U-M professor, author will debate initiative

The Residence Halls Association, with help from other campus organizations, is sponsoring a debate on campus today about the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative. The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or MCRI, is a proposal to amend the state constitution to ban affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment to groups or individuals based on their race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin for public employment, education or contracting purposes. Speakers will include activist and author Tim Wise and University of Michigan philosophy Professor Carl Cohen. The Residence Halls Association, or RHA, and ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, decided to take a stance against MCRI in December. Vic Maurer, director of Racial, Ethnic and Progressive Affairs for RHA, said he started to consider holding the event in November. "(RHA) represents student concerns, and this is obviously an issue students are concerned about," Maurer said, adding that the initiative clearly affects the campus and state. The event will cost close to $9,000, with speakers costing $4,000 each.

Granholm to sign wage bill

Gov. Jennifer Granholm is expected to sign a bill today which will give minimum wage workers in Michigan their first raise in nine years. The increase, which would take effect in October, would set the minimum wage at $6.95 per hour.

'TransGeneration' full of humor, drama, hope

Going away to college is the final transition from childhood to adulthood for many students. College is a time for experimentation — a chance to grow up and find yourself without the influence of your parents.

Trustee: Policies discussed at dinners

On the evening of Jan. 12, the MSU Board of Trustees gathered, as it often does, to share a dinner and drinks at Cowles House the night before its monthly public meeting. Along with MSU President Lou Anna K.

Sidwood wrong place for editorial cartoon

Apparently, Mike Ramsey is now getting two editorial comics a day. I have liked his Sidwood comics all year and thought it was cool The State News was running some original comics from a student that are the same style as the popular syndicated comics.

MIDDAY UPDATE: Debate team shines against Wake Forest, walks away with title

It took four hours, but the MSU Debate Team finally got its championship. The squad faced off in the National Debate Tournament championship against Wake Forest University on Monday night. It wasn't until Tuesday morning when they were finally declared national champions. After nearly four hours of intense debating and judge deliberations, the MSU senior duo of Ryan Burke and Casey Harrigan, who debated for the team, couldn't believe their ears or their sleep-deprived eyes. "I'm still kind of in shock," Harrigan said.

Writer gets firsthand look at uncivilized human behavior

I recently had a remarkable chance to observe humanity in all its base instincts. The trappings of civilization stripped away. Real "Lord of the Flies"-type stuff.

Study: College faculty values own spirituality

Nurses work with people who are within inches of their lives on a day-to-day basis. That's why Mary Jo Arndt, an associate professor and director of undergraduate programs in the College of Nursing, said her students will encounter many instances that involve someone's spirituality. "People are very vulnerable when (nurses) work with them.

Parking enforcers do more than ticket

"Better methods exist for parking enforcers" (SN 3/27) makes some suggestions that I've seen frequently in The State News.

Affirmative action can be improved

I am glad Stacey Mattson took time to reassert every misconception of affirmative action in her letter, "State shouldn't judge people on differences" (SN 3/27), if for no other reason than to prove just how wrong opponents to affirmative action are.

Student vote count still low for ASMSU

About 8 percent of undergraduate students voted in last week's ASMSU election — up from 4 percent in last year's voting. ASMSU is MSU's undergraduate student government. A $3 tax increase, which passed by a slim margin, and candidates running for student government seats appeared on the ballot. But 8 percent of the undergraduate student population doesn't amount to much when the other 92 percent doesn't vote, student government officials said. "If you look at other student governments, you'll find a general trend of apathy," said Andrew Schepers, chairperson of ASMSU's Student Assembly.

Icers slip in East Regionals

Albany, N.Y. — The quest to the Frozen Four came to an end for the top-seeded MSU hockey team on Sunday when it fell, 5-4, to Maine in the NCAA East Regional Finals. "It was a game that lived up to the game we all thought it would be," MSU head coach Rick Comley said.

Gymnastics Spartans hit podium for 1st time since 1997

The gymnastics team took second place at Saturday's Big Ten Championships at Jenison Field House.

Cancer relay promotes unity, awareness

By Amanda Spurlock For The State News When Stefanie Ridenour took a lap around Demonstration Hall on Saturday night, it was a little different from the laps she took during the greek system's Relay For Life last year.

B-ball buddies

East Lansing police officers trade in their handcuffs and guns for whistles and basketballs a few nights each week to teach kids the basics of basketball and team work. "It's a great way for kids to be introduced to police officers," East Lansing police Chief Tom Wibert said. Before basketball practice on Friday, Wibert joined about 45 children as they warmed up with jumping jacks. East Lansing police Officer Steve Whelan counted out loud with each jumping jack, and the kids would chime in.

International graduate school admission rises

Following a two-year decline, the number of MSU's international graduate student applications is up about 19 percent from fall 2005 — numbers that are in step with an annual nationwide survey. According to the survey from the Council of Graduate Schools, nationwide applications for international graduate students have increased 11 percent for fall 2006 over last fall. Following the Sept.

Accusations of misinformation in previous column lack merit, fact

Some readers seemed distressed by my column on the well-established negative correlation between scientific education and belief in God, "Evolutionary theory, science needed to vaccinate irrational beliefs" (SN 2/16). Regrettably, fact checking was not their forte. In "Bice misinterprets studies in his column" (SN 3/17), Charlie Mack claimed that I mischaracterized a study by Rice University sociologist Elaine Ecklund when I wrote "Natural science faculty were less likely to believe in God than social scientists." Although this was a small point in my column, Mack argued that professors weren't asked direct questions on belief in God, but two questions regarding levels of "truth" in religions. However, Rice University's Office of News and Media Relations described the study as having 36 questions on religious beliefs and spiritual practices and, "Nearly 38 percent of natural scientists surveyed said they did not believe in God, but only 31 percent of the social scientists gave that response." I also contacted Ecklund by phone; she kindly confirmed that the study did, indeed, have direct questions on belief in God. Rudy Bernard's recent column, "Scientists don't need to dismiss religion to be credible, accurate" (SN 3/14), also deserves a response. Bernard wrote, "Even the group with the highest level of unbelief (biologists) still has a majority with belief." That's completely false. A majority of scientists surveyed were either atheist or agnostic.

Recent arrest shows Islam's intolerance

I find it ironic that riots have just concluded in Afghanistan concerning the Prophet Muhammad cartoons and the West's apparent "intolerance" of Islam, only to have an Afghani Christian, Abdul Rahman, arrested there for converting from Islam to Christianity. Even if the possibility of him facing the death penalty did not exist, such an egregious violation of one's human rights would still be appalling.

Recruits impressive early on

Three coaches and seven new recruits made their debuts Friday as the MSU football team opened the spring season with its first practice — a session head coach John L.

Police briefs 03/27/06