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MSU

Board of Trustees passes graduate rights revision

Three years of changes to a document that governs graduate students were approved by the MSU Board of Trustees on Friday. The Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities Document cements the rights of graduate students, lays out the steps for filing grievances and explains the processes for theses and dissertations. The document was created in 1971 and had not been modified since 1984. Among the changes to the document is a mention of the Graduate Employees Union, which was formally recognized in April 2001. Council of Graduate Students President Jim Ciszweski was relieved to have this document passed. "It has taken several years to get this far," he said.

MSU

'U' gets ready to 'Take Back the Night'

Kendra Snyder
April 11, 2003

MSU students and East Lansing residents will gather this weekend to speak out on sexualized violence and reclaim the streets. Take Back the Night, a campaign to end rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, incest and sexual harassment, starts this weekend. The event began in 1978 in San Francisco when 5,000 women rallied and marched down "pornography strip" against all forms of male violence against women.

MSU

Campus briefs

ASMSU filling student spots Applications are now available for various positions in ASMSU for the 2003-2004 academic year. MSU's undergraduate student government is looking for students to fill the following positions: • Director of student defenders • Director of constituent activism • Comptroller • Director of racial, ethnic and progressive student affairs • Director of legal services • Assistant director of legal services • Programming board comptroller • Executive secretary • Director of digital and graphic marketing • Director of community affairs • Director of legislative affairs • Director of human resources • Funding board comptroller • Director of university and governmental budgetary affairs • Programming board executive assistant All positions are paid.

MSU

Group raises poverty awareness

Armed with sleeping bags, blankets and layers of clothing, about 30 MSU students and faculty bared the cold temperatures Wednesday night to sleep at the rock on Farm Lane. The group wanted to increase awareness about worldwide poverty, housing and homelessness. The second annual event, known nationwide as HabiFest, was held by the MSU chapter of Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that works to provide affordable housing in the Lansing area and worldwide. "Our goal is to open some eyes about the seriousness of homelessness around us," HabiFest co-coordinator Monica Glysson said. To achieve their goal of awareness, Glysson and other members of Habitat for Humanity spent the day passing out fliers and orange T-shirts to students interested in learning about poverty issues. Students gave small donations to help build the shed that would go toward a house in the Lansing area.

MSU

Closed meetings questioned

Amy Bartner
April 10, 2003

The ASMSU Academic Assembly's decision to close its meeting to the public Tuesday night has left some people wondering about the legality of the move, and whether it is considered a public body.The assembly, part of MSU's undergraduate student government, closed the meeting and asked about 10 people to leave so the representatives could discuss candidates for its executive board.Matt Weingarden, chairperson of ASMSU's Student Assembly, said the organization has a right to close the meeting because they aren't bound by the Michigan Open Meetings Act."We have done this for so long and it's never caused a major problem," Weingarden said.

MSU

'U' gives locks for love

"Let's do it," a red-faced and teary-eyed Amy Baker said.Her boyfriend clutched his face with both hands and looked away as the scissors clipped Baker's ponytail with a few swift motions.About 10 inches of Baker's hair is going to Locks of Love, an organization which makes wigs for children with hair loss caused by severe burns, radiation treatment or other medical reasons.Baker, a veterinary technology sophomore, began to cry as the hair she had been growing out since she was 15 years old fell.

MSU

Day of silence voices LBGT concerns

Dressed in black with mouths bound by silver duct tape, students stood near Wells Hall and on the Farm Lane bridge in recognition of the National Day of Silence on Wednesday.Holding signs that read "MSU silences students" and "MSU discriminates on gender identity," students passed out literature on ways they believe the university is silencing students."It's important because it raises the visibility of voices that are silenced," said Joshua Boehme, treasurer of RING, a lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender caucus group in the North Complex.

MSU

'U' vies to bring Rare Isotope Accelerator to campus

MSU is one step closer to studying rare isotopes previously found only in outer space.The Board of Trustees is expected to form a partnership with the California-based architectural firm Parsons, to help with the planning and construction of a Rare Isotope Accelerator."It's the forming of a partnership to work through the construction issues," MSU President M.

MSU

Minority graduate enrollment rises

Enrollment in MSU's graduate programs has increased by more than 100 students including across-the-board growth in all minority groups.MSU's Annual Progress Report on Affirmative Action and Diversity Within the Community, released Tuesday, reported an 8-percent increase to 1,690 for total graduate enrollment.This year there were 2,943 students admitted to the graduate school, but not everyone who is admitted ends up enrolling.

MSU

Bar hoppers to get alcohol info

Bar patrons searching for a ride home could soon find themselves reading statistics on alcohol they just consumed.The Safe Ride Campaign is starting a new project which gives students a business card with a list of cabs they can use to get a ride home after a night on the town.

MSU

U.S. News ranks 'U' highly

Kendra Snyder  and  Amy Bartner
April 8, 2003

Four MSU colleges are among the top 25 schools in the nation according to the U.S. News & World Report released Friday. Seventeen MSU graduate programs were included in the rankings, which were published Monday. The College of Education's elementary and secondary education programs were ranked No.

MSU

Union sets date for grievance arbitration

A date has been set for a third party mediator to hear arguments between the Graduate Employees Union and university officials regarding a dispute on the wording of a 10-month-old contract.Union President Scott Henkel said the arbitration hearing will be held May 20 in the Union.The hearing was originally scheduled for March 5, but was canceled after a snowstorm prevented the Southfield-based arbitrators from making the drive to East Lansing, Henkel said.

MSU

Events create neighborhood

Carrie Hoover
April 8, 2003

For humanities and pre-law senior Chris Kroll, apartment living is about more than having a place to sleep at night. Kroll, president of the University Apartments Council of Residents, said he wants his neighbors to get to know each other, and he hopes his work on the council will achieve that goal. The council was founded in the 1950s and serves those who reside in Cherry Lane Apartments, Spartan Village Apartments or University Village Apartments.

MSU

Week features LBGT issues

Pride Week begins today, with a host of activities that seek to educate and entertain the MSU community about lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgendered issues.The week is sponsored by the MSU Alliance of Lesbian-Bi-Gay-Transgendered and Straight Ally Students."The week is a chance for the community to concentrate our efforts on a few big events," alliance Chairwoman Natalie Furrow said.

MSU

ASMSU officials discuss riots, war with Iraq

Addressing resolutions on the war with Iraq and the March 31 riots, members of ASMSU got down to business Tuesday.The meeting was the first for the 12th session of MSU's undergraduate student government's Academic Assembly.Some members of the assembly feel there is a need for open dialogue about war-related events at MSU, but the destruction of public and private property has "no place in an academic setting," according to the first bill.Since the start of the conflict in Iraq, activists have taken their stance on the walls and stalls of bathrooms around campus as well as the outside of Gap, 435 E.

MSU

Greek Week raises $62K

Aaron Foley
April 7, 2003

The money is pouring in.To date, Greek Week activities sponsored by the Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils have raised about $62,000 to support Relay For Life, Area 8 Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation."I'm surprised," assistant director of Greek Week Christina Cybulla said.