Saturday, December 27, 2025

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Campus

MSU

University introducing more advanced ID cards

MSU freshmen, whether they know it or not, are part of the university’s cutting-edge technology. Upon enrollment, first-year students were issued a new form of ID card that allows the university to store larger amounts of data than previous cards. Although other students still have old ID cards, all faculty and staff will transition to the new card this semester.

MSU

Scientists study plants for breakthrough

Imagine a world where a plant could be engineered for a specific job. It might sound like a scenario out of a science fiction novel, but biochemistry and molecular biology professor Robert Last is working on just that.

MSU

Students plan trip to energy conference

About 10,000 college students from around the nation, including about 70 from MSU, will travel to Washington, D.C., on Feb. 27 to engage in Power Shift ’09 — a youth conference to influence Congress and the Obama administration to enact legislation to combat global warming.

MSU

ASMSU chairperson steps down

A week after his job performance came into question, Christopher Kulesza resigned from chairperson of ASMSU’s Academic Assembly on Tuesday night. Kulesza planned to become the Director of University Budgets, but the assembly did not confirm him to that position.

MSU

Local man dies from cancer, familiar face lost to MSU

If you’ve spent enough time on MSU’s campus, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Bill Brooks. Maybe it was on a Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium, where Brooks attended every home game. Or maybe it was when Barack Obama came to East Lansing last year, with Brooks sitting in the front row, listening attentively to the future president.

MSU

Faculty Council addresses state budget cuts

The budget crunch, music therapy program and academic integrity had the attention of MSU’s Faculty Council at the body’s Tuesday meeting. MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said the university needs to do what is right not only for today, but for tomorrow, in terms of the budget and future cuts. “It is my personal view that everything we do is valuable, almost every thing we do is better than someone else and a case can be made for almost anything,” Simon said.

MSU

Stimulus may not ease costs

Students struggling to pay their way through MSU could benefit from the $787 billion stimulus package that President Barack Obama signed Tuesday. But questions still remain about how the funding will affect tuition costs. About $32 billion of the package is expected to go toward higher education. Part of that will be used to increase the maximum Pell Grant from $4,731 to $5,350 in 2009, and to $5,550 in 2010, according to The Associated Press.

MSU

Campus construction plans may receive stimulus money

If MSU receives any federal or state stimulus money for infrastructure improvements, the administration will be “shovel-ready.” At last week’s meeting, the Board of Trustees approved a resolution identifying several construction projects that could be ready to begin within 90 days of receiving any stimulus funds. Any construction on campus must be approved in the planning and construction stages by the board.

MSU

Students, laborers picket use of nonunionized workers

Orange signs and large inflatable rats have led to honking cars and a lot of questions for protesters at the Birch Road construction site. The use of nonunionized workers by Sandborn Construction Inc. for the groundwork on Birch Road has prompted protest from Laborers Local 499, a union that stated it feels that the Sandborn workers deserve better benefits.

MSU

Campus Bands holds concert Wednesday

The MSU Campus Bands, a program of the College of Music, will hold a concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Auditorium. Tickets are $9 for the public, $7 for senior citizens and free for students and those under 18. The Campus Bands will be split into two different bands that will perform different pieces during the concert. Music education senior Sarah Aungst, a band member, said while the band is affiliated with the College of Music, members aren’t all music students. “All kinds of students are in it and want to do it,” she said.