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MSU

Incident report withholds details on driver's actions

Lindsey Poisson
May 26, 2006

The investigation into Dannielle Brandt's on-campus death on Feb. 3 has been completed, but a copy of the incident report reveals no new information on what happened that night. The report obtained by The State News through the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, from the Meridian Township Police Department on Wednesday, has most of the information regarding the accident, driver and Brandt removed. The information that was blacked out was considered private information, said Cindy Cummings, FOIA coordinator for the Meridian Township Police Department. More than three months ago, Brandt was walking home from an event at the Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education, where she was walking her cow in preparation for an event the next day.

MSU

Distinguished Professor dies from cancer Monday

Lindsey Poisson
May 26, 2006

Michael Pressley, university distinguished professor of education, died Monday from cancer. Pressley was the director of the Literacy Achievement Research Center — a center focused on promoting literacy among adolescents and children. His funeral Mass will take place at 10:30 a.m.

MSU

2-year study abroad to involve Mich. businesses

Amy Oprean
May 24, 2006

More Michigan engineers, architects and contractors may soon have the opportunity to work in Eastern Europe, but not before getting a lesson or two in Eastern European culture. The MSU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is planning a two-year study abroad program with Michigan companies that would help former Soviet countries build new roads and buildings and undertake environmental cleanups.

MSU

Course to make Great Lakes Web site

Mara Deutch
May 24, 2006

MSU students can participate soon in a new online project in which they will collect and report information on issues concerning the Great Lakes. Beginning this fall, the Great Lakes Wiki project will allow students to do research on contaminated areas in the Great Lakes that have been identified by the U.S.

MSU

MSU professor dies, funeral to be held Friday

Holly Klaft
May 23, 2006

Political science professor Doug Hoekstra died Sunday from knee surgery complications. Hoekstra worked at MSU since 1969 and was a James Madison College faculty member. His funeral will be held Friday at the Okemos Presbyterian Church, 2258 Bennett Road, in Okemos.

MSU

Dairy Store expands to Union

The freshly painted pink and green walls of MSU Dairy Store's new branch in the Union are ready to welcome waves of ice cream lovers during the upcoming hot summer months. The store opened Saturday and already welcomed a crowd during the East Lansing Art Festival this past weekend.

MSU

Governor honors archaeology project

Justin Kroll
May 18, 2006

An archaeological dig to uncover the remains of Saints' Rest, the first MSU dorm — which burned down in 1876 — will receive the Governor's Award for Historic Preservation. "This is not just an honor for this dig," said Jodie O'Gorman, an assistant professor of anthropology who was in charge of the Saints' Rest dig.

MSU

Engineering endurance

Justin Kroll
May 17, 2006

The MSU Formula Racing team unveiled its new race car on Monday after more than a year of design, construction and testing. The green and white race car, No.

MSU

Celebrating Sparty

Mara Deutch
May 16, 2006

Prancing around MSU sports games, spending quality time with the community or just hanging out at the library, Sparty is everywhere. And the Mascot Hall of Fame may be the next place he'll be hanging out.

MSU

Campus quiets down for summer

Silence filled the kiva, the classrooms and most of the hallways in McDonel Hall on Sunday afternoon. On the eve of the first day of summer classes, a fraction of the number of students who would be on campus August through April were settling into their dorm rooms and preparing for a quiet summer. McDonel and Owen Graduate halls are the only dormitories housing summer semester students for the next couple of months. Business and general management sophomore Jamie Clements is looking forward to the summer silence. "I'm here because it's quieter," he said. Clements is embarking on his first summer at MSU and plans to enjoy being away from home and having fewer students on campus.

MSU

Officials to decide college's name

Kristen Daum
April 28, 2006

The new residential college in the arts and humanities already has an acting dean selected and its curriculum approved — but no official name. University officials said the college won't receive a formal name anytime soon, since it won't open for another 16 months, but they are looking at options. "It probably is, at this point, just important to give it some time and spend some time thinking about it because once colleges are named, they don't very often get renamed," said June Youatt, associate provost for undergraduate education and dean of undergraduate studies. Construction begins May 8 on the residential college, which will be housed in Snyder and Phillips halls.

MSU

WEB EXTRA: The State News sits down with MSU's senior diversity advisor for Q&A

This school year saw racially charged events in residence halls and a growing concern about an initiative that could eliminate affirmative action agencies. As it draws to a close, many on campus hope the issues they have highlighted will continue to spark dialogue in the MSU community. Paulette Granberry Russell is one of those people. As the senior advisor to MSU President Lou Anna K.

MSU

WEB EXTRA: MSU advocacy coordinator wins national award

Carmen Lane means a lot of things to many people. When asked to describe Lane, an MSU advocacy coordinator, colleagues described her as "dedicated," "articulate," "committed to social justice" and "a visionary." Traits such as these are what earned Lane widespread recognition by receiving the National Award for Outstanding Response to and Prevention of Sexual Violence from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center in Enola, Pa., earlier this month. "Carmen's probably the best trainer I've known," said Ann Flescher, associate director for multicultural and clinical services at MSU's Counseling Center, where Lane coaches sexual assault advocates.

MSU

MSU employees' kids come to work

Melanie Thomas
April 28, 2006

With "passports" in hand and ready to get a view of the real world, children of MSU faculty and staff took over the second floor of the Union on Thursday for the annual Take Your Child to Work Day. Roughly 200 faculty members and their children participated in the event, which introduces children to the workplace, family responsibilities and community involvement, said Jodi Roberto Hancock, education program coordinator for the MSU Women's Resource Center. The national Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day also was Thursday, launched by the Ms. Foundation for Women in 2003. It originally was designed for daughters to explore career options, Roberto Hancock said. "People's values are changing," Roberto Hancock said.

MSU

Innovations: Measuring moods

Lindsay Machak
April 28, 2006

Name: Assistant Professor Laura Symonds Department: Psychiatry and radiology Title of research project: The Effect of Mood on Pain Perception Date of research: Symonds has been working on this project, which looks at depression and chronic pain, for the past five years, and it is continuing to evolve into new studies. Basics of the project: Symonds is looking at why people who have depression are at risk for developing chronic pain and why people who have chronic pain are at risk for developing depression. The study involves inducing moods and pain stimuli in people and watching how their brains react using a magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, machine. Her research team has found that when a sad mood is induced, chronic pain feels more intense than when a happy mood is induced, even if the stimulation is set at the same intensity. "The brain is telling them it hurts more, and what we are trying to figure out is how does the brain do that," Symonds said. As the subject reacts to the pain, the researchers watch how the brain modifies it, Symonds added. "One thing it's leading us toward is a real interest in how people can consciously change how a sensation feels," she said. Social impact of research: The goal of the project is to help people at risk for chronic pain disorder or depression, Symonds said. She also hopes to decrease that risk as a result of her research by understanding how the disorders are connected. "Hopefully we will be able to give people ideas on how to modify pain and depression," she said. Grants and funding: The cost of the project is about $100,000 per year.