New study shows professors ignore textbook costs

Hundreds of dollars were replaced by hundreds of pages of reading material with the swipe of a card when MSU students bought textbooks for the fall semester this week. Textbook prices rise about 3-5 percent each year, and this year is no different, said Tom Muth, manager of Collegeville Textbook Company, 321 E. Grand River Ave. Although they are more aware of prices than they used to be, according to a study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, or GAO, nationally, most professors are more concerned about the appropriateness of course materials than the price of them.

Freshmen engineering class largest in decade

The College of Engineering welcomed its largest freshmen class in more than a decade. The class is estimated at 1,284 students, an increase of more than 100 from last year. The number of incoming freshman has more than doubled since 2006, when the class was 640. Thomas Wolff, the college’s associate dean of undergraduate studies, said this year’s class is the largest in more than a decade.

Agriculture Hall rededicated in Morrill's name

Agriculture Hall was rededicated Thursday afternoon as the Justin S. Morrill Hall of Agriculture in an event that brought together members of the MSU community and the Morrill family. In a ceremony complete with hors d’oeuvres, a harpist and a ribbon cutting, the hall was renamed following approval from the Board of Trustees in April.

Difficult weekend lies ahead for MSU

Off to a hot start early in the season, the MSU women’s soccer team will be in for a demanding weekend against tough non-conference teams.

Volleyball heads out east for Hokie Invitational

The MSU volleyball team will open its season today in Virginia, and will play against four teams in the Hokie Invitational, hosted by Virginia Tech University.

Men's soccer season kicks off against Western Michigan

The MSU men’s soccer team gets the 2013 campaign underway against Western Michigan at 2 p.m. Sunday at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field.

Faces of East Lansing

Beer, travel and music. These are three components of the many passions of Mark Sellers, the owner of HopCat, a bar that drew hundreds of people opening day. HopCat and its 100 craft beers on tap has added to the bar scene since its East Lansing opening last week. “We have all craft, no crap,” said Sellers, 45, with a chuckle. Both locations of HopCat have a recycling program.

Welcome Week might be overrated

For your average college student, there is not a week more anticipated and revered than Welcome Week.

Fountain of youth

When it comes to injuries and lack of veterans on a sports team, there’s not much a coach can do, and MSU women’s soccer head coach Tom Saxtondv is finding that out early this season.

This year, remember social responsibility

During the hectic first day of classes, bells rang across the nation to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s march to Washington, D.C., where he thundered, “I have a dream” across the Reflecting Pool and into our country’s conscious.

Community recognizes impact of MLK speech

As the 3 p.m. hour hit East Lansing on Wednesday, from the Beaumont Tower to Bailey Street Community Center, residents were greeted to the sound of bells ringing.

Putting in hours

With the start of the fall, students are moving across East Lansing focused on attending classes, making new friends, and most importantly, finding their niche in Spartan society.

MSU police arrest male suspect

A 24-year-old male suspect was arrested Aug. 24 for possession of a concealed weapon in a vehicle, according to the MSU Police Department.

Fed. plans on college costs still up in air

Flood leaves damaged cars at CRMC apartment property

Marketing sophomore Matt Bontorin spent his summer working to buy a white 2011 Chevy Cruze. Just a week after he’d bought his new car, he received a rude awakening at 1 a.m. Wednesday.

New MSU bike garages offer repair tools, added security

To combat the all too common sight of weather-beaten, and rusty bikes on campus, the university is offering an alternative option to exposing bicycles to the elements. This year, MSU Bikes installed bicycle garages in parking Ramp 5, near Trowbridge Road, and Ramp 6, near Grand River Avenue. The garages offer improved bicycle racks, higher security and repair stands containing a host of tools for repairs on the fly.

Professors of jazz hold concert on campus

Jazz professor Randy Gelispie holds a single drumstick between his fingers and tap, tap, taps on the cymbal of his shining drum set. Rodney Whitaker, director of jazz studies at the College of Music, is picking away at the strings of his bass, wrinkling his brow in concentration. It’s 4:30 p.m., and the many professors of jazz are rehearsing their kick-off concert.

MIPs lead Welcome Weekend crime, but citations down overall

With more than 20 years of patrolling East Lansing during Welcome Weekend under his belt, East Lansing police Capt. Jeff Murphy said there aren’t many more surprises left in store for him. What he does find surprising, however, is an overall decrease in the number of alcohol-related citations issued in East Lansing during the students’ first weekend back at school.

MSU study shows trend of STEM fields raising world university rankings

Most students probably don’t pay attention to world rankings of universities, but they can be important to international students. Important enough that one MSU faculty member spent years researching these rankings. Yixuan “Shirley” Shi, an accounting graduate student from China, said she looked at world rankings as part of the decision process to come to MSU. She searched for a school ranked in the top 100 worldwide for her major.

More Spartan pride, for less green

With kickoff only a day away, here are some ways to show your Spartan spirit on a budget. Not only can you dress the part, but you can easily decorate your dorm or house for the big game.