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MSU

Profs earn international accolades

Justin Kroll
September 22, 2006

The French government honored two MSU professors for their work in the humanitarian studies of French culture. Anna Norris and Ehsan Ahmed, professors in the MSU French, Classics and Italian department, were named Chevaliers dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques, or Knights in the Order of Academic Palms — one of the oldest and most-honored awards a person can receive from the French government. MSU professors previously have been recognized four other times. Professor and department chairman John Rauksaid said both professors are great representations of what the department and university want out of their teachers. "We, as a department, are very honored by two of our professors receiving this title," Rauk said.

MSU

Pimpology

Peter Nichols
September 22, 2006

Mattresses lined the floor of Wonders Hall Kiva on Thursday night as part of a program teaching students about maintaining healthy sexual relationships. "Pimpology: It's About the Relationship," a program initiated by Case Hall resident mentor Evan Fowler-Guzzardo, is designed to teach students how to carry on healthy, meaningful relationships — including sexual ones. "It's about the relationship between you and your significant other, you and your roommate and even how you understand yourself," Fowler-Guzzardo said. Using the word "pimp" in the event's title puzzled some students who attended, but Fowler-Guzzardo said the reason for it was simple. "I chose the name Pimpology because I wanted to show that being a player or being a pimp isn't constructive to the kinds of relationships that are so meaningful in college.

MSU

Focus on bioeconomy

Holly Klaft
September 21, 2006

When Mariam Sticklen watched gas prices nearly quadruple during the oil crisis of the 1970s, the then-Ohio State graduate student knew she had to do something to help. "Back in the '70s, we didn't do anything to start solving problems, and that was the time to start," Sticklen said. Sticklen then moved to Michigan and into the emerging field of biotechnology to research ethanol production.

MSU

Dean: College's future looks high tech

Holly Klaft
September 20, 2006

After spending more than two decades at MSU, Marsha Rappley said she's still learning. The MSU College of Human Medicine graduate and former nurse has been an MSU faculty member since 1988 and was named dean of the college Friday. "My learning curve was very steep and continues to be very steep," said Rappley, who served as acting dean of the college for the past year. Rappley said there will be a lot of hard work ahead, as plans for the college's expansion to Grand Rapids move into the final stages, and she begins collaborating with other MSU colleges. "It's a challenge to keep movement on all fronts, and it's important in research and clinical enterprise," Rappley said. The medical college is looking at creating joint-degree programs with other colleges, such as the College of Engineering, and integrating more technology into classes, she said. "The synergy between engineering and medicine is enormous," Rappley said.

MSU

Innovations: Tomatoes

Fredricka Paul
September 20, 2006

Name: Robert Last, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, and other researchers from MSU, the University of Michigan and the University of Arizona Department: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Date of research: Last has been working with tomatoes for about six months. Type of research: Plant biology and genetics Basics of research: "We are interested in finding the genes that are involved in making trichomes, the little hairs on plants, and the chemicals involved in making the chemicals in the little hairs," Last said.

MSU

Comforting cotton

Peter Nichols
September 20, 2006

Victims of Hurricane Katrina will be warmer this winter as a result of a clothing drive that collected denim for insulation on Tuesday in front of Shaw Hall. Cotton Inc. and the MSU Public Relations Student Society of America, or PRSSA, hosted Cotton's Dirty Laundry Tour, which is a 14-stop nationwide event to educate students about cotton clothing. MSU is the second stop of the tour. The event served as an outlet for the "Cotton.

MSU

Simon visits Capitol to discuss economy

Holly Klaft
September 19, 2006

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon will meet with industry and university leaders from the U.S. and Mexico for a conference in Washington, D.C., today. The conference will be held by the Council on Competitiveness and the Mexican Institute of Competitiveness to talk about obstacles both countries face in a global economy. The groups will discuss forming strong links between higher-education institutions in the countries and workforce training.

MSU

U-M president faces MCRI

Cash Kruth
September 19, 2006

Lansing — As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to allow the consideration of race when admitting students, University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman visited Lansing yesterday, encouraging high school students to apply for colleges within the state. Since lawsuits were filed against U-M because of the possible use of race as a factor to determine admission, the university has experienced a decline in applicants, particularly minorities. "We experienced a significant drop around 2002-03 as the case became more visible and national," said Veronica Johnson, director of the University of Michigan-Lansing Service Center.

MSU

Pro-life rally features speakers, musicians

Lindsay Machak
September 18, 2006

College students from across the state gathered on MSU's campus Saturday afternoon for an annual pro-life rally. The event was sponsored by MSU Students for Life, a pro-life group that educates the MSU community about abortion.

MSU

An evening of laughs

Joey Nowak
September 18, 2006

On a night that featured 11 of the funniest students MSU had to offer, it was a set of dance moves that earned Jerome Crawford the title of "Last Spartan Standing." Crawford, an interdisciplinary studies in social science junior, took home the honor Friday at the International Center. "I think (the dance routine) was comedy in itself, and I think it's something that people can relate to," Crawford said.

MSU

Sorority fundraiser to benefit Alzheimer's

Joey Nowak
September 15, 2006

On Sept. 17, MSU's Sigma Kappa sorority will walk a 5K to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer's Association has been raising money to fight the disease since 1989, using the Memory Walk as one of its largest fundraisers.

MSU

Trustees to vote on Brody, Mayo upgrades

Holly Klaft
September 15, 2006

Correction: The article should say the MSU Board of Trustees would vote on the planning and commencement of nine projects. More than $44 million in additional construction and renovation projects could be in store for MSU. The MSU Board of Trustees will vote on the planning of nine projects today at its first meeting of the semester. Some of the projects on the agenda include: • Renovations to Mayo and Brody halls. • Reconstruction of the traffic circle at Red Cedar and Wilson roads to form a four-way intersection with traffic lights. • Construction of a comprehensive campus recycling center near Service Road and Harrison Avenue, a $3.5 million project, where the current recycling center is located. Both Mayo and Brody halls could have floors and ceilings replaced and their roofs and exteriors renovated.

MSU

Study abroad information available at fair

Joey Nowak
September 15, 2006

MSU's Study Abroad Fair will be at the MSU Union from 12-6 p.m. on Sept. 21. Students will be able to talk with professors and former Study Abroad participants and see photos and artifacts from other trips.

MSU

Facing Michigan's future

Brendan Bouffard
September 15, 2006

A new book by MSU professor Charles Ballard outlines a path for Michigan's economic success. "Michigan's Economic Future" was written by the Stanford graduate in an attempt to identify the problems facing Michigan, specifically its heavy reliance on the manufacturing sector. Ballard also worked on "Michigan at the Millennium," a book that he said was too tough for most people to read. "It had a lot of good stuff in it," he said.

MSU

Speaker uses Bible for lecture series

By Andrea Humanic For The State News A man who grew up surrounded by suffering in Ghana and thought he could fix the problems through science is now speaking to students about addressing those issues using the Bible. Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, director of public campus ministries for the Michigan Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, is speaking in a series called "Living Without Fear," hosted by the Adventist Student Fellowship, or ASF, a Seventh-day Adventist student group at MSU. The lecture series began Sunday and takes place at 7 p.m.

MSU

Research pays off

Lindsey Poisson
September 14, 2006

Gov. Jennifer Granholm visited campus Wednesday to congratulate faculty who were awarded more than $13 million for their research in expanding industries. On Sept.