Not following dorm rules could leave you up in smoke

MSU has become my home — the place where I bravely took chances and tried new things. Plugging my nose, I made the plunge and took risks without looking back. Coincidentally, MSU has also been the place where I have made millions of mistakes and learned lesson after lesson at the expense of my dignity. One of the greatest lessons occurred during the winter of my freshman year at MSU. I finally discovered why toasters are illegal in the dormitories. My profound learning experience did not take place on any normal, mundane day.

Intramural sports provide fun, exercise on campus

Whether you're looking to keep off the cafeteria food or just want to get out and meet new people, MSU's Department of Intramural Sports and Recreative Services offers a vast array of intramural sports and events.

'Prairie' moves from airwaves to big screen flawlessly

Welcome to "A Prairie Home Companion," where all the actors are sincere, all the songs are catchy and the audience members clap a little bit harder. The movie is just as an enchanting, funny and wholesome as the radio show.

Police report should be public

That's scary. And it allegedly happened in Hubbard Hall last February. MSU thinks the details surrounding the vicious incident should be withheld from the public.

ASMSU student government will represent you

High school student governments might promise additional vending machines in the cafeteria and new equipment for the football team. MSU adapted an adjusted version of a student government with the Associated Students of Michigan State University, better known as ASMSU. MSU's undergraduate student government is divided into two major subgroups: Academic Assembly and Student Assembly. According to ASMSU's Web site, "The Academic Assembly represents the undergraduate student body on academic issues including curriculum, faculty issues and tuition costs." The Web site also states, "The Student Assembly serves the undergraduate student body by monitoring how 96.5 percent of student tax dollars are spent." "ASMSU positively affects students by giving back to students," said Jason Bucholz, former association director.

Serious crimes down in E.L., theft still widespread on campus

City crime The number of serious crimes in East Lansing last year was the lowest in 10 years, but the number of other offenses, such as disorderly conduct and speeding, have increased, according to crime statistics released in the spring. Officers noticed more people drinking in East Lansing, which could be a cause for the increase in citations for minor in possession, open alcohol and disorderly conduct, East Lansing police Chief Tom Wibert said. "That's not an intentional push on our part," Wibert said.

Student housing, party area to be transformed

A group of East Lansing officials and landlords say a plan to overhaul the Cedar Village area could quell future large-scale disturbances like those that happened in 1999, 2003 and 2005. By encouraging the development of businesses and housing that cater to both student renters and permanent residents, city officials say they aim to change the party mentality in the area with the East Village Master Plan. More than 3,000 people flooded into downtown East Lansing and the East Village area, which includes Cedar Village apartments, after the men's basketball team's lost to North Carolina on April 2, 2005. The plan, approved by the city's planning commission in February, calls to tear down the existing student housing in order to revamp the 35-acre area located across from Synder and Phillips halls between Bogue Street and Hagadorn Road.

Police briefs 06/12/06

Nature Center to hold day camp in Okemos

Third through fifth grade students can participate in crafts and games from June 27-30 or July 25-28 with the Woodland Wizards Day Camp at the Harris Nature Center, 3998 Van Atta Road in Okemos. The camp costs $60. For more information, call (517) 349-3866.

State News too liberal, needs both sides of issues

I've only been at MSU for one year, but I have already grown tired with The State News' liberal viewpoints. A news source for students shouldn't give just one side of issues and opinions but should present both sides.

Board of Trustees offers new students advice

Trustee Dee Cook It is important to really accept the responsibility for living on your own — meeting your academic goals and choosing a social life that is safe.

WEB EXTRA: 'Cars' dazzles with visual effects

I strongly believe Pixar Animation Studios is one of the greatest gifts cinema has ever given us. Since 1995 when the studio, along with Disney, released its first feature film "Toy Story," it has revolutionized the animated movie and made the animation genre no longer just for little children. Disney-Pixar's new feature, "Cars," has reached the same level of greatness when it comes to storytelling and multi-dimensional characters that wowed audiences in "The Incredibles" and "Monsters, Inc." The company has even surpassed their past capabilities when it comes to the visuals in this film. As far as visuals go, this film does the same thing for the open road along Route 66 as "Finding Nemo" did for the ocean. The story is as entertaining and appealing as past Disney-Pixar films.

Keeping the faith

Deborah Irwin reached for not one, but two plastic noisemakers. She listened. She waited. And then, she enthusiastically shook the toys. The special education deaf education senior joined fellow Jewish students at Chabad House in East Lansing in a century-old tradition of heckling Haman — the villain in the story of Purim.

Get cash, manage time with on-campus jobs

Gale Gower always tell parents of incoming college freshmen that there's more to college than just studying and sleeping.

Business networking event on riverfront

Rockin' on the Riverwalk: Networking for the Next Generation of Business Leaders, will begin June 22 for adults age 21-35 to meet and make business contacts.

This time it's OK to follow the crowd: Buy season tickets

Painted faces and crowds decked in green and white humming the fight song are what define the streets of East Lansing during fall weekends.

Olin Health Center offers medical relief on campus

There's help right here on campus, when you need it. Olin Health Center, MSU's on-campus health facility, provides students with general and urgent medical care six days per week.

What evidence is in your Facebook profile?

Every day, students go on Facebook.com to stalk people from class, poke the hotties they have crushes on and upload weekend party photos. Twelve million different people use the site each month, and users spend an average of 18 minutes on the site each day, Facebook spokesman Chris Hughes said in an e-mail. But what many students don't know is that classmates aren't the only people who can access their profiles and photos.

Meet your new teaching assistant

Yellowcard. Carrie Underwood. Ludacris. Class lectures? During the spring semester, video iPods and podcasting provided three MSU courses with class materials to help students with their studies. MSU Interactive Video Services loaned iPods to nine students for an experiment that tested the effectiveness of using the new devices for learning and how students and faculty felt about the technology. The iPods, however, were not used in class.

Happenings

FRIDAY Picasso: Original Graphics and Ceramics Saper Galleries. 433 Albert Ave.; (517) 351-0815.