Sunday, January 12, 2025

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MSU

Debaters take first-place honors in tourney

Calum Matheson and Austin Carson are roommates. They’re also the best two-person college debate team in the nation. This MSU Debate Team duo brought home top honors in a tournament hosted by the University of Kentucky earlier this month - the first time MSU’s top two-person team has won. The pair met when they were recruited by MSU.

MSU

Task Force reconvenes, discusses improvements

Ideas to improve and change on-campus student events, communication and police discretion all surfaced during Monday’s meeting of the Task Force on Student-Police Relations.The Task Force was appointed following an independent investigation into the placement of an undercover officer into United Students Against Sweatshops, now called Students for Economic Justice, beginning Feb.

MSU

Prominent professor speaks about evolution

A prestigious Harvard professor will be on campus tonight to discuss the importance of evolution. Stephen Palumbi, a professor of biology, will be discussing the dramatic acceleration of evolution of pest and disease organisms and why it’s necessary for people to be alerted. The lecture, “The Social and Economic Impact of Rapid Evolution: Why Ignoring Evolution is Educational Malpractice,” is the second in a series coordinated by the Lyman Briggs School.

MSU

Land grant institution program chooses Bethel as new director

A new set of hands will be leading MSU’s effort to reach out to the state.Margaret Bethel was named director of MSU Extension, part of a national land grant institution program that attempts to apply research done on university campuses to the lives of citizens across that school’s state.

MSU

Food Day panel discusses hunger

MSU will participate in the 18th Annual World Food Day today by showing a worldwide live teleconference and holding a panel discussion to address hunger and nutrition issues. “Any graduate or undergraduate student who has an interest in learning about what they could do to help fight hunger and end hunger would benefit from this event,” said Robert Glew, assistant director of the Center for Advanced Study of International Development.

MSU

Rescuers get warm welcome from U

Several hugs were shared with New York City rescue workers among thousands of U.S. paper flags that consumed the stands of Spartan Stadium on Saturday. Rescue workers from New York’s fire and police departments were honored guests at MSU’s Homecoming parade and football game this past weekend and were the recipients of more than $100,000 in donations. At the football game against Iowa, marketing junior Ted Edginton watched as the New York firefighters and police officers left their seats by the side of the field and went up into the stands to give students hugs. “Students reacted so positively to the visiting New York City rescue workers,” he said.

MSU

Sundae allots fans Homecoming feast

Friday’s issue of The State News lay covered in melted ice cream as community members celebrated the fourth annual Super Bowl Sundae on Farm Lane and Wilson Road.MSU Dairy Store and Dairy Plant employees filled a sanitized pond liner at 2:05 p.m.

MSU

Students often affected by domestic violence

Helen Dalton was a 36-year-old mother of two.But instead of watching over her children, a “silent silhouette” memorial to her watches over students entering Mason Hall.Dalton, a Grand Rapids resident, was shot and killed by her boyfriend last year.

MSU

Inaugural safe schools week stresses precaution

Today kicks off the first Michigan Safe Schools Week with speakers, presentations and a “Best In Show” poster and project judging contest at the Capitol Rotunda from 10 to 11 a.m.As facilitator of Michigan Safe Schools Initiative workshops in the School of Criminal Justice, Audrey Martini said the purpose of the week is to have schools reassess safety measures and precautions.“It is to raise awareness of creating a safe learning environment, not just physical but mentally as well,” she said.A bulletin was sent to all Michigan school districts requesting they participate in the week by holding a contest where students create posters and projects that emphasize keeping schools safe.

MSU

New faces on RHA board reach out to U

MSU’s Residence Halls Association has recently added two new officers to its executive board.At its general assembly meeting Wednesday, Amy Sa’id was elected external vice president and Renisha George was elected community service chairperson.An external vice president’s job is to work with other residence hall organizations outside RHA, such as hall governments and caucuses.

MSU

ASMSU backs acts with ribbons for U

In an effort to spread awareness to the masses coming in for Homecoming weekend, members of ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, will pass out 60,000 purple ribbons in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.Last Thursday, Student Assembly passed a bill to allocate up to $1,000 from a Special Projects Account to support a rape awareness campaign.ASMSU’s Student and Academic assemblies last month passed a joint resolution to work to keep the campus safe and free of rape.Melanie Olmsted, College of Social Science representative for Student Assembly, created the bill and thought this would be a good way to show support.“The ASMSU community took a stand against rape and violence and this is an opportunity to put their words into action,” Olmsted said.Olmsted said the cost wouldn’t reach $1,000 and that her idea is separate from the other events occurring to support domestic violence awareness.

MSU

FBI addresses students concerns

Students in Fayyaz Hussain’s Integrated Studies in Social Science class had a chance Thursday to discuss their concerns about the terrorist attacks with area Lansing FBI Resident Supervisor Richard Licht.Hussain said he invited Licht because students need to discuss their frustrations so they can better understand what is going on.

MSU

TV shows bad image of obese

Stereotypes abound on television and some may be harmful to audiences both physically and mentally, a recent study shows.The study, conducted in part by MSU faculty and graduate students, found overweight people on TV shows were involved in fewer romantic, sexual and even friendly relationships.

MSU

Electronic nose on standby for bioterrorism threats

With the fears of bioterrorism on the minds of Americans following the events of Sept. 11, MSU researchers are willing to offer help if asked.Evangelyn Alocilja, an assistant professor of biosystems engineering, developed the electronic nose - a device used to detect pathogenic bacteria - and has been involved in ongoing research projects for the past two years.The nose, which can detect E.

MSU

LBGT weeklong events a success

The Alliance of Lesbian-Bi-Gay-Transgendered and Straight Ally Students sponsored speakers, training and a vigil this week to promote awareness for students in honor of National Coming Out Day on Thursday.Matt Weingarden, co-director of the Alliance, said the week’s events were successful.“Our job is not to put on these big, expensive events,” he said.

MSU

Campus briefs

Post reporter to speak with alumni, studentsDavid Broder, an award-winning national political correspondent for the Washington Post, will visit MSU today.Broder, a reporter whose column is carried by more than 300 newspapers worldwide, will speak to alumni and students during an annual luncheon sponsored by the James Madison College Founders Circle.“He is an important person in public affairs from Washington and has a lot of insight on public services and politics,” said Grant Littke, director of field experience and student affairs for James Madison College.Last year’s speaker was former national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski.The event will be held at noon in one of the Big Ten rooms in the Kellogg Center.Students who are interested in legal affairs and government would benefit from attending, said Rocky Beckett, director of development for James Madison College.