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MSU

Locals encourage fair trade

With fair trade goods and programs lining a room in the International Center, local fair trade enthusiasts and curious students had their eyes glued to Jeff Goldman, the executive director of the Fair Trade Resource Network, as he spoke during the MSU Students for Fair Trade Club’s Fair Trade Bash on Tuesday at the International Center. Goldman read one of his favorite quotes about fair trade by Gisele Fleurant, director of the Committee for Haitian Artisans, during the event.

MSU

Facetime: Stefan Fletcher

Last month, members of the Council of Graduate Students, or COGS, elected Stefan Fletcher, who has been the COGS president for the past two years, to another term for 2012-13 after waiving a constitutional clause limiting executive board members to two terms. Fletcher and the other newly elected executive board members have spent the past few weeks transitioning before kicking off their new roles at the April full council meeting, which will be held at 5:30 p.m.

MSU

Women learn strikes, kicks for self defense

Shouts of “no” and the sound of hands striking pads echoed in the halls of the Union on Tuesday evening at the MSU Self-Defense Program and Women’s Resource Center’s self-defense program to instruct women how to stay safe on campus. Most sessions were open to students, faculty, parents and women ages 13 and up and about a dozen people attended Tuesday’s workshop. Jodi Roberto Hancock, educational program coordinator of the MSU Women’s Resource Center, said she has gone through the session herself and found it to be powerful information. “Even for someone who has seen it multiple times, it’s always great to (have) it fresh in your mind,” she said. Angela Michael, assistant director of Recreational Sports and Fitness Services, said the first hour of the session was aimed toward discussing information about sexual assault and how to be aware of potential dangers. “We try to break down myths and stereotypes regarding sexual assault, particularly on a college campus,” she said. Participants sat in a circle as members of the Self-Defense Program discussed a number of sexual assault-related topics, such as how to stay away from dangerous situations, what constitutes as rape and how society often inaccurately blames the victims of sexual assault for the incidents. During the last hour of the session, the women learned a few techniques to protect themselves if trouble should arise. “(They’re) not going to be skilled martial artists, but we teach easy-to-learn moves that cause enough pain so that (they) would be able to safely run away and get help,” Michael said. Instructors taught the women defense movements targeting assailants’ body parts from head to toe.

BASEBALL

Spartans defeat Notre Dame 8-2

Even in understanding the nature of the game, Jordan Keur has grown tired of hearing about the faults of the MSU baseball team on offense. At some point, something had to give. After stranding 34 runners on base in the weekend series with Michigan, the junior left fielder and the Spartans’ (20-10 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) bats overcame frigid weather and an offensive slump to beat Notre Dame 8-2 on Tuesday at McLane Baseball Stadium at Old College Field.

SOFTBALL

Softball looks to escape slump against Eagles

After the MSU softball team took a step forward by snapping its seven-game losing streak with a win at Central Michigan last Wednesday, it took three steps backward when the Spartans were swept by Penn State during the weekend. Now, MSU (11-26 overall, 0-9 Big Ten) is looking to right the ship once again as it prepares for a midweek game Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Secchia Stadium at Old College Field against Eastern Michigan, before it gears up to face in-state rival Michigan for a three-game series this weekend.

COMMENTARY

URC promotes unsustainability

Last month, The State News published an article (“United they stand” SN 3/19) chronicling the partnership among MSU, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University on scientific research initiatives the schools assert will better the Michigan economy and bring skilled jobs to the state.

COMMENTARY

State Rep’s MSU bias should lead him out

After State Rep. Bob Genetski, R-Saugatuck, was arrested for drunken driving on MSU’s campus, most people would assume he would want to stay as far away as possible from the university to avoid an appearance of bias, but that isn’t the case.

NEWS

Light snow falls on East Lansing, experts expect jump in temperature by weekend

Students and other East Lansing residents were greeted with a different kind of April shower Tuesday as a sprinkling of snow fell from the skies. The snow likely is a result of a strong low pressure area in New England, which brought colder air into the state from central Canada and inviting lake effect snow showers to Michigan, said Mark Sekelsky, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids.

NEWS

Community considers redevelopment project

After years of sitting silent, a low buzz has been building in recent weeks around a multimillion-dollar redevelopment effort that has been hampered by various city government considerations and financial difficulties.

NEWS

Police Brief 04/10/12

A 20-year-old student reported her Vera Bradley wristlet and black iPhone 3G were stolen between 11:40 and 11:50 a.m. April 5 from a women’s bathroom in South Wonders Hall, MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said.

NEWS

Meeting addresses 2012-13 RA housing concerns

On Monday evening, members of Campus Living Services and Residence Life held a town hall meeting for students in light of recent concerns regarding resident mentors being assigned roommates next year, although they said the policy is unlikely to change.