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MSU

Computer malfunction causes traffic backup

The left lane of South Shaw Lane served as an extension to parking Lot 39 - the pay lot between the International Center and the Engineering Building - on Thursday for more than an hour as cars waited for the lot’s entrance gates to open.An offline computer system resulted in malfunctioning gates and missed appointments.Parking Facilities Supervisor Katherine Mateer said the gates wouldn’t open because of a computer malfunction.

MSU

Student hopes to educate mentors, others about sedative drugs

Health Advocates at Olin Health Center said there has been an increased number of people asking to be tested for sedative drugs like GHB, known as liquid ecstasy, and Rohypnol, known as roofies.But most tests have come back negative.“This shows there is great concern and even panic when it comes to these drugs,” said Damilola Walker, a human biology and microbiology senior and an Olin Health Advocate.In response to the increased awareness and concern, but also to the misconceptions about the drugs, Walker has started a project to distribute information allowing students to be more educated about the effects of the drugs.Walker will be distributing posters to mentors when students come back in the fall.

MSU

Students plan finals strategies

If sunny skies and high temperatures are calling you from your stuffy seat in the library during finals week, maybe you should listen. Health Educator Jonathan Kermiet said students should allow themselves short periods of time during study sessions to relax and regroup mentally. “Give yourself liberty and license to take short breaks,” said Kermiet, who recommends that students take walks, practice breathing exercises or listen to music to relieve stress. “Cramming is not useful - especially if you’re just sitting there for hours.” Students should try to get a full night of sleep before taking tests.

MSU

Sex survey reveals the average person really gets it

The average American has had nine sexual partners in his or her lifetime according to a recent national survey.A telephone poll of 1,000 adults age 18 to 65 was conducted by Adam & Eve, a mail-order erotica distributor, and showed men on average claimed to have had 14 sexual partners while women said they have had five.Elementary education sophomore Keyan MacCune said societal pressures most likely account for the difference between the sexes.“It’s probably because guys embellish and girls aren’t telling the truth,” she said.

MSU

Alumnus to donate tree; add beauty, shade to campus grounds

When 1962 MSU alumnus Peter Secchia read an article last year about students donating a tree to the university, it made him reminisce about his days on campus. Secchia, a financial contributor to the Student Academic Center and the new addition to Breslin Students Event Center, thought it would be fitting to donate a tree on Arbor Day. Secchia, chairman of Universal Forest Products Inc. in Grand Rapids, and others will be planting a 20-foot autumn blaze maple tree at 10:30 a.m.

MSU

Faculty children shadow parents for a day

Mary Blakely wants to be an astronomer.The 11-year-old student at E.E. Knight Elementary in Elsie, Mich., was one of 180 students participating in MSU’s third annual Take Your Child to Work Day.“I’m gonna do my best to get into MSU,” she said.

MSU

Handbook dispels generational myths

All year long,marketing freshman Matt Horton has been spending about six to eight hours a week on a Student Service Learning Project for his American Thought and Language class, “Writing: Public Life in America.”Horton and his peers from ATL will be honored for work they completed in a handbook to be published this fall, titled “Generation Y Speaks Out, A Public Policy Guide.” The event will take place from 3 p.m to 5 p.m.

MSU

Animals offer kids hands-on learning

A rooster crowed in the background as a group of 14 thirdgraders peered at some llamas.“The llama’s fur is really soft,” said third-grader Michael Smalley, while washing the fur off his hands.Michael, a student at Whitehills Elementary School, 621 Pebblebrook St., was one of 2,000 area third-graders participating in Project R.E.D., which stands for Rural Education Day, at the Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education on Wednesday.“It’s fun,” he said.

MSU

Disorder fades with sunlight

Getting out of school soon isn’t the only thing putting people in a better mood lately.There is an expected continual warming period with lots of sunshine between today and the weekend, according to the National Weather Service, and most people would say that news puts them in a better mood - at least to some degree.But there are others who get more serious relief from the sun’s rays beating down for longer periods of time during the day.Seasonal Affective Disorder has serious effects on about 5 percent of the population, according to Dr. Robert Bielski, director of the MSU Winter Depression Clinic.“We think the condition is triggered by the shortening of daylight hours during the winter months,” he said.

