Saturday, May 23, 2026

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Multimedia

NEWS

Well composed

The MSU School of Music's Visiting Composer Series featured international composer Bright Sheng of China, a Leonard Bernstein distinguished university professor of composition at the University of Michigan; Jere Hutcheson, an MSU professor of composition and Imant Raminsh of Latvia, a musician best known for his choral music.

MICHIGAN

Gas prices up from last year

The average price of gas in Michigan is 41 cents higher than it was at this time last year — and the prices could reach as high as $3 at their peak this summer, according to AAA of Michigan. The average price of gas in Michigan is $2.645 per gallon according to an April 3 survey conducted by AAA. Gas in the Lansing area is about 5 cents higher than average for the rest of the state, at about $2.696, according to the automobile association report.

FEATURES

Five favorites

1 Author C.S. Lewis' book-turned-movie "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is released today on DVD and is surprisingly true to the novel.

COMMENTARY

Kalamazoo Promise illusion of progress

Public schools in Kalamazoo are failing, but The Kalamazoo Promise is not the solution. Gabrielle Russon's recent column, "Kalamazoo schools serve as prime example for others to follow" (SN 3/24), asserts that it is "a giant equalizer — putting the students on the same level as their wealthier peers who can afford to live in the better school districts." I am afraid that she is advocating an overly simplistic solution to a very complex problem. Offering a student full college tuition in exchange for attending inferior schools is not much of a deal at all.

COMMENTARY

What's the secret?

The day before the MSU Board of Trustees holds its public meetings on Fridays, trustees meet in private to talk about the issues they will face the next day. The meetings on Thursdays are not open to the public or the news media.

COMMENTARY

MSU makes it too easy

Eighteen classroom projectors owned by the Instructional Media Center have been stolen this year from campus, totaling more than $93,000 in stolen goods. That number is more than twice the amount of projectors that were taken in 2005, worrying some campus officials about how to stop this crime wave.

FEATURES

Fashion week measures up

Monday kicked off the Student Apparel Design Association's first-ever fashion week, in which they host a fashion-themed event every day leading up to their annual fashion show Friday night at the Auditorium. An informal and lively renegade fashion show was held Monday afternoon at the Union.

COMMENTARY

ASMSU doing best with circumstances

In response to Jeff Rector's comments in "ASMSU not worth it, should be disbanded" (SN 4/03): Apathy is a noun meaning "Lack of interest or concern, especially regarding matters of general importance or appeal." Your statement "… abysmal participation is not a reflection of the student body's apathy but of the simple fact it is not worth our time to participate," is exactly that: apathy.

NEWS

WEB EXTRA: Gators chomp Bruins, 73-57, take NCAA title

Guard Taurean Green threw the basketball in the air as the clock winded down to signal Florida's victory over UCLA in the NCAA men's national championship game. Joakim Noah was named the MVP with 16 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks for the 73-57 victory.

FEATURES

Bridesmaids shine in witty performance

In "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress" at Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Drive in Lansing, five bridesmaids from Knoxville, Tenn., knock the audience's socks off with witty repartee that's played off so naturally that you feel as though you're sitting and chatting with them. The script was written by Alan Ball, who also wrote "Six Feet Under" and "American Beauty." Set in the early '90s, the women touch on a few serious issues, but the tone is hardly heavy.

FOOTBALL

O-line undergoes retooling

How would one describe the offensive line for the 2005 MSU football team? The terms that surface aren't flattering. "Porous" comes to mind, as does "sieve-like" and "much-maligned." The group gave up 24 sacks last season, including 12 to Ohio State.

MSU

Taking on the world

The MSU Vis Arbitral Moot team will participate in an international law competition beginning on Saturday. The 13th annual Willem C.

COMMENTARY

SN ASMSU election criticism misguided

The recent State News editorial, "Lame duck attempt" (SN 3/29), was quite simply rife with specious logic, baseless assertions and out-and-out misinformation. First, the assertion that the elected representatives do not properly represent their constituency is unfounded and ridiculous.

BASEBALL

Day named Big Ten's player of the week

Freshman Kyle Day went 11-for-17 with eight RBIs on seven extra-base hits last week and was honored as the Big Ten Player of the Week. Day, who leads the Big Ten in walks with 17, gets time at catcher and left field.