Almost every weekday afternoon, a handful of MSU students take the ice at Munn Ice Arena during the rink's open skate hours and begin their winter workout. "It's like exercise, but its fun," accounting senior Jake Tech said.
The dean of MSU's College of Human Medicine and the new discussion facilitator for the college's move to Grand Rapids met Monday. Dean Glenn Craig Davis and Steven Heacock, currently chief administrative officer and chief legal officer of IdeaSphere Inc., in Grand Rapids, met for the first time since Heacock's appointment last week. Sherry Tompkins, spokeswoman for the college, said the meeting was positive. "The dean is very pleased about the formation of this group and the appointment of Steve," Tompkins said. Heacock said the entire committee of stakeholders for the move will meet Wednesday.
Members of the MSU community have until the end of this month to nominate those who help broaden society's view of diversity. The Excellence in Diversity Recognition and Awards program, or EIDA, created in 1990, promotes and encourages diversity by recognizing people in the MSU community who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and creativity in that area, said Office for Affirmative Action, Compliance and Monitoring Director Paulette Granberry Russell. "It gives us an opportunity to distinguish efforts of those who have supported issues around diversity broadly defined," Granberry Russell said.
Students taking a Catholic theology course at a local church can receive three MSU credits this semester.
Alex Gottschalk recently received what his colleagues call one of the most prestigious awards in nuclear medicine.
Medical technology senior Judith Njogu won first place in the second Annual International Student Essay Contest sponsored by MSU's Office for International Students and Scholars. Njogu, of Kenya, will receive the top prize of $1,000. Like many participants, Njogu wrote about her experience in the United States, describing her shock from cultural differences.
A vigil at the rock on Farm Lane for an MSU student who died in a car accident during winter break was not as peaceful as was hoped for, participants said. The vigil, held Sunday at 4 p.m.
It's been more than two months since the passage of Proposal 2, but Jon Hoadley, chairman for the MSU Stonewall Democrats, said the fight for equal rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community has only just begun. MSU students and representatives from several local and statewide LGBT and allied groups will hold a rally on Wednesday in opposition to the proposal. "Proposal 2 should be interpreted as narrowly as possible," said Hoadley, a social relations senior. Hoadley said the months of opposition to Proposal 2 have been "a difficult battle," but the MSU LGBT campus groups have been meeting regularly to discuss legislative ways to protect their rights. The rally will include speeches from families who are directly affected by the amendment and Rep.
Researchers at MSU have created a compound that could make cancer medication more effective and possibly even cure the disease. "This could potentially mean big things," said Jezte Tepe, the chemistry professor who led the cancer research team.
It's been two years since ASMSU has had a working Web site. But MSU's undergraduate student government changed that on Friday with the launch of a new site. The Web site - www.asmsu.msu.edu - has several links that define various branches under the ASMSU governance.
Three MSU students won Undergraduate Research Fellowships awarded by the American Society of Microbiology. Microbiology seniors James Doroghazi, Mark Koenigsknecht and Kacey Sachen were selected for the fellowship from a nationwide pool. The fellowship is awarded to students pursuing graduate degrees in microbiology.
Three doctoral programs in MSU's College of Communication Arts and Sciences were ranked first by the National Communication Association (NCA). The association surveys doctoral programs in the area of communication every 10 years and ranked MSU first in the fields of health communication, communication and technology and mass communication.
With students returning to the banks of snow outside their residence halls, overcrowded dorms now could be the least of their campus worries. Last semester, 744 rooms were overcrowded, but housing issues have been resolved and three students to a room is nonexistent this spring.
Another step in the effort to move MSU's College of Human Medicine to Grand Rapids was taken last week, with the appointment of a new discussion facilitator. Steven Heacock, a former Kent County Commission chairman, was asked to join a group of stakeholders in the transition, which includes leaders from MSU, Spectrum Health, Saint Mary's Health Care and Grand Valley State University. The group is led by David Van Andel, the chairman and chief executive officer of the Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids. Heacock will work with the team of leaders to gather perspectives so each member of the group will have the same background information.
After being named last year's number one mascot, Sparty has something else to cheer about - his picture on thousands of bottles of soda. MSU and Jones Soda Co., a Seattle-based beverage maker, came to an agreement in December to feature pictures of Sparty, the Universal Cheer Association's 2004 Mascot of the Year, on a series of bottles. About 60,000 bottles of the soda, in green apple and cream soda flavors, will feature six different labels with pictures of Sparty around campus.
Third grader Thomas Gore has the coolest ride in his class at Henry H. North Elementary School in Lansing, said MSU mechanical engineering seniors. A metallic red bike, which sports silver flames on a faux gas tank, was designed and built by Laurie Emerson, Neal Koenig, Kelly Stahley, Jeff Staniszewski and Tim Strand as part of the Shell Humanitarian Project.
In the face of large money contracts from soda companies for exclusive "pouring rights" on campus, MSU continues to provide both Pepsi and Coca-Cola to students. More than half of all Big Ten universities have exclusive contracts with either PepsiCo, Inc. or the Coca-Cola Company, with some contracts totaling more than $20 million. But MSU will continue to provide soda from multiple companies, said Marta Mittermaier, manager for MSU Food Stores and the official in charge of beverage contracts. "This gives us more opportunities to meet our customers' needs," she said.
The Food and Drug Administration is considering a patch that increases female sexual desire and pleasure, but it's too early to tell who will benefit, said Elaine Plummer, spokesperson for manufacturer Procter & Gamble. "We hear from women loud and clear that there is this medical need and we are committed to answering that need," Plummer said.
Nell goes nuts when she's kept indoors. But when the 7-year-old border collie spied a pen of four nervous sheep in the Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education arena, she got down to work. Owner George Good swept an arc in the air with his arms, and with a "whooshing" whistle, Nell shot into the pen.
ASMSU's Web site has been inoperable for the past two weeks because its Web designer is awaiting information from ASMSU's staff, Student Assembly Chairperson Andrew Schepers said. He added that the Web designer has given a personal commitment to the Web site so it will be working by the first of the year. "It's awful that we don't have a Web site," Schepers said. The Web site has been awaiting improvement since October, when the Student Assembly passed money for a new Internet server. The Web site would contain information about representatives, passed bills and general activity of the student government.