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COMMENTARY

Better methods exist for parking enforcers

After reading Holly Klaft's article, "6 new trucks purchased for parking enforcement" (SN 3/24), and the department's attempts to justify the need for new 2006 Dodge Dakotas, I can't say that I feel its budget is being well spent. I find the reasons listed in the article to be somewhat ridiculous — the low speeds' effect on the engine and "seats inside the trucks begin to wear down" hardly seem like good reasons to replace five-year-old vehicles.

MSU

Cancer event hits home for student

A moment of silence fell upon the MSU greek community in remembrance of cancer patients Saturday night. As I looked around the room in Demonstration Hall, I could see the passion and commitment to the fight against cancer in the eyes of the about 3,000 people participating in the annual Relay For Life event. This moment led me to realize how cancer has touched my personal life and the ones I love.

COMMENTARY

Hockey team finally gets SN coverage

Finally! I've been a Spartans hockey season ticket holder this year and have really enjoyed watching this team fight through injuries at the beginning of the season and battle many tough opponents all season long. When I knew it had won the CCHA Championship and was going to advance to the NCAA Tournament, I looked for some front-page coverage in The State News.

FEATURES

Rapper's new album lackluster, unoriginal

Ryan Mccormick
March 27, 2006

The bass lines thud, and the lyrics "go dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb." Or at least that's how E-40 lays down the hook for the single "Tell Me When To Go" from his new album, "My Ghetto Report Card." E-40 is a West Coast rapper — "The Ambassador of the Bay" — with straight A+s in hustlin', tycoonin', hoodshop and music, says the CD jacket of "My Ghetto Report Card." But what E-40 forgot to grade himself on was originality, in which he gets an F. He raps about muscle cars with flashy rims, drinking Hennessy and 40s of brew, keeping an eye out for the police and degrading women.

ICE HOCKEY

Maine's bounces unlucky for MSU

Matt Bishop
March 27, 2006

Albany, N.Y. — The NCAA Tournament is a bad time to stop having bounces go your way. That's exactly what happened to MSU on Sunday evening at Pepsi Arena in the regional final game. On the defensive end, it was tipped shots from Maine that found their way into the back of the net. On the offensive end, the Spartans rarely found themselves on the positive end of any scrums in front of Maine goaltender Ben Bishop. By the time the bounces starting slowing down for Maine, the Spartans found themselves down 3-0 late in the first period. "The goals they got were good goals, but they were tip goals — the tough ones for a goaltender to see and react to with a lot of guys in front of them," junior captain Drew Miller said. The Black Bears' first three goals came off tip-ins in front of MSU freshman goaltender Jeff Lerg.

MSU

Wine event offers MSU Museum sip of support

By Tara Thoel For The State News Steve Szilvagyi makes wine, cooks with wine and wants to keep up on the latest varieties of the drink. That's why a wine-tasting benefit at the Kellogg Center on Friday was perfect for the East Lansing resident. Tables were lined with more than 100 different kinds of wine, as volunteers poured many glasses and wine distributors answered questions about the different selections to support ongoing programs at the MSU Museum.

MSU

MRULE 2-day AIDS event draws 600

By Jason Chapman For The State News Audience members viewing an AIDS awareness movie called "A Closer Walk" began to shed tears as soon as the film began in the crowded Union on Saturday. The movie, which depicted dismal scenes of AIDS throughout the world, was the centerpiece and inspiration of a two-day event called "No Place to Hide: Student Activism and the Fight Against the Global AIDS Pandemic," according to students of the Multi-Racial Unity Living Experience, or MRULE. "We want students to find their place in the great struggle to fight this pandemic," MRULE Director Jeanne Gazel said.

MICHIGAN

Deficit may affect zoo, Lansing jobs

The future of Potter Park Zoo and the regional make-up of Ingham County's fire department dispatch response could be in limbo with Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero's budget plan. Bernero will present those ideas and a list of 40 budget proposals to quell Lansing's $11 million deficit at 7 p.m.

