MSU
Students to discuss own research
MSU's annual undergraduate student conference about Latin America and the Caribbean begins Wednesday with a 3 p.m.
MSU
Graduate students surveyed
So, you're a graduate student at MSU. Do you think your college is preparing you well enough for life after graduation?
MSU
Building community strength
An instructor's voice echoes across the room. Out loud, he counts slowly from one to 11. His commands resonate with meaning, and with each number, 15 children jump into different Tae Kwon Do positions. Their smiling parents, mostly immigrants, watched the scene from a row of chairs lining a wall in the Wilson Hall basement room. "You can see the passion in their faces," said Miriam Patel, as her 8-year-old son, Nabeel Vali, executed the martial arts moves.
MSU
Horse show's judges offer advice
For some Michigan 4-Hers, Sunday offered a chance to get advice on their horsemanship skills without the typical pressures of competition. Participants in the 4-H Hairy Horse Clinic at the Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education were given the opportunity to perform with their horses and be critiqued by Michigan's 4-H Club judges, who donated their time.
MSU
RHA meets, elects vice president
The MSU Residence Halls Association general assembly elected its vice president for the 38th session at its meeting held Wednesday night. Chris Wickman, who has been with RHA since his freshman year, was elected by a majority vote.
MSU
Greek councils enforce grade-report policy
MSU's Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils are enforcing a policy that reviews the academic skills of MSU's greek community to showcase the stronger chapters and provide motivation for the struggling houses. Every semester, the two councils send every greek chapter grade cards to fill out, and the information is collected and put into a comprehensive grade report.
MSU
Portuguese film shows soldier's life
The Portuguese-language film "O Her-i" will be shown at 5:30 p.m. today in Room 206 Old Horticulture Building. The film, presented as part of the weekly Romance Language Film Series, is about a soldier who fought for the Angolan army for 20 years.
MSU
Changing restriction
By the end of his sophomore year at East Lansing High School, Charlie Kroom had run out of math classes to take, so he kept moving to the next level — MSU. Last semester, Kroom enrolled in a 200-level multivariable calculus class.
MSU
Speech to focus on gender stereotypes
Michael Messner will speak about gender issues from 6-8 p.m. today in Parlor C of the Union. Messner is a professor of sociology and the sociology department chairman at the University of Southern California.
MSU
WEB EXTRA: Club to host reptile open house
The MSU Herpetology Club presents "Snakes on a Campus," which will take place from 6:30-9 p.m.
MSU
Council looks for student speakers
The deadline for seniors to apply to speak at the May 4 undergraduate commencement is 5 p.m. Friday. To apply, submit five copies of your proposed speech and application to the Senior Class Council in 101 Student Services. For more information, visit www.commencement.msu.edu.
MSU
Athletic training may become major
When Lindsey Coleman graduates in May, she may be one of the last MSU students to graduate with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology with a specialization in athletic training. That's because the 27-credit specialization may be disbanded and become a major. "So many people are into physical therapy, and physician assistants and various medical professions," Coleman said.
MSU
Act might boost trips abroad
MSU could be at the forefront of a rush to grab federal dollars that would help send students overseas. Legislation to get one million U.S.
MSU
Columnist John Bice discusses new book
If you read The State News, you're probably familiar with the name John Bice. The freelance writer and MSU alumnus writes columns for The State News that often provoke a mix of praise and criticism from his readers.
MSU
WEB EXTRA: Gender identity proposal moves to board
A proposal to add gender identity to the university's anti-discrimination policy was unanimously approved by Academic Council Tuesday.
MSU
MSU hires new college spokesman
MSU College of Human Medicine's expansion into Grand Rapids is becoming more evident as university officials hired a former state representative as spokesman. Jerry Kooiman, a Republican who represented Grand Rapids from 2004-06, began working on an interim basis as The Secchia Center's director for community affairs in February. His position was cemented in the college earlier this month. Denise Holmes, associate dean for the college, said Kooiman's extensive connections in Grand Rapids made him the prime candidate for the job, which will involve briefing community leaders about the status of the project and representing MSU in West Michigan. "We thought he'd be an effective spokesperson for the medical school," Holmes said.
MSU
Mortgage plan saves green
The idea of buying their own homes may seem daunting to new college graduates. But there is a little-utilized mortgage program that can make the decision easier for anyone looking to get started building home equity right away. It also can help green-leaning homeowners limit their impact on the environment. An Energy Efficient Mortgage, or EEM, allows homeowners to borrow up to 15 percent more on their mortgage than the home's appraised value.
MSU
MSU responds to group's criticism
Critics of an MSU's disciplinary program said they're confused by the university's response in reviewing the program. In February, MSU officials said the seminar was an optional punishment for students found violating a university regulation. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, or FIRE, said the Student Accountability in Community Seminar stifles students' constitutional rights and demanded the program's termination, prompting the university review. The accountability seminar was presented by officials from Student Life and MSU Safe Place at a 2002 Association of Student Judicial Affairs' International Conference, which FIRE's president, Greg Lukianoff, attended. "Every day they run the SAC (Student Accountability in Community) program, they're violating the Constitution of the United States," Lukianoff said. In a March 7 letter to the foundation, Lee June, MSU's vice president for Student Affairs and Services, responded to the criticism by saying "For those students who have been sanctioned through the judicial process, we see no problem in their participating in the SAC program." "Students will not be required to enter this program as the only sanction for a violation, but it will be offered as an option," he wrote. But Lukianoff said his organization is "trying to figure out what the letter actually meant." "It wasn't very clear," he said.
MSU
WEB EXTRA: MSU College of Law wins moot court competition for 2nd consecutive year
Knowing how to think quickly, maintain clear body language and face adversity are three main components in becoming a well-prepared lawyer. Just ask third-year law students Sean Caruthers and Susan Lumetta, MSU's Moot Court & Advocacy Board representatives who took first place at the 2007 Robert F.
MSU
Hockey club wins national championship
Not being recognized by the university doesn't keep the 25 players who make up the Spartans' club hockey team from playing with green-and- white pride. The MSU club hockey team beat Davenport University, 5-4, on March 11 after defenseman Jeff Marley's overtime goal to win its second American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II national championship in the last three years. After splitting with Davenport in the regular season, but losing 7-3 in the Great Midwest Hockey League final, the Spartans knew they would be playing the role of the underdog. "We knew we would have to jump on them early and quickly," said John Perkovich, food industry management junior and team captain.