MSU

ASMSU to discuss early class issue

ASMSU representatives are weighing in on the controversy surrounding the elimination of 8 a.m. classes. Since Penn State University officials announced a trial period of eliminating early-morning classes this month after receiving feedback from students, MSU has been divided on how to address the issue. MSU's undergraduate student government debated the issue at its Academic Assembly meeting. After passing through the policy committee, the issue could be written into a bill and voted on by the assembly next month, Matt Clayson, Academic Assembly chairperson said. Associate registrar Dugald McMillan said new concepts involving course scheduling are decided by the university provost, but 8 a.m.

MSU

'U' officials hope lab will receive state funds

One day after President George W. Bush called for extra funding in bioterrorism research, state and university officials are trying to get a laboratory at MSU the cash it needs to operate.In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, Bush said he had nearly doubled homeland security funding for areas including bioterrorism research.The changes will take effect in the 2004 fiscal year."Knowledge gained from bioterrorism research will improve public health," Bush said.

MSU

Student finds racial slurs written on door

When psychology senior Ebony White left for church Sunday morning, she was met by racial slurs on her door.White, a racial ethnic student aide in Hubbard Hall, noticed several words written on her door at about 9 a.m., including racially insensitive language and the letters "nga.""I was shocked because when you wake up you don't expect to see something like this," she said.

MSU

Downloaders warned, not identified by 'U'

Amy Bartner

January 30, 2003

Record companies could ask universities for names of students who illegally download music from file-sharing programs such as KaZaA, but MSU officials say they will warn students first.Although the recording industry won a case last week that will make it easier for them find people who illegally trade copyrighted music, they don't intend to hunt for names of students.But industry executives didn't rule it out.David Gift, vice provost for libraries, computing and technology, said the recording industry is getting tougher on file sharing, and MSU is trying to help solve the problem."We always investigate the complaint and ask the person who is sourcing the materials to stop," Gift said.

MSU

Students leaving school with greater debt

Sarah McEvilly doesn't even want to think about how much money she's borrowed for college.A journalism junior from Illinois, McEvilly estimates she will have accumulated a debt of $80,000 for tuition and living expenses by the time she graduates."I really don't think about paying school off now," McEvilly said.

MSU

Greeks begin recruitment

Aaron Foley

January 30, 2003

Spring cleaning started a little early this year.The floors were mopped, awards were put on display and snow was shoveled off the walkways.Recruitment for Panhellenic Council chapters wrapped up last week and is in full swing for Interfraternity Council chapters.Crowds of people ventured through cold streets of East Lansing, attending tea socials, game nights and other events to learn more about the fraternity or sorority of their choice.Laura Kocisky, president of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, said the had as many as 60 women show interest in membership.Spring recruitment for the sororities ended last week and that for the fraternities continues this week.Recruits who visited the Zeta Tau Alpha house not only got to meet members of the sorority, but did some community service for the group's cancer awareness project."We made pink ribbons made out of clay, and we're going to take them to Race for the Cure," Kocisky added.Race for the Cure is an annual fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society.This semester, the Panhellenic Council began efforts to formalize spring recruitment.

MSU

Olin sex game serves up health info at Brody caf

Kendra Snyder

January 29, 2003

Lindsie Boykin left the Brody cafeteria with more than a full stomach Tuesday evening. The elementary education freshman learned about birth control and alcohol dangers and won bracelets, balloons and a puzzle cube in the "Play it Safe on Spring Break" game.The life-size Monopoly-like game, sponsored by Olin Health Education and the Sexual Assault and Crisis Intervention team of the MSU Counseling Center, sent students around six tables and challenged their knowledge on alcohol, relationships and sun and travel safety.

MSU

Ethernet usage fee to be required in fall

Carrie Hoover

January 29, 2003

Students living on campus can expect to be charged for Ethernet use beginning in fall.University officials say keeping up with traffic from file-sharing programs have increased the cost of Internet usage.Beginning in August, students will be charged about $57 per year to use the high-speed Internet service.

MSU

'U' may see more Hispanics

The growing Hispanic population has some MSU officials expecting increased enrollment and more programs for Hispanic students in colleges and universities. Last week, the U.S.