COMMENTARY

State shouldn't judge people on differences

In Bryan Victor's letter "Affirmative action helps fight racism" (SN 3/24), he claims that the state does have the right to treat people differently based on race. I would like to call everyone's attention back to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 where it states the principle of equality "without regard to their race, color, religion, or national origin." I wonder, how is it that minorities will ever overcome the separation between themselves and the majority if they are continually labeled, separated and treated differently? A study done by Heilman, Block, and Lucas (1992, study 2) shows that women and other minorities were perceived as less competent when affirmative action was a component in the selection process than when it was not. If we really wanted to help those at a disadvantage at getting into college, we would implement a socioeconomic "affirmative action" so that those who have the most trouble at qualifying for college (worse schools, unable to participate in extra curricula, work full time as well as attend high school) would be helped regardless of race, color or ethnicity. Stacey Mattson preveterinary freshman

MSU

ASMSU survey opens online

Kristi Jourdan
March 27, 2006

Beginning today, students can fill out an online survey created by ASMSU officials to determine student demand for additional recreational space on campus. The survey will be available to fill out for a week and a half, student government officials said. ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, allocated $7,000 in January to fund a survey of student opinions on the project, which calls for the construction of a combined IM facility and student events center. The project is meant to compete with facilities at other universities and would lower expenses for registered student organizations planning to host events such as concerts, speaker series and other larger events, ASMSU officials said. Additional financial resources are needed to pursue this project, said Rick McNeil, assistant director of Intramural Sports and Recreative Services, adding that students would have to be willing to pay fees incorporated into tuition. "There are two parts," said Harry Wang, a finance sophomore and Eli Broad College of Business representative for ASMSU's Student Assembly.

MICHIGAN

Wine event offers MSU Museum sip of support

By Tara Thoel For The State News Steve Szilvagyi makes wine, cooks with wine and wants to keep up on the latest varieties of the drink. That's why a wine-tasting benefit at the Kellogg Center on Friday was perfect for the East Lansing resident. Tables were lined with more than 100 different kinds of wine, as volunteers poured many glasses and wine distributors answered questions about the different selections to support ongoing programs at the MSU Museum.

SPORTS

Catching up with...

Get the lowdown on how the next MSU men's hoops recruits, who are still playing in the boys' playoffs have fared recently. Isaiah Dahlman Shooting guard/small forward 6 foot 6, 175 pounds Braham Area High School (Braham, Minn.) The Dahlman brothers stole the show as Braham cruised to its third straight Class AA title Saturday.

COMMENTARY

Taking the law in hand

On the surface, it looks like a nice gesture toward East Lansing residents from city officials and police. But it brings into question the very nature of law enforcement. The City Council approved Tuesday an amendment to East Lansing law that allows individuals to refuse breath analysis tests, or Breathalyzers, without fear of a fine or ticket.

COMMENTARY

Clean up your mess

We know the land beneath Brookfield Plaza is polluted. We don't know if it's ever going to be cleaned up. The ground underneath the concrete, located at the east end of East Lansing off Grand River Avenue, has been contaminated by two gas stations and two former dry cleaners. Underground contaminants have made the site one of the most contaminated in Ingham County. State environment officials from the Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ, are aware of the contamination, but three out of the four contaminated Brookfield sites still haven't been cleaned up to meet state standards. That leaves us with contaminated land and seemingly no idea as to if, or when, it will all get cleaned. Although the owner of Brookfield Plaza realizes the pollution is a problem, he isn't responsible for cleaning it up.

SPORTS

Monday musings

Tom Keller
March 27, 2006

San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds says he might not take another swing until the regular season begins. Unless, of course, he gets five minutes alone with the authors of "Game of Shadows." The student who serves as the Stanford Tree mascot during basketball games has been suspended for the remainder of the season after dancing in an undesignated area during a game last week. The Environmental Protection Agency has already announced it will appeal the suspension. Southern Cal quarterback John David Booty might miss all of spring training after injuring his back in practice. Team officials say they will try to treat the Booty pain with Preparation H. NBA scouts are abuzz about the big men who will be on display at the Final Four, including 300-plus-pounder Glen "Big Baby" Davis and near-300-pounder Jai Lewis. Teams reportedly showing interest in the two players include Atlanta, Chicago and the Japan Sumo Association. The Indianapolis Colts shocked the NFL last week by signing kicker Adam Vinatieri, who had been a figurehead of the rival New England Patriots for the last 10 seasons. In a retaliatory move, the Patriots announced the signing of the entire cast of "Hoosiers."

MICHIGAN

Mich. battles tree-slaying insect

Melanie Thomas
March 27, 2006

Known as the "unwanted hitchhiker," emerald ash borer is emerging from its winter slumber to attack and kill millions of unsuspecting Michigan ash trees this year, unless proper funding is provided, MSU researchers said. "The outreach efforts are not funded at the level they need to be," said Deb McCullough, MSU forest entomology professor.