Congested sidewalks demand courtesy

Thousands of 20-pound metal bicycles barreling down the streets of Farm Lane and Auditorium Road around noon is an unnerving sight to see while walking to class. It’s absurd how fast some bikes zoom their way through crowded sidewalks. But with an enrollment of more than 40,000 students, everyone has to commute to class somehow — and in the warmer seasons, bikes seem to cause the most problems.

Compared to other cities, CATA buses not so bad

Before I lived on the East Coast, I hated hopping on a sweltering bus with dozens of other sweaty students as much as anyone.

Student competes in The CW show "Capture"

For psychology senior Rebecca Wallington, pushing herself to her physical limit was something she had never done until she went on the first season of The CW show “Capture.” Only eating about 400 calories a day, being in 32-degree weather at some points and struggling across the terrain took a tole on Wallington. “This was the most difficult thing I have done in my entire life” Wallington said.

Wilder will face testimony from alleged assault victims

The man accused of committing four sexual assaults in East Lansing this summer made his first court appearance Tuesday and soon will face testimony from all four of his alleged victims. Police believe Wilder, 26, initiated four sexual attacks near MSU’s campus between March 30 and May 16.

Looking to the sky

New drone technology at MSU will prove useful for farmers and journalists alike. Associate professor of geological sciences Bruno Basso will be conducting a three-to-four year experiment using a drone to monitor crop fields, advancing MSU’s roots as an agricultural school with modern-day innovations.

Gov. Snyder pushes for int'l focus

In the last five years alone, international student enrollment at MSU has skyrocketed by 82.9 percent.

Date still not set for bars proposal hearing

It remains unclear when the East Lansing City Council will discuss a proposal that would cap bar patrons and effectively prevent any future bars from opening in the city, potentially creating issues as November’s election approaches.

Athletic graduation rate higher than NCAA average

Student athletes’ academic achievements became a point of pride for MSU after athletes received above-average academic scores across the board, officials said Tuesday. MSU’s athlete graduation rate is similar to that of the student body and is higher than the NCAA Division 1 average, said Michael Kasavana, MSU Athletic Council chair and professor of hospitality business, during a University Council meeting on Tuesday. The faculty-based athletic council evaluates student-athlete academic progress every semester. The university’s Academic Progress Report, or APR, scores, which measure eligibility, retention and graduation over a four-year period, are above the national median for every sport, Kasavana said.

ASMSU, student groups promote medical amnesty

ASMSU teamed up with Student Health Services and MSU Social Norms to campaign for medical amnesty awareness Tuesday afternoon outside Olin Health Center. The event, titled “Step up. Step in. Be a good Wingman!” was targeted to teach students about the positives of taking advantage of the Michigan law.

MSU benefits from Wayne State University tuition hike

MSU is slated to profit to the tune of $111,500 from an abnormally high tuition increase for Wayne State University students. WSU’s tuition increased by 8.9 percent this year — more than double that of other Michigan universities, whose average tuition increase was 3.45 percent.

Panel offers firsthand perspectives on Middle East conflict

During the Iraq War, international relations senior Anas Attal never knew if the people he grew up with would still be alive the next day. Attal, who is originally from Syria, had a different experience of the war than many of his fellow students. He constantly feared for his family’s safety — his 10-year-old cousin had guns, knives and hand grenades as toys in order to protect his family.

Students create iPhone, Android app to promote financial literacy

MSU’s Games for Entertainment and Learning Lab, or the GEL Lab, recently released their latest application for iPhone and Android that is aimed at teaching a younger audience responsible financial habits. The lab partnered with MSU Federal Credit Union to create Saving Magic, an app in which players control a wizard-in-training protagonist who battles dragons that are stealing magic while collecting coins along the way.

MSU student athletes jam to Christian tunes

Chaz Miles and the Ultimate Training Camp band rocked the Skandalaris Football Center Tuesday night, performing a Christian-themed mini-concert at the Athletes in Action, or AIA, weekly meeting. The Ultimate Training Camp, or UTC, band is composed of former student athletes from across the country and plays Christian-themed music. Spartan athletes gathered to watch as the five-member UTC band sang variations of old and new musical arrangements.

RHA Film Rental offices close for fall semester, displace employees

The Residence Halls Association, or RHA, has decided to shut down their five on-campus movie rental offices for the fall semester and hopes to get them up and running in spring 2013. RHA elected to close the movie rental offices for the fall to improve the system and give the program an overall makeover, said Greg Rokisky, RHA’s director of public relations. The movie rental service, which has been offered since 1992, had locations in Akers, Gilchrist, Holden and Mason halls, as well as Brody Complex. Rokisky said throughout the past two years, there have been several problems concerning the service. In the past few years the office directors were only trying to maintain the movie rental program, hurting the program’s advancement, he added. “The service was on and off for the past couple of years,” said Zachary DeRade, the RHA president.

Police crack down on drunk driving

A drunk driving crackdown in late August yielded more than 260 arrests throughout Michigan — including 45 drivers with a blood alcohol content of .17 or higher, according to an Office of Highway Safety Planning, or OHSP, press release. “Enforcement efforts like this save lives by putting extra officers on the road to stop and arrest impaired drivers and prevent other dangerous driving behaviors,” said Michael Prince, director of the OHSP in the press release. There were eight traffic deaths during Labor Day weekend, according to Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center.

Jairus Jones out six weeks with MCL injury

With the first of two bye weeks underway, the MSU football team is hoping the extra rest will prove beneficial for players on the mend. For senior linebacker Jairus Jones, it will be at least six weeks before he returns to action after suffering a medial collateral ligament, or MCL, injury against Notre Dame, head coach Mark Dantonio announced.

New season, same situation?

Two seasons, two identical records. That’s the situation facing the MSU football team (3-1) following a weekend loss to No. 22 Notre Dame after opening victories against Western Michigan, South Florida and Youngstown State.

Men's soccer plays No. 3 Creighton to 2-2 draw

After holding onto a one goal lead twice in the game, the men’s soccer team settled for a 2-2 draw against No. 3 Creighton in Omaha, Neb. Tuesday night. The Spartans (4-1-1 overall) were tested early on by the dangerous Bluejay offense. Bruno Castro and Timo Pitter were both off target before the ten minute mark.

Test headline

No excuse not to call 911 to report assault

No one ever expects to be sexually assaulted or to have someone they love be sexually assaulted. Sometimes, it’s easier to dismiss the headlines in the paper as far-removed stories than it is to accept them as reality. But after 26-year-old Oswald Scott Wilder, of Vernon, Mich., confessed to committing four sexual assaults this summer in East Lansing, the MSU community can’t afford to ignore reality.