MSU

Study reports women, men use drugs for unlike reasons

Kendra Snyder

February 19, 2003

Although the number of men and women smoking, drinking and using other drugs is about equal, each gender has different reasons for abusing substances, according to a study released earlier this month.The study is based on a nationwide survey of females age 8 to 22 by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.Researchers found while boys experiment with alcohol, cigarettes and drugs because of the thrill or social status, girls participate due to stress or depression."Girls are more likely than boys to be depressed, have eating disorders and to be physically or sexually abused," said Emma Berndt, spokeswoman for the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.

MSU

Meeting will address racism, discrimination

Students and MSU officials will gather at 8 p.m. today in the Brody Auditorium to address recent racially motivated events on campus. The forum will address a sexually charged flier posted in Shaw Hall and two women in Emmons Hall who were called derogatory names. Rodney Patterson, director of the Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs, Nikki O'Brien, coordinator for African American Student Affairs, and history Professor Pero Dagbovie are among the officials expected to attend. "We want to address the situations which took place within the last month, specifically the one in Emmons," said Terrance Wilbert, an Emmons Hall racial ethnic student aide.

MSU

ASMSU tax increase proposed on ballot

An extra 75 cents might be added to student's tuition bills if ASMSU can convince the students to open up their pocketbooks.A bill to increase the MSU undergraduate student government's per semester tax from $10 to $10.75 was passed by the Student Assembly on Thursday, and will be placed on the March 19 student ballot.All student taxes are refundable.This is the second tax ASMSU is sponsoring in next month's election.

MSU

COGS to support student domestic partner benefits

Carrie Hoover

February 19, 2003

A committee supporting benefits for student domestic partners will have one more voice in their corner.MSU's Council Of Graduate Students unanimously passed a resolution Monday to support the committee comprised of ASMSU, the Residence Halls Association and family community services senior Kendra Kearney.ASMSU is MSU's undergraduate student government.COGS President Jim Ciszewski said the organization's next action is to take the discussion to the administration."The next step is to start a dialogue between the student government and the administrators and the trustees and see if we can reach an agreement," he said.

MSU

'U' photographers take top awards in contest

The State News claimed honors in the 2002 Michigan Press Photographers Association's annual Picture of the Year contest. Former State News photographer Megan Spelman, an international relations senior, was named College Photographer of the Year. Spelman's portfolio showcased 10 pieces, which included nine single images and a photo story titled "Finding Home." "I'm flattered," she said.

MSU

Lecture tells importance of diversity

For Harold Strong, the key to getting ahead in business is diversity.Strong, a senior consultant with Siemens Health Services in Malvern, Pa., stressed the importance of all organizations diversifying the workplace Monday in the Eppley Center.He said there are many facets of diversity organizations should seek to employ, and race is only one of them."Diversity covers more than just race," he said.

MSU

Librarian remembered for kindness, activism

Kendra Snyder

February 18, 2003

Beth Wellman and her mother, Anne Tracy, stood in the center of the North Presbyterian Church last year singing a duet to "Dona Nobis Pacem."It was a song Tracy's four children often sang on the trip to their grandmother's house.

MSU

RHA to collect cans for SIDS

MSU's Residence Halls Association will go door-to-door in residence halls on Sunday collecting cans to raise money for research into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

MSU

Crews work on water mains

Two water main breaks in the last week have kept MSU work crews busy, said Gus Gosselin, manager of the Physical Plant maintenance department. Pipes broke on Farm Lane near the Auditorium, closing the northbound lanes of the road. Another break was discovered Monday near Giltner Hall.

MSU

Recycling program reuses 'U' materials

About 600 pounds of shredded paper sit inside gray plastic bins on the floor and shelves inside a dusty, dark warehouse in the southwest corner of campus.A garage door opens as a pair of workers begin unloading the day's haul.In the middle of it all is Bill Clark.A truck driver for MSU's Office of Recycling and Waste Management, Clark spends his days collecting materials faculty and students recycle - office papers, pizza boxes, phone books, magazines, brochures, newspapers and books.He said about 60 to 70 percent of the paper that can be recycled is actually collected - the rest gets thrown out with the trash."A lot of people aren't aware most buildings on campus have recycling facilities," he said.

