MSU Hillel Jewish Student Center recently decided to bring some fresh faces to its Executive Board. Five new officers were elected earlier this month to bring a new direction to the organization, which promotes Jewish identity on campus. Jennifer Bloom, a political theory and international relations sophomore, will serve as the organization's next president.
A year after one of the largest pro-choice rallies was held in Washington, D.C., pro-choice groups from across Michigan gathered at the Capitol to urge legislators to support women's reproductive rights. Women and men spent the day speaking to their legislators and making signs and then joined a rally where they listened to speakers talk about pro-choice issues. "We need to reach pro-choice candidates and get them to run and send anti-choice legislators back to their districts where they belong," said Rebekah Warren, executive director of MARAL Pro-Choice Michigan. The master of ceremonies for the rally was Nancy Skinner, a self-proclaimed liberal radio host from Illinois.
Means to improve faculty participation and power in the university were the focus of discussion at the Academic Senate meeting on Tuesday. The Faculty Voice Committee, a group created at last year's senate meeting to make recommendations on faculty involvement, presented its final report to a crowd of 142 faculty members.
A report released Tuesday by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs reports that, although crime rates in general are declining, violence against lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender people are still on the rise. Both nationally and in Michigan, the number of anti-LBGT crimes increased by 4 percent in 2004.
In the Main Library, MSU's 150-year history is displayed in three glass cases. Books written by and about influential campus figures, maps from before the existence of many residence halls and sheet music to the MSU fight song sit in the cases, providing insight into the people and places that helped shape the university. The three exhibits run through May and are part of MSU's sesquicentennial celebration, a yearlong event that marks the 150th birthday of MSU. "We are celebrating the sesquicentennial campuswide, so it's only natural that the library would want to be a part of that," said Anita Ezzo, a food science and technology librarian and library exhibits coordinator. Ezzo produced the exhibit called "MSU 150: People, Places, Publications," which is located on the second floor of the Main Library's west wing.
Days away from their last scheduled meeting with university officials, members of the Graduate Employees Union and the MSU community rallied outside the Administration Building on Tuesday. The rally was meant to demonstrate awareness of the union's quest for a new contract from the university.
Imagine you're the director of public relations for a professional sports franchise. Your team has just lost its star player to free agency.
A $90,000 parking agreement between the city of East Lansing and MSU might be approved at tonight's City Council meeting. About 100 MSU faculty and staff could be displaced into East Lansing's parking system while a parking ramp to be located near Morrill Hall is constructed. "At peak times, we are at about 59 percent capacity," said Dan O'Connor, East Lansing's parking administrator.
For Jewish students participating in Passover this week, the Hillel Jewish Student Center, 360 Charles St., is offering lunch and dinner every day during the eight- day celebration. "It is difficult for students who do observe it, while living in dorms or on campus, since there are such strict dietary rules," said Jennifer Bloom, president of the Jewish Student Union.
The 36th Annual WalkAmerica event will be held at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Louis F. Adado Riverfront Park in Lansing. The walk is held by the Lansing Division of the March of Dimes and is intended to raise money for babies who are born premature. Opportunities at the event include a canine competition, in which dogs are judged as walkers cross the finish line, a spirit station with refreshments and a family fun area. To register or for more information, visit www.walkamerica.org or call (800) 525-WALK.
East Lansing's Youth Action Team and Prime Time Seniors' Program are hosting the Vegetable Soup Variety Show from 6 p.m.
The third provost candidate to visit campus might soon be able to sing the MSU fight song - in five different languages. Uday Sukhatme, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the State University of New York at Buffalo, can speak Italian, French, two Indian languages and English.
Juan Ibanes was searching for subleasing opportunities last week on the message board www.allMSU.com, a free online forum for MSU students to share housing options, professor ratings and other information. Sifting through hundreds of postings with ambiguous titles such as "CHEAP SUBLEASE!!!" and "cute house for the summer!," Ibanes said he became increasingly frustrated. "There was about 40 every hour that keep getting added on all the time," the telecommunication, information studies and media junior said.
The Lansing Area Safety Council, 3315 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in Lansing, is offering the National Safety Council Defensive Driving Course from 6 p.m.
Derek Wallbank, College of Communication Arts & Sciences representative for ASMSU, believes there are options other than alcohol for students during the Welcome Week celebrations at the beginning of each school year. Welcome Week is the first few days before classes begin, when freshmen have the opportunity to become used to the college lifestyle. "Some people have weird ideas of what happens in college," Wallbank said.
Joe Greiner's Friday wasn't starting out as easily as he would have liked. A power drill he was using completely failed to bite into the painted screw heads of the loft he was tearing down. "Are they keeping this one?" said Greiner, a food industry management junior.
By Lindsey Poisson Special for The State News After weather conditions forced a community landscaping event to be postponed Saturday, East Lansing's Community Relations Coalition still went ahead with a field day inside Bailey Community Center. Liza Walter, 7, sat eating pizza with her mother after spending close to an hour riding a tricycle, coloring a large paper banner and watching a magician do card tricks. "My favorite thing was drawing on the poster," Liza Walter said.