kerrie Schultz, no-preference freshman Kristen Brady and no-preference engineering freshman Michelle Raetz helped MSU President Lou Anna K.
Coordinating a new tailgating program, adding academic minors and revoking an honorary MSU law degree from a foreign president are a few of the things on the student government's to-do list for the school year. ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, met last week to discuss their goals and get ready for the new semester. "I'm looking forward to an active, ambitious and exciting year, which will make our constituents aware of what progress we are able to achieve when we all work together to resolve students' issues," said Roger Ludy, Student Assembly's vice chairperson for internal affairs.
While studying abroad in the Middle East this summer, Danny Rosenberg discussed current events with the locals - but the topic of conversation on everybody's lips involved history in the making. The communication junior was in Israel one week before Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered the withdrawal of Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip to begin Aug.
Thousands of new and returning MSU students sang the fight song and posed for a class photograph while ringing in the MSU athletic season Thursday at Spartan Spirit. A Welcome Week pep rally, Spartan Spirit was held inside the newly remodeled Spartan Stadium.
Two new restaurants in the International Center's Crossroads Food Court did not open as planned Monday, but new additions to the Union's One Union Square Food Court opened on schedule. All four eateries installed in on-campus food courts this summer should be operational by the end of the week, said Associate Union Manager Mark Simmons. Grill 155 and La Vincita, offering American and Italian menus, respectively, replace the Little Caesars and Wendy's formerly located in the Union. Subway has been absorbing much of the lunchtime traffic at the International Center after Taco Bell and Wendy's closed this spring, but the food court will now offer East Lansing's fourth Woody's Oasis location and the New Jersey-based chain Villa Pizza. Woody's is expected to open today at 10 a.m., and Simmons said he hopes to have Villa Pizza up and running by the end of the day as well.
On Aug. 27, the International Center will hold singing, dancing, magic and improvisational comedy in the University Activities Board's "Spartan All-Stars" show. The event is free to the MSU community and everyone featured is from the university, advertising junior and UAB spokesperson Tiffany Weber said. "It's called the 'All-Stars' because it features the talents of Spartans," she said.
Sparty's Convenience Stores' coffee is now fair - to the last drop. Campus and local coffee shops now provide fair trade coffee due to consumer demand. Fair trade is an agreement between producer and purchaser that at least a minimum price per pound will be paid for certain goods.
Oroville, Calif. - A California judge raised the possibility that four fraternity members could be charged with torture in the death of a 21-year-old pledge, comparing the alleged hazing death to the torture of Iraqi prisoners by U.S.
An MSU football player was sentenced by the 54-B District Court on Friday morning to serve five days of community service and pay $738 in fines for driving while impaired. Aaron Alexander, a senior wide receiver, pleaded guilty to charges of driving while impaired and must now participate in a victim impact panel run by Mothers Against Drunk Driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Web site, a victim impact panel is a group of people who share stories about how impaired driving has affected their lives.
Last week, seven MSU students had their business skills put to the test as they were eyed by oil company executives for potential jobs. They were some of only 46 students from across the country who were handpicked to participate in a weeklong program hosted by Shell Oil Company at the Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif. But the week at the exclusive resort was no vacation, said MSU chemical engineering senior Peter Klemm. The students took part in Shell's Gourami Business Challenge, in which they were split into teams and given a case study asking them to develop a five-year business plan for oil production on the fictitious island of Gourami.
Walking home as usual after interning at the MSU Plant Biology Laboratories, 16-year-old Detroit high school student Brenten Williams said he was stopped by an MSU police officer. "I was walking toward the bridge near Abbot and Mason (halls) and a cop pulled up in a motorcycle," he said.
Video games will not only be a pastime for MSU students but also a degree specialization. Courses in video game design and development will be available for students to take in September as an introduction to a possible career. Brian Winn, associate telecommunication, information studies and media professor and co-founder of the program, said it's a four-course section that students can take in their junior and senior years.