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MSU

TAs march in attempt to save jobs

More than 150 graduate employees, undergraduates, and faculty members marched across the campus Thursday beating buckets like drums and carrying picket signs to gain attention from university officials about teaching assistant cuts. The march was organized by the Graduate Employees Union in response to at least 50 TAs who had received notice that they might not have positions in the fall because of the university's financial woes.

MSU

WEB ONLY: Coffeelovers get a taste of "Spartan Spirit"

Melissa Domsic
April 30, 2004

The residents of small farming villages in countries such as Nicaragua are benefiting from the work of Sparty's Cafes and MSU's Real Food Group, which works to improve the global food system. Earlier this month Sparty's Cafes and Coffeehouses started serving "Spartan Spirit," a Fair Trade certified coffee blend that is bought from the farmers at a higher wage to raise standards of living.

MSU

Professor honored as Sloan Research Fellow

Meghan Gilbert
April 30, 2004

An MSU chemistry professor has joined a group of 116 young scientists and economists who were honored as Sloan Research Fellows. Assistant Professor Aaron Odom will use the $40,000 grant for the two-year period to continue research in forming carbon nitrogen bonds. Odom, who has been at MSU for five years, leads a research group of undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students. "Nationwide, certainly there's a lot of people and I'm very honored to be on the list," Odom said. Odom said he's also excited for the options the extra money can provide. Department of Chemistry chairman John McCracken said the highly competitive research fellowship speaks well for the university. "These awards are given to the best young faculty and chemistry throughout the country," he said. The Sloan Research Fellowship Program awarded $4.64 million in its 49th year.

MSU

Campaign seeks to mediate file sharing

Meghan Gilbert
April 30, 2004

The Get Real Campaign, which started about two months ago, is looking to get college students and the Recording Industry Association of America to discuss alternatives to illegal file sharing. Campaign director Ethan Clay said the group is looking to get information out to college campuses after a second round of lawsuits were announced Wednesday.

MSU

Q & A with President McPherson

Amy Bartner
April 30, 2004

MSU President M. Peter McPherson sat down with several State News staff members, who asked him questions about recent university events. SN: Why the move to Grand Rapids? MPM: We have a very good medical school, but I think it's also true that with support, resources and help, we could have, academically, an extremely strong medical school.

MSU

A second home

It's mid-afternoon on Monday when the call comes in. The tone goes off - one single beep, followed by a deep male voice over a loudspeaker.

MSU

WEB ONLY: RHA to redesign four committees, dissolve two

Joseph Clark
April 30, 2004

At its last meeting of the semester, the Residence Halls Association decided to undertake a rather large issue - the General Assembly voted on restructuring all four standing committees. The bill, which passed the assembly, 17-0-2, Wednesday, will take effect in the fall.

MSU

Students honor 2 professors

Byron Brown has been in the Honors College for decades. A current economics professor, he's been an undergraduate adviser in economics for the Honors College and has sat on committees that have decided nominees for different academic awards. For all he's given, he's received some, too. Brown is a recipient of the 2004 Honors College Award for Distinguished Contributions to Honors Students, an annual award given based on nominations from current and former students.

MSU

Leaders honored for contributions

Sonia Khaleel
April 29, 2004

A cornucopia of club leaders, academic achievers, sorority and fraternity members and community volunteers came together in the dimly lit Union Ballroom on Tuesday night for the third annual Student Life Leadership Awards. "It's a token of how we feel about the good work they do during the academic year," said Fred Watson, assistant director for the Department of Student Life. More than 100 people attended the event, which included a dessert reception.

MSU

Union to march in defense of TA jobs

The Graduate Employees Union will be marching across campus Thursday to defend teaching assistants' jobs, union President Scott Henkel said. Graduate employees, faculty and community members will march in protest of any possible TA positions being cut before next fall.

MSU

Study to review status of campus women

Emily Bingham
April 29, 2004

A two-year study is underway at MSU to uncover issues facing female students, faculty and staff. The study, called the "Status of Women Project," will use information gleaned from personal and group interviews to assess the climate and needs for women. "This evolved out of a request from the Women's Advisory Committee to the Provost," said Provost Lou Anna Simon, who said the initial idea for the study emerged about a year ago. Simon said the university historically has collected basic information about women on campus through annual MSU diversity reports, which compile statistics about international students and racial, ethnic and social minorities.

MSU

More e-mail accounts affected by glitch

Meghan Gilbert
April 29, 2004

Another group of e-mail accounts has been found to be part of the about 6,000 people affected by a software glitch last week. A new group of about 400 account holders received an e-mail Wednesday urging them also to change their account passwords, after it was found they, too, were at risk.