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Features

FEATURES

Spartans prepare to run down Grand Canyon rim for pet surgery charity

Dillon Davis
January 31, 2011

Christian Weder always has had a passion for competing. Whether he uses running as an outlet for stress or races against the clock to save the life of an animal, Weder, a third-year veterinary medicine student, said the passion fuels his pursuit. To merge his two interests, Weder co-founded the IRONDOG fund, which raises money for animals whose owners can’t afford medical treatment for them at the MSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital, nearly a month ago with Matthew Beal.

FEATURES

Alumna ready to compete in new online reality show

Robbie Couch
January 31, 2011

Bryn Drescher said she expects she will confront some of her fears as she ventures into the unknown this weekend as part of a reality show. Drescher, a 1999 graduate of MSU who now works in Los Angeles as a life coach, is a contestant on an exclusively online reality series, “Focus Rally: America,” which premieres Friday on Hulu.com.

FEATURES

Artist-in-residence slam poet uses emotion to captivate audience

Robbie Couch
January 30, 2011

Fiona Smith said it began about two years ago when she was working on a project involving Asian American activist art. That’s when Smith, a professional writing senior who also is in the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, or RCAH, discovered the work of Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai. Tsai will perform in “Breathe Words, Breathe Life: A Night of Spoken Word with Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai” at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the RCAH Theatre in Snyder Hall’s basement.

FEATURES

Spartan's passion leads to career at hip-hop boutique

Dillon Davis
January 27, 2011

Cliff Walker never stops moving. By day, the communication senior, who goes by Cliff Skighwalker, is a student working toward his degree. After fulfilling his school duties, Skighwalker is the manager of Burn Rubber Sneaker Boutique in Royal Oak, Mich., where he acts as the liaison to special projects for the store.

FEATURES

Concert to celebrate local artists, store's anniversary

Robbie Couch
January 27, 2011

After missing out on a great opportunity in past years, Jordan Hahn said his band is ready to be on stage this weekend in front of hundreds. His band, Elliot Street Lunatic, will perform in “Middle of the Mitten,” a concert featuring bands from Michigan, set to begin at 6 p.m. Saturday at The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave., in Lansing.

FEATURES

Smartphones give students sense of security

Dillon Davis
January 26, 2011

Expanding the smartphone’s reach, Verizon Wireless announced it will release the iPhone to the general public Feb. 10 after already carrying other brands of smartphones, such as RIM’s BlackBerry and Google’s Android. The release of the iPhone means Verizon will join its main competitor AT&T as exclusive service providers for the iPhone as each company competes for smartphone superiority among students — a large constituency of their consumers.

FEATURES

Breakup leads Spartan to star in dating reality show

Robbie Couch
January 26, 2011

Tim City, a journalism senior, is starring in “The Key to the City,” a reality TV series produced by and featuring MSU students. The series, which Campbell said loosely is based on the VH1 reality show “For the Love of Ray J,” premiered Tuesday in Conrad Hall with the next nine episodes set to run each week in the same location.

FEATURES

Cigar enthusiasts connect to develop student club

Dillon Davis
January 25, 2011

Since he was 18 years old, marketing senior Jon Lung said he has smoked more than 440 different kinds of cigars. As Lung sat among nearly 20 MSU students in the back room of Corona Smoke Shop, 3490 Okemos Road, in Okemos, for one of the first meetings of the MSU Cigar Connoisseur Club, he found comfort sharing his passion among fellow aficionados while networking with others in the cigar-smoking community.

FEATURES

Latest theater production to explore religion in modern holidays

Robbie Couch
January 24, 2011

Rob Roznowski was enjoying a classic holiday tune when he came up with the idea for the most recent Department of Theatre production. The inspiration led Roznowski, head of acting and directing in the Department of Theatre, to write a play, which he said addresses the religious aspect, or lack thereof, in modern holidays. In addition to writing the play, Roznowski is directing the department’s “Happy Holy Days,” which will debut at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Auditorium’s Arena Theatre.

FEATURES

Contemporary Boston Tea Party unites community

Robbie Couch
January 23, 2011

It’s been more than 230 years since angry colonists threw hundreds of chests filled with tea into the cold waters of Boston Harbor, but Elizabeth Marazita said their brave actions have become a staple in American history. Marazita is co-owner of Wanderer’s Teahouse & Cafe, 547 E. Grand River Ave., which celebrated the historic event during “Boston Tea Party Afternoon Tea” on Saturday.

FEATURES

Community center to hold auditions

Kellie Rowe
January 23, 2011

There will be an audition workshop from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday at Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road. This workshop is to help actors ages 9-18 prepare for auditions for “NigHt of tHe pterodActyls,” which is an All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre performance.

FEATURES

STOMP returns to mix household items with rhythm at Wharton

Robbie Couch
January 20, 2011

Megan Brophy said she admits trash cans and broomsticks might not be the most traditional instruments, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. “I like that they use really random things to make really awesome sounds,” said Brophy, an advertising junior and marketing intern at Wharton Center. Brophy is attending STOMP, which will debut at 8 p.m. Friday in Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall and will run until Sunday.

FEATURES

Spartan commits to wear Hogwarts attire until July for Tourette's

Dillon Davis
January 19, 2011

When Liz Riesterer was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome at the age of 12, the nervous tics and uncomfortable stares from classmates led her to become depressed, so she turned to Harry Potter for comfort. The theatre and media arts and technology freshman again is turning to Harry Potter for help to raise money for the disease that afflicts her by wearing only traditional Hogwarts clothing until the release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” which comes to theaters July 15.