MSU

ASMSU might offer free notebooks to students

School supplies are getting cheaper these days.ASMSU is hoping to expand its services to students by offering one-subject notebooks with MSU's undergraduate student government's logo on the front."It's an interesting program to investigate," Academic Assembly Chairperson Matt Clayson said, adding the program has yet to be finalized, but the assembly will be reviewing the proposal."It all depends on finances," he said.The notebook program surfaced after the organization had success with distributing about 10,000 bluebooks to students around campus."This would not replace the bluebook program," said Steve Lovelace, Academic Assembly representative for the College of Arts and Letters.ASMSU would save money by using the same design in the notebook's front page, which includes a list of services provided by the organization as well as its phone number and the Web site address, Lovelace said."They have to look at them everyday," he said.

MSU

ASMSU-sponsored group to rally students against tuition increases, university funding cuts

Students showing apathy to possible tuition increases and university cuts are about to get an education.On Friday, members of Students Protecting and Representing Education, or SPARE, discussed going door-to-door, mailing fliers, presenting slide shows before Campus Center movie presentations at Wells Hall and passing out membership bracelets in an effort to rally support against tuition increases and university cuts."We have to keep putting pressure on (students)," said Jared English, director of university governmental budgetary affairsfor ASMSU.

MSU

'U' hosts V-day dance

Kendra Snyder

February 17, 2003

Maggie Roso and Michael Simyn sat at a table in the corner of the Union Gold Rooms on Sunday afternoon playfully laughing at each other, eating brownies and waiting for the perfect song."Maggie said that all of her dances are for me," Simyn said.

MSU

Charity to aid abused kids

A year and a half ago, Patti Roost went to work for three children she had never met.A 4-month-old infant, his teenage mother and her 13-year-old brother had been raised in a fatherless home by a drug-addicted mother who was so paranoid she didn't allow her children to attend school."Pretty much for their whole lives, these children have been with no real home, mainly taking care of their mother," said Roost, a volunteer for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Ingham County.The children were placed in foster care with a relative.

MSU

German author addresses 'War and Modernity'

Amy Bartner

February 17, 2003

MSU's peace and justice studies specialization program hosted its first lecture Friday, featuring author and teacher Hans Joas.Joas is director of the Max Weber Center for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies at the University of Erfurt in Germany and a professor of sociology at the University of Chicago.

MSU

WEB ONLY: Speaker to address diversity

Harold Strong, an executive board member from the Philadelphia Boys and Girls Clubs, will be holding an interactive discussion on issues of diversity in the workplace. "We will be talking about the business aspects of diversity and how small businesses are affected by diversity," Strong said.

MSU

Dance honors oldest black fraternity

Aaron Foley

February 17, 2003

Sporting their black tuxedos with gold ties, the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity stepped in a circle around the dance floor while Benzino's "Rock the Party" blared from the speakers. "Stepping," a combination of stomps, claps and chanting, was one of the many dances performed at the fraternity's third annual Black & Gold Ball Saturday night in the Union ballroom. Jhamal Swift, the fraternity's president, said the dance was unique among other social events held at MSU. "It's a different type of social atmosphere for African Americans, as well as providing a professional and formal event where students can interact in a business-like and adult manner," the chemical engineering senior said. Swift said the dance gave students the opportunity to network. "It's one of the most important things in college," he said. The dance closed out "The Deep Phreeze" week, which was highlighted by community service and social events held by the fraternity.

MSU

Soul Nite brings in notable poet

Allison Lucy

February 17, 2003

Dana Hawes' emotional words echoed throughout the Wonders Hall Kiva on Saturday night as the crowd of listeners looked on, hanging on every word he read.

MSU

Ghost stories celebrate Chicano culture

White and red candles, laid out in a star shape on the floor, flickered in the dark Culturas de las Razas Unidas room, as no-preference freshman Maggie Pena told her story. "While my brother and I were admiring his car, in the corner of my eye I spotted a lady in white in the middle of the street, and he saw a lady in black run behind our house," she said.

MSU

Club's dress code irks students

Aaron Foley

February 14, 2003

Autumn Boggues didn't expect to be surrounded by security guards during her first visit to Sparty's Night Club last month."When we started to dance, we noticed about 12 security guards watching us, and they would not leave," the political science and pre-law freshman said.