'Two Men' teach students about corporate training, offer tour

Six MSU students in a management class toured a Lansing company Friday afternoon for insight into the business world. The class field trip to the international headquarters of Two Men and a Truck, 3400 Belle Chase Way in Lansing, gave the students a firsthand account about how corporations train their employees, said Garth Motschenbacher, the class instructor and an academic advisor in the College of Engineering. The out-of-classroom opportunity, he said, allowed students to see a local example of a company that has developed an entire on-site training facility for its personnel. The company, which was formed in 1985 in Lansing, by Mary Ellen Sheets, has grown into 152 franchise locations in 27 states. Marketing senior Kate Padden said she wanted to learn more about the process of turning a small business into a franchise. "I'm interested in entrepreneurship," Padden said.

Absentee voting laws in other states similar to Mich. bill

In Las Vegas, citizens can vote two weeks before Election Day in a shopping mall, and in Iowa, voters can cast a ballot 40 days early in a grocery store.

GEU approves plan for strike

Members of the Graduate Employees Union moved one step closer to striking last week by unanimously approving a strike platform. The strike platform is a statement of the issues members will not give up on in negotiations with the university for a new contract.

Cleanup volunteers drag trunk, bikes from river

Kim Snook's Haslett High School biology class couldn't believe the things they saw pulled out of the Grand River or found along the banks on Saturday - bicycles in good condition, a large trunk, a bone and a coat. Snook brought her class to the Adopt A River program to clean up the river and its banks and trails. She said the event tied in perfectly with Earth Day on April 22 and a recent class unit on humans' impact on the environment. "I think they see the effects down here more than in the school," Snook said. About 300 people braved dropping temperatures and sleet to participate in the cleanup, which is in its 11th year, Adopt A River coordinator Jennifer Rostar said. "It's amazing that people were willing to come out even with the bad weather," Rostar said, as she watched the shivering volunteers attempt to get warm under the Shiawassee Street bridge. The event was held one day after Earth Day and about a week before Arbor Day on April 29.

ASMSU chooses board leaders at meeting

MSU's undergraduate student government chose leaders Thursday, with some controversy about who is the best person for the job. ASMSU selected its only candidate for the student funding board vice chairperson, and after three votes, made a decision for the leader of the student programming board, which will be for the entire 2005-06 school year. English junior Brandon Hicks was the sole candidate for the Student Funding ballot and was unanimously voted vice chairperson.

Project sets up 6 collection locations

Every year, about 1,500 bicycles are abandoned on campus. These bikes are picked up by the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety after students leave to go home.

MSU finds its Muse with mtvU

A mini British invasion swept through campus on Saturday as mtvU's Campus Invasion 2005 Tour made a stop at Breslin Center with performances by London-based bands Razorlight and Muse.

Area unharmed after spring snowfall

Although the unexpected snowfall left many people shivering this weekend, on the roads and in the fields there were few problems, police said. The almost 3 inches of snow that covered the Lansing area this weekend was not a local record, said Walt Felver, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Grand Rapids branch. That record is held with 11 inches of snow on May 9, 1923, Felver said. About 2.9 inches of snow accumulated in the area as of Sunday evening since Saturday, Felver said.

UAB helps students 'just chill'

The smells of ocean rain and cactus flower and the sounds of a trickling forest stream drifted through the International Center on Saturday as students relieved the stress of finals preparation. Dozens of students braved the chill outside to attend the "Chill at the I.C." inside, a University Activities Board-sponsored event that featured free massages, yoga lessons, Pilates and other tension relievers. UAB communications officer and advertising sophomore Tiffany Weber said the event was part of the group's extended "Just Chill Weekend," which included a craft night, open-mic night and free ice skating at Munn Ice Arena. "It seemed appropriate with finals coming up to have just a whole week of relaxation," Weber said. At the event, students also could enjoy free ice cream cones, paint their nails, create their own massage oils or play a quiet game of Yahtzee or Guess Who. The featured speaker for the night was social work graduate student Beth Krenek, who discussed ways students could cope with the multitude of exams, term papers and lab reports. Krenek said the average person has more than 50,000 thoughts a day, which can often overwhelm and frustrate them to the point where they shut down and stop focusing on each individually. "A lot of times, when we have something to do, we waste time worrying about the thing instead of just doing it," Krenek said.

Abu Ghraib torture debated

After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, insurance lawyer Shereef Akeel said more Muslim clients from Iraq who were discriminated against came to him for legal help.

Police briefs 04/22/05

B.R.A.D. program observes 5th anniversary

After her son died on his 21st birthday in 1998 from alcohol poisoning, Cynthia McCue sent birthday cards to her son Bradley's friends as they turned 21. "It was very difficult for them," she said.

Awards reception to recognize students

Several scholarships will be awarded to students at the 21st annual Awards and Appreciation Reception today from 2 p.m.

Student guitarists play at Union

Guitarists of the world unite. Members of the MSU Guitar Club descended on the Union on Thursday as part of the University Activities Board's Noontimes performance. During the event, zoology senior and club member Ivan Orlic played some songs from his native Peru, as well as songs such as REM's "Losing My Religion." Orlic, who started playing classical guitar while growing up in Lima, Peru, said the instrument helped him make friends when he came to the United States to study at MSU. "I meet anyone who is playing a guitar," Orlic said.

New store keeps 7-Eleven layout

With the same frozen slush machines, store setup and paint scheme, the 24/7 convenience store, 210 Michigan Ave., remains very similar to 7-Eleven, the store it took over. Ami Bhatt, manager of the new store, said this is partly because it only has been open for a couple of weeks, since April 5.

Singh focuses on student-city relations

Editor's note: This is the fifth in a five-part series to reintroduce the people who run East Lansing.

Professor honored for teaching skills

Professor honored for teaching skills Richard Zinman, a university distinguished professor in James Madison College and the Department of Political Science, is this year's recipient of the seventh annual Honors College Award for Distinguished Contributions to Honors Students.

Open house for MSU Cyclotron Saturday

The National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory will host its first open house on Saturday. The event is from 1 p.m.

Campus groups work to expand MSU's recycling

With signs to reduce, reuse and recycle, members of campus environmental groups said they will try to remind students of some things they might have forgotten from elementary school. Both the Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment, or RISE, and Eco will join forces at the rock on Farm Lane today to celebrate Earth Day. "Every day is Earth Day, but it is important to have an Earth Day to remind people who might be too busy to think about it," said zoology senior Sowkya Rangarajan, who is a member of RISE and Eco. Members will collect petition signatures today for a comprehensive recycling program at MSU and inform students of ways they can be more Earth-friendly. Members also stood on campus Wednesday and Thursday and said they received a good response from many people who checked out their information. The campus needs a facility to sort and bail recycled material, rather than having to pay to send it off campus, Rangarajan said.

Provost forum notes Foster's prior experience

Brian Foster is a first-generation college student who believes education needs to be accessible, especially at a land-grant institution.