Groups protest SN editorial cartoon, support U.S. military troops

About 25 people gathered outside of The State News, 435 E. Grand River Ave., on Monday in response to Friday's editorial cartoon. From about 1 to 3 p.m., protesters occupied both sides of the street in front of the building chanting, passing out information about the cartoon and carrying signs and an American flag. The cartoon, by State News cartoonist Mike Ramsey, featured a World War II veteran saying "I liberated a torture camp back in '45" to a modern-day soldier. The soldier, shown holding a bloody baseball bat with a nail at the end, responds by saying "I work in one." International relations junior Dave Coogan participated in the protest and said the cartoon's release on Veterans Day was distasteful. "I was really disappointed in The State News," Coogan said.

Panel of experts promote healthy images

Problems with body image might be more common than people think. With images of celebrities everywhere, from magazine racks in supermarkets to advertisements on billboards, most people deal with body image issues at some point in their lives and eating disorders are becoming more prevalent, said Dave Novicki, a professor and counselor at the MSU Counseling Center. The problems with body image are not going away anytime soon and prompted a panel discussion on Monday night held by the campus group Respecting and Understanding Body Image, or RUBI. The group works to promote positive body images and increase eating disorder awareness. "We have a lot of people that are not 'eating disordered,'" he said.

Police briefs 11/15/05

Charitable MSU alum fuses GM and university

Gerald Elson said he fell in love with MSU for the first time while touring the cattle barns with his local chapter of the former Future Farmers of America in the 1950s. Even though he was surrounded by Michigan's farmland in Merrill while growing up, encouragement from Elson's high school teachers got him thinking more about the world of machines. "When I graduated from my school, everyone said, 'You should be an engineer,'" Elson said.

Safety, crisis program celebrates 25 years

The MSU Counseling Center's Sexual Assault Crisis and Safety Education Program is celebrating its 25th anniversary, with a reception at 4:30 p.m.

Bill could revise gun laws

While deer hunters across the state gather their guns for opening day, legislation in the state House could make it easier for people to transport firearms in their vehicles. According to Michigan law, it is illegal to transport a firearm unless the owner has a hunting license, is traveling to or from a firing range or has a concealed weapons permit. The legislation would amend the state law to allow people who own firearms to transport them in the trunk of a vehicle, while unloaded, without a hunting license or a concealed weapons permit.

Lansing parade salutes veterans

By Tara Thoel Special to The State News The contributions that veterans have made to the United States should be celebrated every day, said Capt.

Changes proposed for condom labels

In an effort to better educate consumers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants condom labels to warn that they are not effective in preventing all types of STDs — especially those transferred by skin-on-skin contact. If the aim of this change is to provide better information for condom users, rather than scare people, Olin Health Center Health Coordinator Dennis Martell said he thinks it is a good idea. "Any time you can give knowledge to anyone using contraceptives, it helps them make better decisions," he said.

Global cultures showcased at festival

Lan Truong was on a mission Sunday at Global Festival 2005 in the Union. The supply chain management junior was so busy having her "passport" signed by representatives from the more than 25 campus international groups that she had to get a second one.

MSU honors distinguished alumni

As a graduate student at MSU, Linda Nelson lived in the Paolucci Building for six weeks at a time. Nelson studied home management, a program that is extinct today, and lived in the building as an instructor with other female students as part of the program. "It was really lots of fun," she said.

Police briefs 11/14/05

Online survey hacked into, must be redone

Students had the option of completing the annual dining halls survey last week, but now Food Services Coordinator Bruce Haskell is asking them to redo it because of the possibility that someone tampered with the results. The survey — used for feedback about residence dining halls — was initially sent to students through e-mail by Housing and Food Services on Nov.

Senate votes to protect private land

Michigan senators approved legislation this week to keep governments from seizing landowners' private property for public use. A constitutional amendment passed 35-3 which would change the state constitution to keep governments from forcing private landowners to sell their land to be used by governments for economic development or increased tax revenues.

Proposal would give voice students longer lessons

Kyle Harwood has a 60-minute, one-on-one lesson with his voice professor each week, but he said he could always use more time. To keep up with competitive programs at other universities, such as the University of Michigan, the MSU School of Music is looking to increase the amount of practice time available for undergraduates as part of a proposed curriculum update. "Making voice lessons longer for a performance major can only make it better," said Harwood, a vocal music performance sophomore.

WEB ONLY: 'Yoga Jamboree' held to promote good health

The Medical Yoga Club of MSU is holding a "Yoga Jamboree" this weekend to promote good health and relaxation with non-strenuous exercise. The event is from 10 a.m.

Fieger denies Cox's claim

It's still unclear how Republican Attorney General Mike Cox's admission that he had an extramarital affair, or his accusation that Geoffrey Fieger was going to blackmail him about it, could affect the 2006 attorney general's race. "The big question is whether or not anybody is going to be charged with a crime," said Bill Ballenger, editor and publisher of Inside Michigan Politics, a Lansing-based political newsletter.

Event celebrates Hindu festival

Strands of colored Christmas lights and lively traditional music welcomed visitors to the "Diwali Mela 2005" celebration in the McDonel Hall Kiva on Thursday night. During the about three-hour event, the Hindu festival of lights participants had an opportunity to paint pottery and get henna body art. The event, put on by the Coalition of Indian Undergraduate Students, or CIUS, also raised money for victims of the October earthquake in South Asia. Medical technology junior Haile Jones said she has come for the past three years and that she enjoys the culture. "They have some cool dances I would love to learn," Jones said.

Dorms add cultural fare to dinners

Carol Mejia has been cooking fry bread since she was 5 years old and doesn't share her recipe with anyone. As she mixed the fry bread batter, Mejia began to tell stories about how different recipes were passed down in her family. Mejia, who is American Indian, prepared meals from scratch at Thursday's authentic American Indian dinner in Holmes Hall. The dinner included smoked whitefish, whole strawberries served in wooden bowls, buffalo burgers, corn on the cob, asparagus, squash soup, venison stew and blueberry cake. November is Native American History Month. Anita Sandel, food service manager for Holmes Hall, said that students were her motive for creating more culturally rich dinners. "I worked with the Department of Residence Life, and we decided to have more diversity with dinner," Sandel said.

LCC East plans for expansion

Officials at Lansing Community College announced plans Thursday to expand their newly opened east campus by spring semester. Lansing Community College East, 2827 Eyde Parkway, is a two-story facility located south of Hannah Plaza off Hagadorn Road. The eight-classroom second floor opened this fall, and about 500 students are currently enrolled in classes there. The expansion will complete the first floor of the building — adding six more classrooms and pushing the size of the center to 20,000 square feet. The first floor was still under construction Thursday, with unfinished drywall, but should be completed by January. The finished facility will be able to accommodate 3,000 students, but enrollment this spring will likely be closer to 1,000, said Jean Morciglio, LCC's executive director for strategic enrollment management. College officials took a "wait and see" approach to completing the building, Morciglio said.

Local law experts to debate race issues

Four experts will debate on Monday on whether affirmative action in higher education should be allowed. The event will be held at 6:30 p.m.