Call for diversity

Minority students have to live every day as the ones who stand out in class, on the bus and at the mall. Black caucuses on campus want to address this issue, along with other issues that affect minority students, by inviting people of all races to attend their meetings. The difficulty in increasing diversity within the group does not come from the lack of invitations; it stems from an apathetic student population, Black Caucus officials say. Accounting junior Melanie Simmons is a racial ethnic student aide in Wonders Hall.

Mix-up leaves 2 men with same ID number

Brian Christopher Chapman is an MSU alumnus from Flushing Township. Brian Christopher Chapman also lives across the state in the southwestern city of Niles. The two men are 23, born several days apart from one another.

'Fun with Guns' event typical for racist GOP

When I read the article "Recruiter's 'Fun with Guns' plan denounced" (SN 9/14), I honestly was not very shocked. From the vigilante group that call themselves "The Minutemen" to Pat Buchanan and many leading Republicans ranting and raving about how we should deport all Mexicans without proper documentation, we should expect activities like this to be taking place daily.

Stop complaining: Register to vote

Young people aren't just being pointed at for noise violations and drinking games anymore. With Nov.

Police briefs 09/20/06

Dean: College's future looks high tech

After spending more than two decades at MSU, Marsha Rappley said she's still learning. The MSU College of Human Medicine graduate and former nurse has been an MSU faculty member since 1988 and was named dean of the college Friday. "My learning curve was very steep and continues to be very steep," said Rappley, who served as acting dean of the college for the past year. Rappley said there will be a lot of hard work ahead, as plans for the college's expansion to Grand Rapids move into the final stages, and she begins collaborating with other MSU colleges. "It's a challenge to keep movement on all fronts, and it's important in research and clinical enterprise," Rappley said. The medical college is looking at creating joint-degree programs with other colleges, such as the College of Engineering, and integrating more technology into classes, she said. "The synergy between engineering and medicine is enormous," Rappley said.

Bush should stop using prayer as proof his policies have support

Dear God, You probably don't know me. I'm kinda what you might call an atheist — you know agnostic, a disbeliever, a skeptic.

Tattoos more than just job

Four blue sofas surround a dark wooden table covered with tattoo photo albums inside Splash of Color Tattoo & Piercing, 515 E.

Street parties sweep Jamaica

By Jacqueline Charles McClatchy Newspapers Kingston, Jamaica (MCT) — It's dawn, and the fusion of hip-hop and reggae rhythms has transformed one of this city's grittiest slums into a cross between Girls Gone Wild and Cirque du Soleil. Gyrating women in barely-there tops and minis flash intimate flesh while roving video cameras document every erotic bump and grind — at the most risqué angles possible. The sexually charged displays have come to characterize Passa Passa, a new party craze that has spread outside Jamaica and even to Miami while sparking an uproar in some parts of the Caribbean, including calls for its ban. But in its birthplace in west Kingston, this controversial phenomenon is bringing peace to a community once known for its violence and armed gangs, and transforming it into the most unlikely of tourist destinations. "It's a vibe," Kiki Lewis, 27, a local radio disc jockey said as she sipped a beer and another DJ hyped the crowd with witty banter, begging them to let loose to the latest high-energy tracks in the reggae-offspring genre known as dancehall. "If you want to hear the latest happenings in dancehall, it's the place to be.

Study: U.S. sex assault programs inadequate

A study conducted by an MSU professor revealed that sexual assault educational services across the nation need improvement.

Ideas for recruiting are embarrassing

In a contentious election year, there is one thing the Democratic and Republican parties can agree on: The "Fun with Guns" and "Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day" recruiting events discussed on the University of Michigan campus are "appalling." The events were proposed by Morgan Wilkins, an independent contractor hired by the College Republicans National Committee, and included such activities as shooting cardboard cutouts of Democratic Party leaders and volunteers posing as illegal immigrants so that people could "capture" them for prizes. When the Republican Party was questioned, representatives said Wilkins was not associated with the Michigan Republican Party or the Republican National Committee. "We definitely want to engage students, but not in this way," Sarah Anderson, a spokeswoman for the party said.

Suspect named in Mexico murder case

A man wanted for murder in Mexico who was apprehended by MSU police Saturday is now in the hands of Immigration and Naturalization Service officials. Leobardo Hernandez, 37, was arrested at about 11:30 a.m.

How to keep bad credit from weighing you down

Bad credit has a foggy definition to many college students — not that anyone can blame them. As they spend time learning organic chemistry and dealing with the rage of wallet-draining parking violations, a "minimum amount due" VISA payment is sometimes all that can be squeezed out at the end of the day. But having good credit is more important and easier to achieve than many students might realize. "We all know someone is paying attention to our credit history, but people don't worry about (their credit score) until they want to buy a house," said Carol Hogan, an economics professor at the University of Michigan and mortgage loan officer for Castle Mortgage Corp.

Drug tests may be required to receive welfare

Welfare recipients would need to undergo drug testing before they could receive benefits if legislation introduced in the House Monday by state Rep.

Get to know your community liaison

Rachelle Woodbury wants to hit the East Lansing streets hard during weekends and tailgates — and maybe even become a household name. But what sets her apart from other 24-year-olds is that she won't be strutting around in heels or sharpening her beer pong skills.

Galas named player of week after 2 shutouts

Thanks to her 14 saves that helped the MSU women's soccer team to a 2-0-1 record last week, junior goalkeeper Nicole Galas was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.

Stanton: Last year's flag-planting shouldn't be an issue

Saturday's football game between MSU and Notre Dame has huge implications for both teams. For the Spartans, a win on national television would mean a spot in the Top 25.

Secure your identity with experts' advice

A magazine label can potentially destroy your identity, experts say. The label is seemingly harmless but means a lot to an identity thief, said Sandra Hoffman, director of the Identity Theft Program in MSU's School of Criminal Justice. "A lot of magazines have customers' numbers or member numbers on them," Hoffman said.

God shouldn't be used to justify any actions

I just finished reading the article about couples choosing abstinence, and their reasons for it ("Why some couples abstain from sex," SN 9/14). One thing that struck me as very interesting is that this is one more issue that has been related to God.

Virginia Avenue project cost rises

The city of East Lansing will shell out an additional $300,000 to fund the Virginia Avenue project. Originally projected to cost about $3.3 million, the project calls for the demolition of all the homes along the avenue's 600 block.