Paying the price

No one likes getting parking tickets. That sense of dread when you see the white paper flapping on the windshield.

Meet your newest teaching assistant

Yellowcard. Carrie Underwood. Ludacris. Class lectures? Starting this week, video iPods and podcasting will provide 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 will test the effectiveness of using the new devices for learning and how students and faculty feel about the technology.

University earns award for global education

MSU will add the Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization to its credits after a ceremony in late May. The award is being presented to the university by NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a global organization that promotes international education and cultural exchange. The association picked MSU for the award, as well as four other universities, to honor MSU's commitment to increasing international education both on campus and abroad. MSU has about 200 study abroad programs in 60 countries, according to the Office of Study Abroad. The award will be presented to the university during a conference scheduled for May 21-26 in Montreal. The university also will be featured in a report, "Internationalizing the Campus 2006: Profiles of Success at Colleges and Universities," to be published on the Web site www.nafsa.org.

Spartans reaffirm sizzling past year

When a team catches fire and shot after shot falls through the net with ease, the players often remark that the net "felt like the basket was as big as a lake." When the MSU women's basketball team is rolling, shooting the ball must feel like casting a pebble into the Pacific Ocean.

'Crash' doesn't deserve best picture nomination

I haven't seen "Brokeback Mountain," but it's got to be better than "Crash." I mean Brendan Fraser in a serious role?

Production funds go toward good cause

Being a member of this year's production of "The Vagina Monologues" has been without a doubt one of the best experiences in my four years at MSU. I asked my father to come see it, and although he was a little uncomfortable, he loved the fact that a local charity, MSU's own Eve's House, would be benefiting. It is insulting that women and men, who have never read Eve Ensler's book or seen the play, think they know what it represents.

Putting on the glitz

When it comes to acting awards, the Oscar is Hollywood's highest honor. The same goes for awards shows — the Oscars are one of the most-watched televised awards shows around the world.

Badgers have size, lack athleticism

The first time around, Wisconsin handed MSU its worst beating of the season, a 82-63 decision at the Kohl Center. Now, it's MSU's turn to protect its home floor when the two teams resume their rivalry at 7 p.m.

Turning 21 doesn't mean instant maturity; still have long way to go

It was the most beautiful object I had ever seen. I held my new plastic driver's license in the air and stared at it in disbelief.

MSU sports meet NCAA academic standards

The MSU athletics department remains in good academic standing for the second straight year, despite the football team ranking worst among Big Ten football programs, according to the Academic Progress Rate released Wednesday by the NCAA. The Academic Progress Rate, or APR, gives a measure of each team's ability to keep its athletes eligible and retain them from year to year.

Ex-Pushing 33 member goes solo

The State News recently talked with Jesse Young, a 2002 MSU graduate who used to play with his band Pushing 33 around campus and is coming back to the city to play a show.

Officials could observe melees

There could be more university officials on the streets if a civil disturbance takes place in East Lansing during this year's Final Four tournament. An independent commission that convened to investigate the April 2-3 disturbances recommends members of MSU's administration be on hand to observe the actions of students as well as police officers, if a similar situation should occur in the future. "If there were other witnesses — not in anybody's camp — there is fairness and accuracy of description," said Beth Alexander, an independent commission member and the university physician. Alexander said the idea grew out of the commission's concern that differing accounts about actions taken during the disturbances from both police and students could not be independently verified. "There was a discrepancy of viewpoints of what happened," Alexander said. East Lansing police Chief Tom Wibert said more bodies on the streets mean more safety concerns, which is why he would want a dedicated group of observers who could meet officers ahead of time. "We wouldn't want people to just show up and say, 'We're here to observe,'" Wibert said. It would be important for observers to be able to pass through police lines, he said, so they would have to be in constant communication with police. Alexander said having more observers present would provide a neutral perspective on any actions, from both sides, that take place during any future disturbances. "It allows us to learn what we are doing well and what we are not doing so well," she said. Lee June, MSU's vice president for student affairs and services, said his department's staff members plan on being out on the streets should something happen again this year. June and other administrators were outside during April's disturbances and said the experience revealed a lack of communication between police and students. "We did not communicate the rules of engagement," June said. He said the first step is for the university and city to establish a clear message of what the rules are and what type of activity could lead to people getting arrested. During past disturbances, June said he has been in similar situations to April 2-3 and has run into students he knows.

SN style: Browns in for spring

This spring is the season for new colors. Spring fashion for 2006 is already beginning to come out in full force in stores.

'Conviction' bland, predictable story

David E. Kelley has pretty much ruined me for legal dramas. I don't accept anything less than gripping twists, heart wrenching and relevant story lines, humor and fluid relationships between characters that grow and change.

MSU still winning without a high-scoring offense

Averaging only three goals per game, the No. 4 Spartans are far from flashy. But clutch goaltending, a solidified defense and the ability to put enough goals on the scoreboard have the Spartans riding a nine-game unbeaten streak headed into the postseason. After an up-and-down first half of the season, MSU is 12-2-3 since Jan.

Manuscripts support many Bible passages

John Bice's latest column "Truth of Bible can't be believed" (SN 2/21) actually contains in it the refutation of his argument. He contends that there were so many early Christians churning out so many manuscripts, often chock full of errors, that we can't know what the originals said. On the contrary, it is the enormous number of manuscripts we have that allows us to determine with great certainty what the originals said.

WEB ONLY: Happenings

MUSIC Tonight: Gold Standard Labs, Gogogo Airheart, The Jai-Alai Savant, Subtitle and The Sexual Pantalones will perform in Lansing at Mac's Bar, 2700 E.

Police briefs 03/02/06

Icers hungry for continued success as playoffs approach

With a first-round CCHA playoff bye, the No. 4 Spartans are playing the wait-and-see game for who will invade Munn Ice Arena for a best-of-three series the weekend of March 10. But while the Spartans (20-10-8 overall, 14-7-7 CCHA) have the luxury of an off-week to get healthy and stay sharp, MSU head coach Rick Comley will be the first to tell you that he has no idea who his team could face in the second round. "The real nice thing is that there's nobody you really want to play and there's nobody that you don't want to play," Comley said.

Law student band plays in first gig

By Adam Lark The State News Lugging guitar cases, speakers, a keyboard and African bongo drums into the Castle Board Room of the MSU College of Law on Saturday afternoon, first-year law student Jeff Natke felt a bit out of place. The Defendants, a band composed entirely of MSU law students, were about to play their first gig.