Survey says 'no' to smoking

Smoking in dorm rooms might not be a housing option next year. The Residence Halls Association, or RHA, passed a bill last week that recommended University Housing "eliminate all smoking options in the residence halls by fall 2007." RHA officials conducted an online smoking survey last fall, and more than 1,000 students participated. The majority said they would support a ban on smoking in the residence halls. In 1994, the MSU Board of Trustees approved a smoking ban in university vehicles and in campus buildings, except residence halls. RHA is proposing to make all residence hall rooms, hallways and lounges smoke-free.

Primarily low turnout

It isn't really shocking that few MSU students voted in Tuesday's special Senate primary. Out of the more than 6,110 registered voters on campus, only 35 voted in nearby residence halls for the primary of the special election, which will be held to fill the Senate seat vacated by Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero. The importance of voting has been drilled into our minds.

Redesigned MSU.edu site launches today

The new MSU home page is set to launch today between 6 - 8 a.m. The design will be "snappier" and the site will adhere to current Web standards, said Rich Wiggins, senior information technologist for Academic Computing & Network Services. "We want to take advantage of new standards and be as current as we can, but we want to make sure it works on most of the Web browsers people have," Wiggins said. The new Web site has been tested with more than 90 percent of popular browsers, he said, including Internet Explorer, Safari, Mozilla and Firefox. Among the changes is a photo with another inset photo — usually a professor or student, but in one case a panda — with a story to go along with the visual, Wiggins said. The actual transition to the new site should be very brief, he said. "It's like one minute you're on the current site, the next minute on the new one," Wiggins said.

Student earns award to study slave trade

To Sowande Mustakeem, a library full of historical documents is like a playground for children. And in her playground, this MSU Comparative Black History Program doctoral student rifles through letters and logs related to the transatlantic slave trade — an era she believes should be further explored.

Catch up with...

Get the lowdown on how the next men's hoops class fared recently. Isaiah Dahlman Shooting guard/small forward 6-foot-6, 175 pounds Braham Area High School (Braham, Minn.) Dahlman scored his 3,000 and 3,001st career point on a layup en route to a 35-point performance.

Chocolate Party raises money for museum

On Sunday afternoon, the Kellogg Center bustled with bakers and hundreds of chocolate lovers tasting truffles, tortes and teacakes.

Student charged in hacking, copyright infringement case

MSU student Brandon Yuille could face up to seven years in prison and $450,000 in fines after being charged by a U.S.

Monday musings

A pair of magicians performed at halftime of last week's MSU-Ohio State men's basketball game. Tragically, the performance was cut short when the performers went to pull a rabbit out of a hat and instead pulled out Michigan center Amadou Ba, who then shoved the pair to the ground. An American skeleton racer was knocked out of the Olympics last week after he broke a bone in his back. The racer did, however, receive the Most Ironic Injury of the Year Award. With two free throws late in Saturday's win against Temple, Duke guard J.J.

'Beer nuts' host festival

By Erin Atkinson For The State News Puddles of beer dampened the pavement and the distinctive ale smell permeated the street at the Winter Beer Festival in Lansing's Old Town Saturday. While most opted for traditional kegs and coolers, the Dark Horse Brewing Co. found a way to make its "Scotty Karate" flavor stand out. The company distributed its beer from the shoulders of an armless mannequin. Local beer aficionados stood sipping on hundreds of flavors including "Quit Jerkn' my Firken" and "Big Phat Abbey Ale," from 21 brewing companies across Michigan.

People ignore races besides black, white

Reading the front-page articles for Feb. 22, it just struck me as funny how everyone thinks that there are only two races: white and black. Everyone gets so caught up in the notion of black equality, black rights, black history and black achievements — no one's stopped to think about any other races that, yes, do exist. Don't get me wrong — I don't think that the accomplishments and struggles of either whites or blacks should be diminished.

Icers end regular season

Detroit — If it weren't for tying Lake Superior, 2-2, in the CCHA regular-season finale Saturday at Joe Louis Arena, the No.

College boredom might explain porch attack; maybe was deserved

Last week, a guy attacked my porch. Really. Last Wednesday night I heard a noise outside my door, and when I looked out the window there was a guy fighting with my porch, yelling at it and ripping the balusters out one by one. The porch seemed to be losing, since it was not fighting back.

North America disappoints with lack of emotion in plays

After Alexander Ovechkin scored to put Russia up 1-0 on Canada in the Olympic quarterfinal round of hockey, he celebrated like he had just scored the overtime winner to advance his team to the Stanley Cup Finals. Now don't get me wrong, I love watching Ovechkin play.

Photo misleading, no LBGT side of it

After almost a week, I decided that I really should respond to the State News article "Web Extra: Students: LBGT community comfortable celebrating Valentine's Day at MSU" (SN 2/14). As an e-board member of Respecting Individuals on Neutral Ground, or RING, it's always great to get some coverage, especially when our issues have been invisible in North Complex due to apathetic mentors, despite all we've done.

ASMSU to put $3 tax increase on March ballot

Student government officials are crossing their fingers in hopes of a student-approved $3 tax increase, which they say will determine the future of MSU's undergraduate student government. The proposal that will appear on ASMSU's March ballot asks for the current tax to be raised from $13.75 per semester to $16.75 per semester. ASMSU officials say they want to strengthen services they already provide, but don't have the resources. Student government officials pull in about $850,000 a year from student tax dollars for their budget. About $237,000 in additional funding would come as a result of the increase. The proposed tax increase would go toward restructuring and adding positions to a division of ASMSU that handles budget management, the Web site and the hiring of its employees, as well as increasing the visibility of the organization and its services — which is one of the largest changes in the proposed budget. Financing for promotional events, such as the Academic Orientation Program, would go up with the tax increase, said Jessica Kunnath, ASMSU's association director. Andrew Bell, vice chairperson of external affairs for ASMSU's Student Assembly, said he doesn't "want to think about what happens if (the increase) doesn't pass." "We couldn't compensate the staff enough for the hours we're requiring of them," Bell said.

Preachers not best shepherds for flock

I must confess, I've been delighted by all the attention that the Wells Hall preachers have been receiving lately. At first, I reacted to their vitriol with anger and irritation, but after hearing enough people react to them, I must say I couldn't be happier. As a born-again atheist, I'm almost gleeful that the fire and brimstone does more to turn people to the side of rationality in one week than I could possibly hope to do in a lifetime. Unbeknownst to the fundamentalists, they have become parodies of themselves. I couldn't possibly count the number of times I've seen their shameful lack of comprehension on basic and simple matters of doctrine.

Students win turf war

Police vs. students sounds like a familiar rivalry, but this time the issue wasn't parking tickets or party noise. They brought their game to the football field. Residents of Brody and West Circle complexes joined MSU police officers Sunday at Duffy Daugherty Football Building to compete against each other in a friendly game of touch football. The game was played as a fundraiser for the American Red Cross. Lorrie Bates and David Isabell, both MSU police officers, began planning the inaugural game three weeks ago.

Findlay declines recount

Republican John Findlay will not seek a recount after last week's special Senate election primary in which he was defeated by Vince Green by only one vote. Green won over Findlay with 1,317 votes to 1,316. Green will now face Rep.

21 companies. Hundreds of flavors. Flowing beer.

At Saturday's Winter Beer Festival in Old Town Lansing, dozens of Michigan breweries poured their signature beers for local patrons.

Police briefs 02/27/06