Courtroom apparel important, judge says

By Jason Chapman For The State News East Lansing Judge Richard Ball has overseen trials during which defendants were dressed in tattered bloody shirts and pants, and even soiled clothing. He's seen other judges send people home for wearing bare midriffs, make people spit gum into Kleenex and refuse to go on with cases because of skirts being too short. While people who were just arrested don't have much control over their appearances, those who do might have a better outcome in court if they take the initiative to look presentable in front of a judge, court officials said. "You need to show that you have respect for the court even if you don't," Ball said.

Student's scout project earns $67K for Uganda

When Alex Hill began a project to become an Eagle Scout, he didn't know he would still be working on it five years later.

MIDDAY UPDATE: More residence halls to install modular furniture

Students living in Hubbard and Case halls will not have to worry about hiring a loft service to build and break down their lofts beginning in the fall. University Housing officials decided to replace the furniture in Hubbard and Case halls with new modern-style lofts, similar to those in Holmes and Shaw halls. Officials will begin installing the furniture this summer in order for everything to be complete for fall move-in. Currently, if students want lofts, they have to hire and pay an outside company to come build the lofts in their rooms.

2 Mich. regions to administer career training initiative grant

A state bursting at the seams with new farms and a booming industrial sector was the vision laid out by top state officials Monday on campus.

Police briefs 04/18/06

Speak your mind

East Lansing's City Council is looking for student input on some unlikely topics. It wants to know what you think about parties, noise and drinking. A public hearing will be held today at 7:30 p.m.

E.L. dodges major cuts to budget this year

A city staff analysis of East Lansing's proposed budget mentions "dark clouds" forming on the horizon. Yet city staff members have presented a budget with no major cuts, no layoffs and no tax increases. Just down Michigan Avenue, Lansing officials are searching for ways to chop more than $10 million from their expenses. By comparison, East Lansing has been either forward-thinking or extremely fortunate.

Discrimination

The small elevator in the west wing of Wilson Hall is not much to look at. Its bare walls and confined space don't merit much thought beyond the rider's destination.

Writer protects right to be discriminated

Hey, Etienne Fields, writer of "Affirmative action ban seeks to defend Americans' right to be racist" (SN 4/11), you have in your own words shown "time and time again" what promoters of affirmative action have done, by claiming that anyone opposed to your view is a racist. You claim that there has never been a ballot proposal that would prohibit affirmative action for women.

Tuesdays best night for quality TV shows

The only time I ever turn on the TV with any form of excitement is on Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. Tuesday has the best networks have to offer.

Games not cause of violent behavior

Ah yes, the video game debate. We've all been there. We have had to listen to all of the same stupid arguments over and over again. A recent study by Dr. Sonya S.

ASMSU gains power to select representatives

The power to elect undergraduate students to academic committees is now in the hands of student government officials. The MSU Board of Trustees approved a proposal Thursday transferring power from faculty to ASMSU members to select student representatives to the Academic Governance system. The proposal amends the bylaws of the Academic Governance system that affect ad hoc committees, which are temporary committees formed by administrators to discuss specific issues that arise throughout the year. The Academic Governance system reviews university legislation and takes action on issues, such as adding academic minors to the university's curriculum and other academic issues. This proposal should "strengthen the hand of students in governance," said Jon Sticklen, chairman of the Executive Committee of Academic Council. "Like every other part of governance, it really is dependent on the grassroots folk to let their representatives know what they think," Sticklen said.

Pride in self, sexuality best possible life experience try it yourself

My life is so gay, and I couldn't be happier. Running a personal gauntlet of gayness during the last year, I've done about everything, from rocking way too much body glitter to prancing around Grand River Avenue at 2 a.m.

Celebrities should stick to what they're good at

Sometimes celebrities spread themselves too thin — literally and figuratively. Take, for example, Jessica Simpson.

The cost of 'living on'

College students might learn a real-world lesson from the MSU Board of Trustees. Living expenses are, well, expensive.

Making diversity matter at MSU

Kevin Kuehn had never been exposed to much diversity and didn't necessarily want to be. That was until an extra credit assignment put the history and interdisciplinary studies in social science sophomore at a meeting for the Multi-Racial Unity Living Experience, or MRULE, a group that works to create discussion and friendships between people of different racial backgrounds who live in close proximity at MSU. "The theme in MRULE is that through controversy, discussion, argument and constructive criticism, you get a lot of truth," Kuehn said.

Lansing budget to be topic of forums

Residents will be able to voice their opinions about the proposed budget to members of the Lansing City Council this evening. The first of two public forums will take place at 6:30 p.m.

Local movie has interesting story line

Should you be held accountable if something horrible happens because of something you did, even if it wasn't what you meant to do?

Alumni awarded Pulitzer honors

The story began with a confidential tip about a foul state investment into a rare-coin fund in Ohio. But after 2004 MSU graduate and State News alumnus Steve Eder and a team of six investigative reporters, began digging deeper, they uncovered one of the biggest political scandals in Ohio's history. When the Pulitzer Prizes were revealed Monday afternoon, the reporters from The Blade in Toledo, Ohio discovered they were finalists in the public service category — just missing what is widely considered the most prestigious honor in journalism. "At 23 I never thought I'd be on a team that'd be a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize," said Eder, who graduated from James Madison College with a major in political theory and constitutional democracy.

MSU to announce med school partner

Spectrum Health and MSU will announce a new partnership solidifying their combined efforts to expand the MSU College of Human Medicine to west Michigan at 10 a.m.