Potter Park endangered

An ominous 30-foot wooden totem pole carved into the shape of an American Indian stands at the foot of Potter Park Zoo's entrance.

Four-game home stand starts today

The MSU softball team begins a four-game weekend at 4 p.m. today against Purdue at Old College Field. The Spartans (23-11 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) face the Boilermakers (22-18, 2-2) again at home at 1 p.m.

Cheney aide: Bush approved leak

By William Douglas Knight Ridder Newspapers Washington (KRT) — President Bush authorized Vice President Dick Cheney's former top aide to divulge classified intelligence information to a New York Times reporter in an effort to defend the president's decision to go war against Iraq, according to court papers made public Thursday. The court documents indicate that Bush and Cheney authorized the release of the intelligence information after former Ambassador Joseph Wilson wrote a July 6, 2003, op-ed piece charging that the administration's claim that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was trying to obtain uranium from Niger was false.

WEB EXTRA: Open house allows visitors to experience medical student's life

The MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine will be holding its annual open house Friday from 1 to 4:30 p.m.

WEB EXTRA: Open house aims to teach patrons about animals

The annual open house for the College of Veterinary Medicine will be held Saturday. The open house, "Vet-A-Visit", will feature demonstrations and exhibits for guests, including how-to sessions on such things as milking cows and determining the age of a horse. Another feature of the open house will be the Stuffed Animal Clinic, which features student doctors fixing stuffed animals, as well as collecting stuffed animals for charity. The open house begins at 9 a.m., and it will be held at the Veterinary Medical Center on the corner of Bogue Street and Wilson Road. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public.

WEB EXTRA: Alumna to speak at health lecture

The 2006 Erwin P. Bettinghaus Health Communication Lecture will be presented by Terrance Albrecht, a program leader at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, at 3 p.m.

College leads nation in black graduates

The MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources has been recognized by Diverse magazine as the top school in the country to graduate black students in agriculture-related studies. "We found out when the University of Georgia at Athens called and told us that they wanted to come and visit to see what we do because we were No.

Meet general manager Jeff Calhoun

The State News caught up with Lansing Lugnuts general manager Jeff Calhoun on Tuesday. Calhoun is entering his seventh season with the Lugnuts.

WEB EXTRA: The happenings

MUSIC TONIGHT: Kittie, Five.Bolt.Main, Bloodlined Calligraphy and Know Lyfe are performing in Lansing at The Temple Club, 500 E.

Bill could end dorm smoking

Cigarette smokers living on campus might have to take their butts outside if a bill introduced last month in the state House of Representatives becomes law. The bill, introduced by Rep.

Forum to address African studies

MSU is one of only seven universities in the nation to have an African American and African Studies program, university officials said. The program, which was implemented in 2003, will be discussed at a conference, "The Black Scholar and the State of Black America." The conference begins today to bring together faculty, students and the public to discuss the direction black studies programs are taking. "It will be a forum for dialogue on black studies programs and the future," said Gloria Smith, acting director of the program.

Police briefs 04/06/06

WEB EXTRA: MSU College of Law students hold debate on Solomon Amendment

Speakers both for and against a controversial military recruiting amendment debated in front of about 20 people Tuesday at the MSU College of Law. The Solomon Amendment allows the federal government to deny federal funding to colleges and universities if they deny military recruiters access to campus. The military has a "don't ask, don't tell" policy with regard to the LBGT community, stating that recruiters and other military officials cannot ask or pursue any rumors about a person's sexual orientation. The Supreme Court ruled last month that the Solomon Amendment is constitutional after some schools challenged the amendment because they felt it is discriminatory. Gerald Walpin, a director at the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Individual Rights, debated in support of the Solomon Amendment and Jay Kaplan, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan's LBGT Project, debated against it. The MSU Triangle Bar Association and the MSU College of Law Federalist Society cohosted the debate. Walpin said he believes having military recruiters on campus is a form of free speech and that they should not be banned from coming. "The federal government has the right to condition its grants or funds on universities not implementing military recruiting," Walpin said.

Giving advantages won't mean success

Josh Jarman's anti-MCRI column, "MCRI promises equality for all, but proposal won't eliminate racism" (SN 4/04), once again proves that both MCRI supporters and opposition are focusing on the wrong issues when it comes to affirmative action. Black college students graduate at a much lower rate than their white counterparts. Why?

Students should act, not just complain

Jeff Rector, "ASMSU not worth it, should be disbanded" (SN 4/03), thinks that because of low election turnout, we should execute his letter's self-explanatory judgment on our student government. Rector's argument runs like this: There is low student participation in ASMSU elections, but this is not because of apathy, it is because it is not worth the students' time to participate in the election.

Uganda situation should open up Americans' perspectives on events

My goldfish died last week. Percy Jerome Notman, (December 2003 - March 2006) was given a respectable burial by sea — flushed down the porcelain throne.

The Reputation's singer discusses songwriting, scene

Elizabeth Elmore has been a rigid pebble in the underground rock scene for quite some time, skipping through critical acclaim with her band Sarge since the late '90s. But now that Sarge is broken up, she's cementing her street cred with her new group — The Reputation.

Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby

The man who brought the smooth sound of Detroit to a worldwide audience will be the speaker at this spring's undergraduate convocation. Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records, will take the stage at 1 p.m.

MSU alum's memoir witty, enjoyable

I never thought a drag queen and myself would have much more in common than breathing air and living on the same planet. Reading "I Am Not Myself These Days: A Memoir" changed all that. The book is a memoir by Josh Kilmer-Purcell, an MSU alumnus who pulled double duty as a drag queen and advertising director in New York City, averaging about two hours of sleep a night. Kilmer-Purcell writes of his relationship with Jack, a male escort and crack addict, which at times seemed completely alien to me, but at other times, easy to relate to. That's what makes this story so powerful — underneath the glitter and leather corsets is a universal story about love and self and the one unforgettable relationship that changes you. I finished the book in about three days — it's hard to put down, and the dialogue and description move you through it quickly.

Shimek a Houston Comet; Bowen snubbed

Liz Shimek's college career just ended, but on Wednesday, her professional career began. The 6-foot-1 forward was selected by the Phoenix Mercury with the No.