MSU

Madison professor receives award for dissertation

Sarah Frank

January 29, 2003

James Madison College Professor Bryan Ritchie was awarded the Distinguished Dissertation Award by the Council of Graduate Schools. Ritchie's dissertation, titled "The Political Economy of Technical Intellectual Capital Formation in Southeast Asia," focused on the importance of integrating technology into the political economies of countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

MSU

ASMSU may give $75,000 for Sparty

Sparty's quest for a new home won't come cheaply, but help may be on the way in the form of $75,000 from MSU's undergraduate student government.Plans to recast "The Spartan," MSU's iconic statue near Demonstration Hall, could cost about $500,000, according to University Development.The current statue, known as Sparty and touted by MSU as the world's largest free-standing ceramic statue, would be placed in a new position in a building on campus, which has not been announced.A new bronze Sparty would be placed at the south end of Kalamazoo Street and Red Cedar Road intersection about 50 feet back from its current spot.MSU's undergraduate student government will vote Thursday on whether to donate $75,000 to cover the projected cost for the project."Large gifts of this nature have occurred in the past," said Matt Weingarden, ASMSU's Student Assembly chairperson.The donation would be taken out of a fund the organization uses for large-scale projects, he said.

MSU

Union to discuss contract, layoffs

Members of MSU's Clerical-Technical Union are nervous about potential layoffs.The 1,900-member union, MSU's largest labor organization, will head into negotiations with university officials to hash out a new deal before their contract expires in March.Its three-year contract with the university expires March 31 and contract negotiations begin next month.Union members will meet Wednesday to discuss issues they'd like to see addressed in the new deal, including whether recent state budget cuts will impact hiring and layoffs, union President Barbara Reeves said."The biggest problem is that, across the board, higher education has consistently taken hits," she said."It certainly has increased the possibility of layoffs and there's concern there won't be much more hiring."MSU saw a $6-million cut in state appropriations after an executive order by then-Gov.

MSU

ASMSU gives students free admission to Hannah Center

ASMSU and the city of East Lansing's University Student Commission are sponsoring a free day at the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road. ASMSU is MSU's undergraduate student government. The passes are valid for one day at the center and expire Feb.

MSU

U-M, 'U' rival for blood

Beth Clute

January 28, 2003

Competition between MSU and the University of Michigan will take the form of 13 blood drives held at various locations on and near MSU campus throughout February to promote saving lives and collecting more blood than our rivals.The American Red Cross is sponsoring the first Blood Drive Face-off Competition between the two schools, which will take place prior to the teams meeting for a hockey game at Joe Louis Arena on March 1.The student planning committee involved with the blood drive is hoping to collect more than 800 pints of blood from MSU students.

MSU

Labor group asks for monitoring change

An anti-sweatshop student group that wants MSU to switch its labor-monitoring organization will meet with administrators today to discuss its campaign.

MSU

Showtime at the Aud

Aaron Foley

January 27, 2003

The audience already knew what to do.But Latour, a disc jockey on Lansing's hip-hop radio station WQHH (96.5-FM), just wanted to make the rules clear."Now if it's good, you clap.

MSU

ASMSU names new director

ASMSU officials announced James Perra as the new association director for MSU's undergraduate student government last week. Perra, a psychology senior, has been working as interim association director since October, after Joe Mignano resigned from the position in August. As association director, Perra oversees the executive board and steering committee.

MSU

Michigan-area performers put on Christian concert at Union

Chrystal Liebold

January 27, 2003

The Union Ballroom was bursting at the seams with energy Sunday from the singers of Expressions of Praise, a gospel concert sponsored by the Women of Color Task Force.The event, featuring Lansing's own brother-sister gospel hip-hop group Tre'-Kin,Detroit's Heavenly Hands, an American Sign Language choir and Lansing's New Mount Calvary Choir, was a night of "special praises in song."Students and church members attended the event and had nothing but good things to say about the concert.

MSU

Campus split on possible Brody addition

Sarah Frank

January 27, 2003

Emmons Hall roommates Lisa Lubinsky and Keara Cromie have mixed feelings about the possible construction of a new residence hall in the Brody Complex. MSU officials said Friday a 300-student building could be added between Emmons and Butterfield halls within five years.

MSU

Answers sought about meningitis

Kendra Snyder  and  Aaron Foley

January 27, 2003

While sitting in her Haslett home, Pat Bezdek saw her daughter's residence hall on a television news report Friday night. Her daughter had called the night before saying one of her floormates was taken to the hospital with an illness similar to meningitis. Thirty minutes after seeing the news report, she was with residents in a Hubbard Hall classroom looking for answers. A female journalism sophomore living on the building's ninth floor contracted meningococcemia, a disease similar to bacterial meningitis.