MSU

Program offers women a break away from routine

It’s a day that 900 women will come together to learn about and celebrate the melody in their lives.The Kaleidoscope 2001, sponsored by the MSU Alumni Association, takes place today at the Kellogg Center, and includes a luncheon and informational sessions in the morning and early afternoon.The theme, An Aria for Everyone’s Life, will focus on music, health and creativity in women’s lives.Alumni Association member Beverly Carnahan said Kaleidoscope, in its 27th year, was created to provide women an opportunity to break away from normal routines and receive information on health concerns and other issues.“The sessions impact events surrounding women’s day to day lives,” she said.“It’s an excellent day for women to come abreast of current things that may have a bearing on their lives.”And the public has been receptive to the event in the past, Carnahan said.“Kaleidoscope has always been one of our most popular events,” she said.“It’s an outstanding program - every year we’ve been at capacity.”Soprano Roberta Peters is the keynote speaker for this year’s Kaleidoscope, and will perform following the luncheon.Peters is a recipient of the National Medal of Art and the Bolshoi Medal, and has performed all over the world.Alumni Association member Sharon Radtke said the association was looking forward to having a vocalist at Kaleidoscope this year.“We thought is would be fun, and opera is something different,” Radtke said.

MSU

Police hope to mend minority relations

MSU police will hold a public forum tonight to discuss the department’s 12-point plan to improve relations with the minority community. The plan, announced in November, addresses racial profiling, supporting minority students in the police department and promoting greater knowledge of police procedures.

MSU

Recreation, food found in morel mushroom picking

Kurt Lamour is a morel mushroom maniac.To him, April is a time to get outdoors and forage through the Michigan foliage to find some tasty fungi.“Mushroom-picking is a tradition that has been passed down in my family from generation to generation,” said Lamour, a botany and plant pathology graduate student.

MSU

Jeans drive helps boost self-respect

People were tearing off their blue jeans and saying goodbye to their clothes Tuesday afternoon at the rock on Farm Lane. As part of National Size Acceptance Day, members of the campus groups Respecting and Understanding Body Image and Greek Life joined together for the Great Jeans Giveaway.

MSU

U Lead medical director to take over as acting dean

MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine will salute another dean this summer as its current leader takes a three-month sabbatical. The MSU Board of Trustees recently approved Dr. William Strampel to serve as acting dean of the college beginning May 14. “I am looking forward to working with him,” said Colleen Kniffen, assistant to the dean.

MSU

College appoints new dean

Jeff Armstrong is a big fan of MSU, but he’s looking forward to more than football games when he takes his new position on campus this fall.Armstrong, head of the Department of Animal Sciences at Purdue University, has been appointed dean of MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.Armstrong said he enjoys watching college sports, but he’s inspired to take charge of a college that has plenty of its own successes.“From a professional perspective, I’m excited about working with the many diverse departments in the college and learning so much about the state of Michigan,” he said.The university’s Board of Trustees approved Armstrong’s appointment at its meeting Friday.

MSU

Program helps seniors with late job search

Seniors still searching for jobs will have another option next month.Spartan Sendoff, a new program sponsored by the Career Services and Placement Career Development Center, is designed to help students who have not started a job search but are graduating in May or August.“Students are so busy with finals and graduation that career searches can sometimes be on the back burners,” said Linda Gross, assistant director of the Career Services and Placement Career Development Center.

MSU

Program offers tours to experience cultures

A few MSU staff and faculty members took it upon themselves Tuesday to spend their lunch in the Kresge Art Museum, taking in original art pieces by undergraduate students. The self-guided tour was held for free in a program called Sharing Art and Cultural Events on Campus, sponsored by the Women’s Resource Center.

MSU

Guest to ring bells in Beaumont Tower

The haunting bell sounds filling the heart of campus from noon to 12:30 p.m. today will stem from the musical talents of guest carillonneur Jeffrey Bossin. A carillonneur plays the carillon, which resembles an organ.