Nestled between pizza advertisements slipped under doors in Wonders Hall last week was a flier promoting the movie “Kung Pow: Enter the Fist.”Despite the fliers’ professional appearance, they actually were a parody of the film that some students say is discriminatory against Asian Americans.
Students from around the Midwest including some from MSU will be networking to improve the university experience at a three-day conference this weekend, .The Association of Big Ten Students meets three times a year to recognize how other Big Ten undergraduate student governments approach local, state, national and international issues.ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, will send 10 representatives from academic and student assemblies to the conference at the University of Michigan.“It’s a really good way to exchange information, and get on the same page as other schools,” said Matt Weingarden, ASMSU Student Assembly vice chairperson of internal affairs.
Despite reports of crime in residence halls, Diana Dade feels safe in her Phillips Hall room. “I feel safe for the most part, but I take precautions,” the MSU special education junior said.
For a few days in March, Gina King will forget about classes and focus on partying. But Olin Health Center representatives want to make sure MSU students stay safe while they’re away. “We hope to soak up some sun and party a lot in Panama City (Fla.),” said King, a no-preference freshman.
Molly Ivins loves to tell stories about the blunders in national politics, as well as the mishaps in her home state of Texas.
MSU President M. Peter McPherson will go from the Administration Building to Wilson Hall today to spend a little time listening to student concerns.McPherson will be attending the Residence Halls Association’s meeting to answer students’ questions.He said he will speak about more than finances and budgets - he plans to open up the floor to students.“Typically what I do is talk about some of the issues before the university,” he said.
A conference in the nation’s capital informed participants of the future of distance learning of less commonly taught languages at MSU and other universities.The Distance Learning of the Less Commonly Taught Languages Conference held last weekend drew more than 150 people, including faculty and students from various universities.The focus of the conference was to view examples of innovative distance learning programs and discuss them with their developers, as well as to develop the teaching of less commonly taught languages.Less commonly taught languages include all world languages except English, French, German and Spanish.Margo Glew, coordinator of MSU’s Program of Less Commonly Taught Languages, attended the conference.“It’s important to make plans, to work together and collaborate on planning to develop some new courses,” she said.Glew said the number of people with experience and the desire to expand distance learning options made the conference a success.“When we had a chance to look at courses and materials that others around the country were developing, I think it inspired positive thinking about what can be done on their own home campuses,” she said.Glew is working to design a second-year Portuguese language course for distance learning that will be available to all Big Ten schools and possibly others.
ASMSU has been advertising to create a competitive mid-March election, but has only received 14 applications. Undergraduate student government representatives said they’ve received an average number of applications, and are expecting more next week. This year, there are about 50-elected open seats on Student Assembly and 24 on Academic Assembly.
Tickets for “The Vagina Monologues” are available through the Wharton Center box office. The play, based on interviews with a diverse group of women, will be performed Feb.
Despite the rising number of flu cases during the last month of the season, students at MSU aren’t afraid of contracting the virus.“I haven’t gotten the flu shot and probably won’t get it until I’ve gotten the flu once,” computer science freshman Katie Spear said.
MSU-Detroit College of Law’s Diversity Week 2002 will include community service events, lectures and celebrations. The events are sponsored by several organizations, including the Wolverine Student Bar Association and The Young Democrats.
A recent study found that drinking alcohol could have longer-term effects than a hangover. A survey published in The Lancet, a British medical journal, said moderate consumption of alcohol - between one and three drinks a day - can help prevent heart disease, strokes, Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Dementia refers to a group of disorders - the most common one being Alzheimer’s disease - that cause a significant change in thinking and memory. The six-year study was conducted at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
For about 20 years, a pool in IM Sports-Circle has been collecting dust and debris.James Perra, ASMSU chairperson of the intramural facility improvement committee, said the 80-year-old pool represents the potential of all the intramural facilities on campus.
Black Student Alliance is sponsoring a quiz bowl competition at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Cyber Cafe in the Main Library. The free event, which was created to celebrate Black History Month, will feature teams answering questions in categories such as black leaders and scientific inventions by black people.
Although residence hall alcohol and drug violations have dropped since the 2000 switch from resident assistants to mentors, there are varying perspectives on why the drop occurred.In 1999, there were 655 reported alcohol violations in residence halls.
About 40 students seeking enlightenment gathered together this week at an event sponsored by MSU Students For A Free Tibet.“Everyone possesses the Buddhist nature inside,” John Grimes said during his presentation Tuesday night.
Although some universities have added protection for transgender people to their anti-discrimination policies, MSU staff and students have no gender identity regulations.The policy, which was revised in April 1993, excludes the category of transgender.
The Latin Explosion talent show and the From Slavery to Freedom Lecture Series will offer students an opportunity to learn during February’s Chicano and Black History month.Other large events during the month include the Dia de La Mujer Conference and a presentation by award-winning poet Nikki Giovanni.Rodney Patterson, coordinator for the Office of Racial and Ethnic Student Affairs, said he thinks celebrating Black History Month was designed to raise awareness about black culture.“It showcases the accomplishments of African Americans,” he said.
Best-selling author and historian Stephen Ambrose admitted to doing something college students could face disciplinary action for - plagiarism.Ambrose, 65, apologized in early January for taking phrases and sentences from the work of other authors and inserting them in at least three of his own published pieces, “The Wild Blue,” “Citizen Soldiers” and “Nixon: Ruin and Recovery 1973-1990.”Ambrose is the founder and president of the National D-Day Museum of New Orleans and is an emeritus faculty member at the University of New Orleans.Maj.
Elizabeth Jenks got less than she bargained for when she subscribed to Cosmopolitan magazine through a charitable fund.In July 2001, the electrical engineering junior signed up for a two-year subscription to the fashion magazine.