Where we stand

It's been a tough second term for President Bush. Republican finance scandals, Hurricane Katrina and continuing fighting in Iraq made 2005 stressful. Bush tried to push past the rough start and outline his goals for the next few years in his State of the Union address Tuesday. But it was what he didn't mention in his speech that's important. Somewhat surprising was how brief Bush's mention of Hurricane Katrina and the devastation in the Gulf Coast region was.

LCC student describes finding murdered prof during trial

Morgan Haeger reached his Lansing Community College class about 20 minutes early on Jan. 23, 2005.

Bush stresses easing nation's reliance on foreign oil imports

By William Neikirk Chicago Tribune Washington (KRT) — President Bush assured Americans Tuesday night he would seek to protect them in a dangerous world of war and terrorism while pushing for steps to make the U.S.

Awards recognize grad students, late MSU prof

Three students from separate universities each were announced winners of $10,000 fellowships Tuesday at Kellogg Center. The students were honored with the TIAA-CREF Ruth Simms Hamilton Research Fellowship, which was established through a $500,000 endowment by the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund, or TIAA-CREF, an insurance and retirement savings provider for workers in the academic, medical, cultural and research fields. Hamilton, who died in 2003, was an MSU professor of social science and a pioneer in the field of African Diaspora, a study of the displacement and migration of African people across the globe. Hamilton's son, Bramlett Hamilton, was charged with her murder, but was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Civil rights icon King dies at 78

The world lost another civil rights heroine Monday night. Coretta Scott King, wife of the late Rev.

Police briefs 02/01/06

MIDDAY UPDATE: Day in Detroit stops at Motown studio

Detroit — Driving down east on I-696 to Detroit amidst speeding traffic, "wows" gasp out of my mouth.

Smith nabs verbal from Fla. lineman

A week after securing one of the top cornerbacks in Florida, the MSU football team again reached into the talent-rich state to land another recruit before today's National Signing Day. Abre Leggins, a three-star lineman from Maynard Evans High School in Orlando, Fla., verbally committed to MSU on Monday.

Return to Motown

Detroit — I was born and raised in Detroit, and downtown has always been my favorite thing about my hometown.

MSU grad makes Web site for environmental photos

They photographed everything from scum in Lake Tahoe to Chicano teenagers in El Paso, from mountain sheep in Alaska to black lung victims in Alabama.

Expert: HPV vaccine would be helpful, not entire solution

Dr. D., I have heard rumors about a new vaccination for human papillomavirus, or HPV, which could prevent cervical cancer.

'Feast' on new food-themed (SCENE) exhibit

The Oreos on display don't twist or crumble, and you definitely can't bite into them. The popular cookies are just a sampling of the smorgasbord of art in the victual-themed "Feast Your Eyes" exhibit at (SCENE) Metrospace, 303 Abbott Road.

Address inspires panel to discuss war in Iraq, terror

Beginning last week The State News asked for interested students, faculty, staff and community members to join us Tuesday night for the State of the Union and offer their reactions to it. Concerns about the war in Iraq and the war on terror dominated panel discussion after Tuesday's State of the Union speech. Five of the six people acknowledged before the speech that they disapproved of the president. Phil Bellfy, associate professor of writing, rhetoric and American culture, said the president continued his track record of deceiving the American people that began when he lied to citizens to get the country into war.

Access denied

Living in the dorms requires a lot of trust. Students share a room and sometimes a bathroom with people they barely know.

Owner: Local shop was long-term goal

In a small shop around the corner from campus, Woven Art is filled with quiet conversation about recent art projects and the weather. Surrounded by a swirl of colorful dyed mohair, wool and tweed yarns, owner Nancy McRay said the shop, located at 325 Grove St., is part of a dream finally realized. McRay said she wove and sold clothing when in high school. "I fell in love with the process," she said.

Innovations: Stellar searching

Name: Professor Stephen Zepf Department: Physics and Astronomy Type of research: How galaxies are formed Date of research: Zepf has been studying the origin of galaxies for about 20 years, but his current projects using the Southern Astrophysical Research, or SOAR, Telescope began about a year ago. Basics of the project: "We look at star clusters and galaxies to learn about how the whole galaxy formed," Zepf said. Zepf looks at the different wavelengths of the light emitted from star clusters. In this way, he can determine how old the clusters are and what elements are included in their compositions, which helps him determine the galaxy's age. Using Internet connections and computer programming, Zepf is able to study images of the galaxies from the Hubble Space Telescope and the SOAR Telescope. The SOAR Telescope — located at an altitude of 9,000 feet on a mountain in Chile — is an MSU project in conjunction with The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the National Optical Astronomy Observatory and Brazil. Two postdoctoral fellows, one graduate student and one undergraduate student assist Zepf in his research. Social impact of research: "It answers the basic questions of the universe on a big scale," Zepf said. Grants and funding: The National Science Foundation and NASA fund the project, which costs several thousand dollars per year.

Imposing political beliefs in classroom shouldn't intimidate students

File this one under "how incredibly ridiculous." A couple of weeks ago, a conservative alumni association at the University of California, Los Angeles offered students up to $100 dollars to out the most radical professors at the school. Students had to provide the association with transcripts from class or other proof professors were pushing their liberal ideology on them.

Group celebrates Super Bowl with food

The MSU chapter of Athletes in Action, a Christian fellowship for college athletes, will watch the Super Bowl and, at halftime, try to break the record for the most hot dogs eaten in one sitting. About 40 partygoers can watch the game at the home of Phil Gillespie, MSU's Athletes in Action campus director, whose theater system boasts an 8-foot-wide screen. During halftime, those up for the challenge can participate in a hot dog eating contest, which is held just for fun among group members, said Max Lossen, president of MSU's chapter of Athletes in Action. Competitors will attempt to break the record of 19 hot dogs.

Cartoon repulsive, wrong message sent

I found the Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and abortion cartoon (SN 1/27) to be disgusting, vile, immoral and loathsome.

MSU student remembers Gulf War hitting home

Kuwait native Abdulrahman Al-Fraih followed his older brother's footsteps 6,700 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to East Lansing, leaving behind his home with its turbulent past.