International conference good for Iraq

The numbers keep coming, people keep dying, yet the two countries most closely linked to problems surrounding Iraq's increasingly disastrous civil war don't want to admit anything is wrong. It's obvious by now that Iraq and the United States are unable to solve the problems facing a country continuing to spiral out of control — and the latest is Iraq doesn't want anyone else's help either. On Sunday, Iraqi officials rejected suggestions from the international community that a conference be held to discuss the ever-intensifying violence within the country.

2 women to speak at fall commencements

MSU's fall commencement ceremonies will be held Friday and Saturday at Breslin Center. This semester's class will consist of 2,566 students and MSU President Lou Anna K.

Sting like a bee

When Phill Pappas slams his fist into the double-end punching bag, it swings back at him so fast he ducks his head to avoid being hit. Just like it were a human fist. He doesn't just stand, he darts.

Homes alone

The mass exodus of students during winter break is an open invitation for break-ins, broken pipes and big fines, city officials and police warn. East Lansing renters who return to their hometowns for winter break are still responsible for their homes and apartments, including snow removal, said Annette Irwin, operations administrator for Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Conservation in East Lansing. "You are responsible for snow shoveling," she said.

U.S. Mint coin sculptor gets inspiration from quarter

By Madhusmita Bora The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia (MCT) — When studying sculpture in Russia 10 years ago, Joseph Menna found his muse in a George Washington quarter. The bond came from his longing for home and a pursuit of the perfect relief sculpture. Now, his own portrait of Washington is set to grace the front of the first in a series of presidential dollar coins. "It's a head trip," said the soft-spoken New Jersey native, now an employee of the U.S.

Big business, students connect for innovative marketing techniques

Large companies, such as General Motors Corp. and Crest, are evolving the way they promote their products to keep up with the fast-paced lives of college students. "Our consumer is our boss," said Kevin Bass, marketing manager for Crest.

Livestock judging team places 3rd in expo

The MSU livestock judging team finished in third place at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky. This is the team's seventh event this season and they have always finished among the top teams, where most of these competitions have up to 30 teams competing. Besides this most recent finish, the group has also placed fifth overall at the American Royal in Kansas City, Mo., and third at the National Barrow Show in Austin, Minn. The team is sponsored by the Department of Animal Science at MSU. This was the team's last event of the season.

MSU supports Ohio State in suit against former coach

MSU was part of an 18-university group that filed a brief last week supporting Ohio State in its bid to overturn a $2.4 million award to former men's basketball coach Jim O'Brien. O'Brien was fired in 2004 after he admitted giving $6,000 to the mother of a 7-foot-3 Serbian recruit, Aleksander Radojevic. The Ohio Court of Claims ruled earlier this year that although O'Brien committed NCAA violations, the university improperly fired him by not following the terms of his contract. All 10 Big Ten schools other than Ohio State signed the brief, as did the Big Ten, Pacific-10 and Big 12 conferences.

Committee approves $4K merit scholarship

Gov. Jennifer Granholm's plan to provide a $4,000 scholarship to Michigan college students moved forward today after an approval by the Michigan House Appropriations Committee. The plan, which was a highlighted part of Granholm's economic campaign during the election, would replace the current Michigan Merit Award Scholarship.

Simon, law students criticize protest

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon and the MSU College of Law Student Bar Association denounced students' reaction toward Congressman Tom Tancredo's discussion about illegal immigration in letters sent to the MSU community on Monday. On Nov.

Spartans need to promote MSU, get good recruits

I awoke early Saturday morning to watch College GameDay as I always do and was upset to find that MSU had lost one of its most heralded recruits to Oklahoma.

Police briefs 12/06/06

Postal clerk shares joy at holidays

Virtually no line exists in the East Lansing Post Office after lunch Monday. A few customers generally are able to walk right to the service counter.

Experts look toward switchgrass as eco-friendly fuel source

By Bob Secter Chicago Tribune Chillicothe, Iowa (MCT) — If there were such a thing as a Comeback Plant of the Year award — maybe Comeback of the Century — a top contender would have to be switchgrass, a dominant part of the tallgrass prairie that once blanketed much of North America. That vast sea of grasses, so thick and high that pioneers said it could swallow a rider on horseback, all but disappeared as sodbusters ripped it away to make room for lush and productive cropland. What was an obstacle to progress 150 years ago is suddenly getting a fresh, hard look as a major source of fuel.

Study abroad students watch conflict overseas

When international relations senior Timothy Brown traveled to Bangladesh in September for an internship, he didn't know he would be in the middle of a violent, nationwide political conflict. But almost two months after he arrived, disputes between the Muslim country's two main political parties — the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) — exploded into riots, protests, strikes and deaths.

College experiences can bring spiritual analysis

Dr. D, Lately I've had this feeling of being lost. I feel like I've changed so much since school started and I'm not sure I know who I am anymore.

Hoops preview

TONIGHT'S HOOPS GAME What: MSU men's basketball (7-2) vs. IPFW (3-5) Where: Breslin Center When: 7 p.m. NOTES: • MSU leads the Big Ten with a plus-11.4 rebounding margin.

Grads may find improved job prospects nationwide

In spite of Michigan's dreary economy, the number of jobs is increasing in the Midwest and other U.S.

Up-and-down Spartans search for continuity

The MSU hockey team is almost at the halfway point of the season, and there have been 15 games of mixed emotions for head coach Rick Comley. The positive: The Spartans have defeated top national teams Michigan and Notre Dame. The negative: MSU's spotty offense and shallow lineup have prevented it from consistently carrying over quality play from game to game and have left the Spartans with a .500 overall record. "We don't need excuses — we just have to get better," Comley said Monday at his weekly press conference.

Fraternity house may sell before year's end

The former Delta Upsilon house located at 427 M.A.C. Ave., might be sold to an unknown buyer by the end of this month. Vacant since May, the house is being sold because there wasn't enough student interest to maintain a Delta Upsilon group at MSU, said Jim Pattee, president of MSU Delta Upsilon Corp., which owns the house.