Plans could clean up local shopping center

Robert Phipps knows his shopping center is in need of some cleanup. Since buying Brookfield Plaza, located on the east end of East Lansing off Grand River Avenue, Phipps has spent the last seven years sprucing it up. "It still looks ugly in my mind — the center — and it looks 100 percent better than when I bought it," he said. Phipps has renovated much of the interior space in the complex and plans to invest in exterior redevelopments next. But the biggest mess that hasn't been dealt with isn't in the storefronts or the parking lot.

Cutting tensions

It's been more than 50 years since the civil rights movement began, but it's clear discrimination still exists. Even at MSU. Racial and homophobic messages were written on dry-erase boards in north and south campus areas. In the Hubbard Hall cafeteria, a white student was overheard making racial comments to a group of black students. Members of the Department of Residence Life met with different residence halls last week in an effort to educate students about these incidents and about MSU's anti-harassment policy.

Documentary on eating healthy discusses MSU's food impact

If you wrote down what you ate for a week, what would your list look like? Would it include organic fruits and vegetables, or mostly soda pop and take-out?

ASMSU considers policy for religious holiday absences

Professors could be forced to be more lenient on class attendance policies for students if ASMSU officials are successful at changing the university's Religious Observance Policy. ASMSU is MSU's undergraduate student government. The bill recommends the university create a more structured policy regarding students who participate in religious holidays that require absences and missed assignments, ASMSU officials said at a meeting Tuesday. "We preach diversity," said Jamie Schare, Jewish Student Union representative for ASMSU's Academic Assembly.

Indie band plays somber, sulky pop

Headlights describes its sound as "Indie Pop with a Shoegazey aftertaste" on MySpace.com. And since the Internet never lies, especially MySpace, there's no reason to argue with Headlights' claim. The band rightfully takes on the role of an indie band since it isn't on a major record label and principally sings about depressing moments in life.

Gender identity not included in policies

This is in regard to the article "Race, gay issues focus of meetings" (SN 3/21). More students on campus might be familiar with the university's anti-discrimination policy, but the list of categories protected from harassment in the article ("age, color, gender, disability status, height, weight, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, race, religion, sexual orientation or veteran status") did not include gender identity. The MSU Board of Trustees voted in its Dec.

Lucky for students

Green beer was served as early as 7 a.m., and still there were fewer arrests this St. Patrick's Day than on an average football Saturday. And a low arrest record is something we should strive for again. Obviously MSU students like green year-round, but the Irish holiday gave Spartan fans another reason to tote green, from their clothing to their tongues.

Gritty Potter a consistent force on Spartans' defense

Corey Potter has been a quiet force on the Spartans' blue line for the past four years and has emerged as one of the best defenders in the nation. His gritty style of mucking it up in the corners throughout his career has been far from quiet, however.

Students praised for help in Big Easy

On behalf of all New Orleans area residents, I want to thank Sonia Khaleel, State News copy editor, Megan Sutton, my student, and the 21 other MSU students who participated in the Alternative Spring Break in New Orleans.

New Orleans professors continue teaching at MSU

By Trish Marsh For The State News It's been months since Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and flooded University of New Orleans Professor Thomas Andersen's apartment.

Campus' history of tangible class gifts motivates seniors

MSU students huddle together during the cold night, covered with blankets and clutching mugs of hot beverages.

Police briefs 03/22/06

Getting to know New Hampshire

The MSU hockey team takes on New Hampshire in the first round of the 16-team NCAA Tournament 12 p.m.

Innovations: Cystic cells

Name: Associate Professor Douglas Luckie Department: Physiology and the Lyman Briggs School Type of research: Acidity of cystic fibrosis cells Date of research: Luckie began this field of research about 15 years ago. Basics of the project: In his research at the MSU Cystic Fibrosis Lab, Luckie compares model cells that line both healthy and cystic fibrosis-infected lungs.

Voting in any election crucial; don't expect change by doing nothing

For a long time, I've aspired to be like my grandfather. He's a veteran of World War II, has a mean bowling average and almost never missed an election since he first started voting. He makes sure to get there every November, and for a long time volunteered at the polls. My grandfather of course, is a member of one of the largest voting demographic groups.

Home sweet Senate

Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, became the chamber's youngest member when she was sworn into her new position in Tuesday's Senate session. Whitmer defeated Vince Green in last week's special Senate election to fill the vacant 23rd District senate seat. Whitmer, 34, said she enjoyed the experience and felt welcomed by members from both parties. She went straight from the Senate session into her new committee meetings Tuesday. "There was no honeymoon today," Whitmer said. The committees Whitmer was assigned to were the Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism; Local, Urban and State Affairs; Judiciary Gaming and Casino Oversight; and the Health Policy committee, where she will serve as the Minority Vice Chair. Her major plans for this week are catching up on the bills and issues before her new committees, since she will be attending committee meetings during the week. "There will be a lot of reading bills and analyses," she said. Whitmer said she appreciated the welcome and offers of assistance made on the floor by Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema, R-Wyoming, and Senate Minority Leader Bob Emerson, D-Flint. "We welcome Gretchen to the Senate with open arms," Emerson said in a press release.

People should know issues behind tactics

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals: making you think. PETA obviously has achieved one of its goals, that is to encourage people to think and in turn express their opinions. Whether you agree with PETA or not, its shock tactics evoke people to either defend what they believe or open up to new avenues of thinking. Perhaps you weren't aware that by consuming the milk of another species, people inadvertently accept the following: Humans have evolved or were designed to never be weaned from a mother's milk or the milk of another species.

Saving it for later

All that planning and we'll have to keep waiting to try it out. MSU and East Lansing police were ready this year for a riot, disturbance or other shenanigans that could have taken place during the men's basketball season.

Sports talk: Unfamiliarity with other teams could weaken MSU

State News sports reporters Eric Fish and Matt Bishop discuss the No. 4 MSU hockey team. On MSU's seeding… Eric Fish: They definitely got the best draw of either of the No.

Council endorses conflict of interest policy

A new faculty conflict of interest policy — which would establish a new staff position and implement policies specific to individual colleges — was approved by Academic Council on Tuesday. According to the policy, a conflict of interest exists when opportunities for personal benefit might compromise the judgment a faculty member needs to perform his or her responsibilities at MSU. Current practices for conflicts of interest require faculty to sign an annual statement, and this practice would be removed under the new policy.