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NEWS

Illinois man charged with on-campus sexual assault reaches plea deal

An Illinois man allegedly connected to an on-campus sexual assault in February pleaded guilty to reduced charges Friday in East Lansing’s 54-B District Court. Montague Stanford, 40, of Naperville, Ill., pleaded guilty to one count of indecent exposure, a misdemeanor offense which carries a maximum charge of one year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

NEWS

Perfect record

More than 20 students are poised to graduate with 4.0 cumulative GPAs this semester. They do their best to balance academic and social lives, but say it isn’t always easy.

NEWS

SADD, police hold eating contest

SADD hosted a noodle eating contest and fundraiser at Noodles & Company, 205 E. Grand River Ave., Thursday night, between 10 local police officers. Five members of the MSU and East Lansing police departments ate bowls of noodles one at a time in competition for the “Pig Bowl” trophy.

NEWS

E.L. bar owners, patrons prepare for smoking ban

The smoke is set to clear Saturday when a statewide smoking ban goes into effect, and many East Lansing residents and establishments said they see a positive future for businesses and society. Restaurant owners said implementing the law in May instead of when it was passed in December will help customers adjust while the weather is conducive to being outside.

MSU

Fixed-term employees face cuts due to budget

Under a revision to a university policy, appointments to fixed-term employee positions made on or after March 1 can be ended before contractual expiration dates for budgetary reasons. The policy requires written notice be given to the employee 30 days before the date of termination.

MSU

Program helps students recycle

This year will mark the 14th annual Pack Up, Pitch In, Help Out program at MSU as students prepare to leave for the summer. The program helps to promote environmental sustainability on campus by providing easy ways for students to recycle plastics, white paper, mixed paper, wood and carpet.

MSU

Newly elected ASMSU chairperson resigns

One week after he was elected Student Assembly Chairperson, Eric Branoff has resigned. Branoff gave up his seat at ASMSU’s Student Assembly meeting Thursday night to accept a scholarship to study Arabic for a year in Amman, Jordan.

FEATURES

Musical ensemble member talks about life in show

“Jesus Christ Superstar,” the classic rock opera by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, premiered on Broadway in 1971. Two years later, the play was adapted into a film starring Ted Neeley as Jesus. Now, 37 years later, Neeley is reprising his title role as part of the “A.D. Tour.” The play will run at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Auditorium. The State News sat down with Amber Hurst-Martin, a disciple girl and understudy for soul singer, to discuss what it is like working on “Jesus Christ Superstar” with the show’s legend, Neeley.

COMMENTARY

Regrets don't spoil time at MSU

It felt odd to walk out of the Communication Arts and Sciences Building on Thursday after the final class of my undergraduate career. Like most graduating seniors, I was relieved to be done, and felt a bit of sadness as well. But another emotion crept in: regret. I wondered if I really made the most of my time in that building, or in my entire time at MSU. And with graduation one week away, I’m realizing that, yes, I have a few regrets.

COMMENTARY

Planned faculty brick demolition wasteful, not 'Spartan green'

I have worked on the campus of MSU for 13 years and have been impressed by leadership’s efforts at research, teaching, recycling and building rehabilitation that support a green and sustainable campus. I have appreciated being invited to participate in making these efforts successful and my own behaviors have been altered significantly over the past decade.

COMMENTARY

Offering up suggestions for a better tomorrow

This school year has been one to remember, but with a few tweaks, the 2010-11 academic year can be even better. Here are The State News Editorial Board’s suggestions — for a few select groups — to help make MSU students’ lives just a little bit better.

SPORTS

Best memory: Spartans win one for Lucas

For a brief moment in March, the MSU men’s basketball team made a quiet movement that spoke volumes and embodied so many of those latter components of a game: Enduring adversity and pain, resolving conflict and demonstrating incredible camaraderie and emotion.