When the students of Forest View Elementary wanted a new mascot, they looked to their student council, made up of fourth- through sixth-graders who meet and organize charity drives through the school.
The University Committee on Faculty Affairs is working to establish a policy to hold faculty members accountable for interests that could interfere with university business. A faculty conflict of interest policy was drafted and presented to the Faculty Council last week, but was deferred until fall semester to allow more faculty input. At the meeting, faculty members expressed concern about the language of the policy and a requirement to sign a letter of compliance each year. The university currently does not have a conflict of interest policy.
One of Time magazine's 100 most powerful and influential people in the world will speak at 7 p.m.
It's Christianity for another generation. At least that's the goal of Teen Mania Ministries, a national Christian organization seeking to promote Jesus Christ to young people around the country. The organization's Acquire the Fire festival spent the weekend in Breslin Center, drawing middle school and high school students from all over the state. "It's a radical punch in the face of Jesus," said Richee Parks, a conversation series manager for the ministries, which puts on about 30 similar festivals around the nation. The organization realizes that young people are wary of organized religion but in search of spirituality, Parks said. Facial piercings, oversized or loose jeans and casual T-shirts were no problem for teens at this religious event. The festival featured speakers who hope to inspire teens to live out Christian ideals in their lives and live bands with Christian messages played to rock tunes.
In his election speech last week, new ASMSU Student Assembly Chair Andrew Schepers announced that he planned to work toward a new student center on campus, working with a current plan for a free-standing multicultural center. "With plans for restructuring the Union and the 2020 Vision plan, it's time for a new student center on campus," he said. The 2020 Vision plan discusses possible new buildings on campus.
The unicycling pastor is back in town. Lars Clausen, a former pastor at East Lansing's University Lutheran Church, was at Hannah Community Center on Saturday to talk about his experiences unicycling across the country and back. One of the major lessons Clausen said he learned on his trip was the importance of hospitality among strangers. "When you're on a unicycle or bike, you can't get away from anywhere quickly," he said.
A statewide study compiled by MSU researches found that racial and social minorities in Michigan more likely are to be concerned about another terrorist attack than non-minorities. A report of nine compiled State of the State Surveys, quarterly studies by MSU's Institute for Public Policy and Social Research, found that blacks, Latinos and women were more likely to be "somewhat" or "very" concerned about the possibility of another terrorist attack than their white male counterparts. Darren Davis, co-principal investigator of the study and a political science professor, said the researchers had not expected race to be a determining factor in any of the study's findings. "We didn't set out to find race, and so we were very surprised to see it had such high affects," he said. The nine surveys took place over a two-year period in the wake of the Sept.
A new network now is available as a reference tool for organic farmers and those considering a transition to organic-growing practices. The New Agriculture Network, available at www.ipm.msu.edu/new-ag.htm, will feature advice from MSU Extension staff members, crop updates and a newsletter throughout the growing season.
The East Lansing City Council recently commended the Residence Halls Association for providing alcohol-free programs on campus to MSU students. RHA's on-campus programs include Campus Center Movies shown at Wells Hall, special events including concerts and lectures and various Health and Safety programs. "I believe it's important to show that this university is more than just getting drunk and partying," RHA President Ernest Drake said. Drake said the commendation is a pat on the back for the organization.
The number of representatives sitting around the table at Academic Assembly meetings could increase on Tuesday. Assembly Chairperson Dan Weber announced late last week that appointments for empty seats, generally conducted at the beginning of the fall semester, would be done at Tuesday's meeting. "If there are people who want to be on the assembly now and they're willing to do it, there's no reason to wait four months for them to get on and get to work," Weber said. Only nine seats were filled during the March election, leaving about 20 seats open.
Light streamed through the greenhouse ceiling, warming the visiting students and community members who looked over the array of flowers at the MSU Horticulture Club's 16th annual Spring Show this weekend. The show highlighted different gardens from around the world with its "International Garden Extravaganza"-themed show.
Now that Student Assembly members have spent time changing ASMSU internally, new Student Assembly Chairperson Andrew Schepers said he is looking toward a "horizon" of university changes. "Some of these are long-term goals, but you won't get anywhere if you don't start right there on the front lines," he said. Schepers spoke Thursday night, when he ran unopposed for a chair position of MSU's undergraduate student government.
The Department of Mathematics will hold its 2004 awards ceremony on Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Faculty Folk Spring Luncheon will be held on Friday from noon to 1 p.m. in the University Club, 3435 Forest Road.
Stepping in front of the panel of judges in a classroom-turnedcourtroom for the oral argument competition Sunday, MSU College of Law student Amanda English tries not to look nervous. English begins her argument.
Runners and walkers alike are invited to move their feet this weekend to raise money to aid with providing low-income housing. The MSU Chapter of Habitat for Humanity is sponsoring HabiTrack, a 5K run/walk on campus that is open to runners and walkers of all ages and experiences. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization with a goal to help low-income individuals and families get proper housing.
Guest lectures and a vigil on campus Saturday will commemorate the 89th anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian genocide.
MSU's campus will play host to a carnival for inner-city children today. The fourth annual "Kid's Fest" will feature food, fun and games for more than 300 children from inner-city areas.
Organizers anticipate exceeding the million-person goal they set for themselves in what has been dubbed the "March for Women's Lives" in Washington, D.C., on Sunday. The pro-choice march is expected to be the largest of its kind. Charles Cook, community specialist for Planned Parenthood Federation of Michigan, said the unofficial count rises every week. "It's already well over a million," he said.
Members of the Residence Halls Association's General Assembly established a policy Wednesday not to fund events in which religious groups try to preach to MSU students. The bill that was introduced sought to amend RHA's bylaws to disallow funding to religious groups and religious events. RHA President Ernest Drake said the bill was aimed at avoiding the allocation of funds to events that preach to residents. "Basically, we would not fund events that would evangelize a specific faith," he said. Initially, however, the bill faced some trouble.