MSU

Cross-cultural exchange enhances understanding

Chad Previch

February 11, 2002

When students in Mid-Michigan learned that students in Africa needed shoes, they brought in 110 pennies and pairs of shoes to help. Holt Public Schools third-graders noticed a picture of a boy from Africa without shoes on while they were reading an article about other cultures through an MSU supported program. “They were saying, ‘We just have to send shoes to these kids,’” said Sally McClintock, a founder and facilitator of the Linking All Types of Teachers for International Cross-cultural Education program. A group of international MSU graduate students are working with local educators to prepare students for a global future through the program, LATTICE.

MSU

RHA to send letter of apology for Toughman

Alison Barker

February 8, 2002

The Residence Halls Association members voted 17-1 with six abstentions to send two letters to people involved with a Toughman Contest last month.Representatives will send one letter to MSU’s Alliance of Lesbian-Bi-Gay-Transgendered and Straight Ally Students and another letter to AdoreAble Promotions Inc.Members of the LBGT community became concerned after the promotions company put on a “homosexual match” during the competition last month, which pitted two men in a mock bout.RHA’s special events program sponsored the trip to the contest at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Jan.

MSU

Annual powwow displays culture

Camille Spencer  and  Tara May

February 8, 2002

About $55,000 and the efforts of 15 people will culminate this weekend into an unforgettable display of Native American culture. The North American Indian Student Organization is sponsoring its 19th annual Pow-Wow of Love.

MSU

DPPS expects fewer tickets

Shannon Murphy

February 8, 2002

John Siemianowski is thankful he has only received one ticket this semester. The biology senior drives into campus at least twice a week, and always searches for parking.Siemianowski said he parks at meters and then doesn’t worry if they expire, but when the parking ticket prices were raised in July, it made him more cautious about where he parked.In July 2001, the MSU Board of Trustees raised ticket fines, hoping to deter illegal parking on campus.Fines at parking meters were raised from $10 to $15, employee parking spot fines were raised from $20 to $25 and spots reserved for people with disabilities were raised from $50 to $100.But Siemianowski said the $5 increase isn’t enough to stop everyone from parking illegally.“I bet if they had raised them even more people wouldn’t park wherever they wanted,” he said.

MSU

$1 million grant to aid nuclear cleanup

Chris Boyer

February 8, 2002

Researchers at MSU were awarded $1 million this week for genetic research on bacteria that could help in the cleanup of facilities that were contaminated during the production of nuclear weapons. U.S.

MSU

Speaker to talk on black issues

Camille Spencer

February 7, 2002

As the first speaker in the second Minority Faculty Lecture Series, the Rev. Joseph Roberts said he plans to discuss the challenges faced by black people and ways to solve them. “We are tied together and accountable for each other,” he said.

MSU

Group protests depiction on flier

Camille Spencer

February 7, 2002

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.

MSU

ASMSU representatives hope to glean new ideas from conference

Alison Barker

February 7, 2002

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.

MSU

Assault reminds U about dorm safety

Shannon Murphy

February 6, 2002

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.

MSU

Olin shows spring break security

Erica Berg

February 6, 2002

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.

MSU

Political columnist enlightens, entertains sold-out crowd

Chris Boyer

February 6, 2002

Molly Ivins loves to tell stories about the blunders in national politics, as well as the mishaps in her home state of Texas.

MSU

McPherson to address students concerns at RHA meeting tonight

Casey Mcnenly

February 6, 2002

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.

MSU

Education conference discusses language

Megan Frye

February 5, 2002

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.

MSU

ASMSU seeks out more applicants for elections

Alison Barker

February 5, 2002

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.

MSU

Play tickets available for purchase

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.

MSU

Few vaccine issues as flu season ends

Erica Berg

February 5, 2002

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

DCL diversity week begins

Chad Previch

February 4, 2002

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.

MSU

Study: Liquor may prevent dementia

Erica Berg

February 4, 2002

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.

MSU

Pool shows potential, beauty of IM facility

Alison Barker

February 4, 2002

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.

MSU

Quiz bowl asks black history questions

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.