MCRI proposal sent to Mich. Supreme Court

A proposal to halt the ballot measures made by the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative was submitted to the Michigan Supreme Court this week by Operation King's Dream. The submission was driven by the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration, & Immigrant Rights And Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary, or BAMN, a civil rights campaign that supports affirmative action. The motion aims to disallow the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or MCRI, from appearing on the November ballot.

Professor salaries rank 5th in Big Ten

It's not just the number of touchdowns made that MSU officials track when competing in the Big Ten. The university also strives to move up the rankings in faculty pay. "We expect our funding and salary structure to look like those of the Big Ten," Provost Kim Wilcox said.

MIDDAY UPDATE: Hockey captain shares time with children off the ice

He's captain of the MSU hockey team and has already been drafted by an NHL team, but on this day Drew Miller was simply a play pal for children. That's because Miller was participating in the Spartan Buddy Program, a community service activity he helped create where MSU athletes make weekly visits to patients in the pediatric ward of Sparrow Hospital. "It's so wonderful that these busy student-athletes take the time to do this because it means so much to the kids," said Alma Cameron, 58, of Lansing, the grandmother of 2-year-old Duncan Darnell, a patient in the hospital. For more on this story, see Friday's edition of The State News.

Too little, too late

Timing is everything. But ASMSU seems to be a bit behind. Months after the independent commission reviewing the April 2-3 disturbances released its report, MSU's undergraduate student government is demanding that MSU police be held responsible for its actions regarding events surrounding the disturbances. ASMSU is currently working on a bill that would ask the Executive Committee of Academic Governance to create a special investigative committee to decide if MSU police "shirked" its duty by not cooperating with the independent commission. It's a great idea for ASMSU to take students' needs into account and try to do something about it. But it took ASMSU, what, three months after the commission released its report to discover this? If this was a pressing problem, ASMSU should have gotten involved and demanded that the MSU police be more cooperative when the commission was still meeting. Because the bill — a potentially positive step for students — is late, it looks like ASMSU is just beating a dead horse. A horse that collapsed and died in October, when students decided they didn't want their voices heard and failed to show up to the independent commission's public hearing. Or maybe it died when members of ASMSU, who were assigned to the commission, failed to show up for several meetings. Even if students do still care about that night, it's questionable what the actual effect of having another investigation would be. The independent commission was created to investigate that night and it met for months on end to eventually release a report with recommendations to prevent the disturbances from happening again.

Pick your concept

It's not just about totaling up the money you owe in student loans and realizing you're really going to have to buckle down and win the lottery to afford that car. It's not just about discretely shoving aside that kid in front of you to take a decent shot of that special car with your camera phone. It's about abandoning your undying love for that oh, so special car as soon as you get a glimpse of the concept cars on display throughout Cobo Center. Visit new versions of your old favorites and fall in love with the future when you head to the 2006 North American International Auto Show. TOYOTA FINE-T The most interesting part of the bird-like Fine-T is usually the most undecorated part of a car — the wheels. Each wheel of the car contains an independent motor for maneuverability, so the car was on display with each wheel pointing in a different direction. The car also had mesh seating, gull-wing doors and a steering wheel that looked like something out of a video game.

Impact one of best, despite SN column

I was browsing through the pages of The State News when I came across the column, "Local radio needs diversity" (SN 1/12), about diversifying local radio in Lansing. I read through the column and noticed that much of it was devoted to bashing MSU's very own Impact 88.9-FM — which has been the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and Broadcast Music Inc. college radio station of the year for the last five of the past six years.

Indie 'Breakfast' impresses with optimism

For one imaginative transvestite, a 'breakfast on Pluto' sounds like a fabulous idea. The independent film "Breakfast on Pluto" is based on a book of the same name by Patrick McCabe.

Boll's movies horrible

The Testament of Dr. Uwe Boll Dr. Uwe Boll is a man of rare skill — not movie-making skill — but skill nonetheless.

New Orleans service project seeks teachers

An information session for a New Orleans relief project will be held at 5 p.m. today in the Erickson Hall Kiva. The project is scheduled to take place for three to four weeks this summer.

MSU team debuts booth at show

Rubbing elbows with motor enthusiasts and maybe throwing a few at our rivals to the south, the MSU Formula Racing Team showed off its student-made cars for the first time at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. The team manned a booth next to the University of Michigan's Solar Car Team.

Police briefs 01/19/06

College to focus on language, service

Some students choose to travel and learn a foreign language, but those entering a new residential college in fall 2007 won't have a choice. The college aims to prepare students for a global experience in the arts and humanities through language, travel and community service, according to a summary released at Friday's MSU Board of Trustees meeting. And with that experience comes new requirements not found in most residential colleges. "This actually looks more like the arts and humanities program in a small liberal arts college," said June Youatt, assistant provost for undergraduate education and dean of undergraduate studies.

Mexico doles out $25K to students

About 20 students who just arrived on campus this week posed for a photo with MSU President Lou Anna K.

Feedback wanted for new county controller

Ingham County is beginning a search for a new County Controller. The Ingham County Board of Commissioners has invited public feedback in its search, and will hold a public meeting today from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

MIDDAY UPDATE: Star of documentary "Murderball" makes appearance at Union

Mark Zupan vividly remembers the night of the accident — at least until it happened. Following his Florida Atlantic University soccer game, Zupan went out to the bar with his friends.

Student's art on display at Barista

An undeniable enthusiasm for art seems to make studio art and art education senior Ashley Snyder perk up like a strong cup of espresso.

Mich. native gives verbal

The MSU football team added an in-state pass rusher when Jonathan Misch, of Orchard Lake St. Mary's Preparatory, verbally committed to the Spartans on Monday morning. Misch, who flew under the recruiting radar, is undersized for a defensive end at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, but he compensates with a high energy level and great potential. "I have a high motor," he said.

Adverse adventure

The best part about the story is its happy ending. Earlier this week, Emily Kohl, a former MSU novice women's rowing coach, and her friend Sarah Kessans were racing their way into the history books by rowing across the Atlantic Ocean.

Running to represent

Since announcing his candidacy in December, MSU College of Law student John Knowles has learned how much work campaigning for a seat in the Michigan House of Representatives involves. "It's been tremendously exhausting," Knowles said. Balancing his campaign and other commitments has 25-year-old Knowles typically working from 8 a.m.

Governor's view on agriculture changed

I was just browsing through the online State News this morning and saw an article written by Josh Jarman titled, "Simon backs bioeconomy" (SN 01/11). I think it is wonderful that such conferences are being held in Michigan and that MSU's leaders are taking part in the discussion about the future of Michigan's agriculture industry and the economy.