MSU relay to benefit cancer research

Spartans can walk it out and help find a cure for cancer at the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life at 6 p.m.

Group aims to inform men on sexual abuse

After working with male domestic violence offenders, Ted Bunch saw the need to integrate men into the fight against domestic and sexual abuse against women. Bunch is the senior program director of a domestic violence accountability program in New York.

Olin to offer help for nicotine addicts

A new nicotine anonymous 12-step program will take place from noon to 1 p.m. every Wednesday in 247 Olin Health Center starting on May 9. Those who would like to be free of their nicotine addiction may attend, even if they are still currently smoking.

MSU to build first disc golf course

The biggest opponent the MSU Disc Golf club faces in its quest to build a new course on campus? Dogs. "We don't want dogs chasing after the Frisbees or jumping on the players or participants," said Angela Michael, assistant director of Intramural Sports and Recreative Services. The club is set to begin construction next week on a disc golf course located at the 40-acre Ag Expo lot on south campus.

Day pays tribute to environmental issues

Want to celebrate your connection with Mother Earth? Sunday is your chance — it's Earth Day. The holiday was created in 1970, the culmination of the environmental movement of the 1960s, said Terry Link, MSU's director of campus sustainability. "There is a Mother's Day and a Father's Day," Link said.

Police briefs 04/20/07

Without students, courses could go

Joe Genetin-Pilawa's summer paycheck depends on whether a class he is teaching off campus reaches its minimum enrollment requirement. The history graduate student is teaching Modern United States history this summer in Birmingham. As of Wednesday, nine students were enrolled in the class.

ASMSU chairpersons ready for new term

Eric Hinojosa is excited to "hit the ground running" in his second consecutive term as ASMSU's Academic Assembly chairperson.

Police briefs 04/19/07

MSU researchers log on to Facebook

Across the country, academic researchers are trying to solve the mystery surrounding Facebook.com, mainly why students use the social networking site. Three faculty members in the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media are working on a series of student surveys about Facebook use to research both negative and positive impacts on social capital. Social capital is the benefit people get from their relationships with others, Assistant Professor Nicole Ellison said. "(We're) trying to figure out really what does it mean to be friends with someone on Facebook," Ellison said. For hospitality business sophomore Kristin Schweitzer, Facebook is a way for her to keep in touch with friends she has at other schools. "It's hard to keep up with what they're doing with their daily lives," she said, adding that she created her profile after she graduated from high school two years ago. In the past month, MSU researchers sent out a survey to 2,700 MSU students, of which 700 had been contacted a year ago. The questions on the survey were about students' use of the Web site and how that has changed over time, Assistant Professor Cliff Lampe said. One change that stood out, Lampe said, was many students have activated their privacy settings during the past year. "We've been tracking privacy settings all along, and (the number) has tripled," he said. Schweitzer said she has activated the privacy settings on her own account and also is careful of what information she provides on her profile. "I know companies are looking at your Facebook," she said, referring to potential employers.

WEB EXTRA: E.L. residents to be honored

The 20th annual Crystal Awards reception will be at 5 p.m. today in the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road. Three residents are awarded the honor for their efforts to enhance the quality of life in East Lansing.

Speaker to encourage end to violence

MSU Safe Place is hosting a presentation on how men and women can work together to end violence against women. Ted Bunch, who co-founded A Call to Men, will speak at 2 p.m.

Activists fight for arts

Lansing — Legislative efforts to cut funding from Michigan's art and cultural groups are crippling the state's economy, activists argued Wednesday during a rally outside the Capitol Building in Lansing. About 200 people attended the rally, which was organized to protest Gov.

Students protest with silence

For more than 10 hours Wednesday, education junior Natasha Smith was silent. She didn't speak, she didn't laugh.

Union members picket near site

A 10-foot inflatable rat with possessed-looking red eyes towered next to the construction site on Farm Lane Road and East Circle Drive. The rodent was supposed to symbolize non-union workers, said Ben Lyons, a laborer from the Laborers' Local Union 499. The Ann Arbor-based union began picketing at the site Monday because workers there are not unionized.

E.L. joins agreement to cut greenhouse gases

East Lansing joined the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement on Tuesday afternoon, fulfilling a long line of requests from residents concerned about global warming. Signing the agreement will add to the list of wise decisions East Lansing already has made, said Aileen Gow, director of Urban Options, an environmental education center. "This is a continuance of a long history of good decisions, and they are getting better," she said.

Murderers could get life sentences

Last fall, Christopher Lucas killed his girlfriend's mother with stomps to the head so ferocious, his boots left imprints. But because of a "loophole" in the law, the 25-year-old Lyon Township resident was convicted of second-degree murder — giving him a chance for parole, said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard. The outcome of this trial inspired Bouchard, Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca and Rep.

Residents can take crash course on city

Students have an opportunity to hone their political skills through a new community leadership program sponsored by East Lansing. The city is launching the East Lansing Emerging Leaders Program to give residents a 10-week crash course this fall on the city's governmental process. The program, slated to run September through November, will cover the formats, processes and laws binding city government. "A lot of people might want to become involved but feel they don't have the knowledge or experience, but we want to give them the opportunity," said Marie McKenna, executive assistant to the city manager. In order to create a diverse, yet intimate, learning environment, the program will include about 20 community participants chosen through a comprehensive application process, McKenna said. Any East Lansing resident over the age of 18 can apply to join the program.

Victims use shirts to remember

On Tuesday, silenced victims of sexual violence shared their stories. Some women described how they were raped.

Detroit representative on trial for perjury

State House Appropriations Committee meetings came to a halt last week because its chairman is on trial for two perjury-related offenses. Rep.