Digital spying

With all the pressures college students have, the government reading their e-mail shouldn't be one of them. A new proposal by the federal government is attempting to make hundreds of institutions across the nation — universities, cities and online communication companies — modify their networks to make them more accessible for surveillance purposes by spring of 2007. Institutions are being forced to make these modifications and will have to pay for it.

Coming apart

The good news: MSU scored the first and last touchdowns of the game. The bad news: Northwestern scored seven touchdowns in between. The Wildcats, after allowing a three-play touchdown drive to start the game, showed they should be taken for real in the Big Ten race as they sprinted past the Spartans in a 49-14 blowout Saturday at Spartan Stadium. "They had a lot of answers for what we were trying to do," MSU head coach John L.

MSU offense struggles in shutout loss to PSU

The MSU men's soccer team was shut out for the sixth time this season as Penn State scored a late goal in double overtime to beat the Spartans 1-0 and clinch the Big Ten title. The Spartans (5-4-5 overall 2-2-1 Big Ten), outshot the Nittany Lions 11-7 but squandered the chances that were given to them. "We can't win if we don't score, so we didn't deserve to win," head coach Joe Baum said. Forward Simon Omekanda fired a shot past junior goalie Jason Tillman to give Penn State (8-6-2, 5-0-0) the victory. "He made a move and hit it hard," senior defender Steve Doster said. "It was a good finish.

Reviewers immature, other views disagree

I was appalled at the juvenile way in which the two reporters presented a local Armenian restaurant in "Reporters tackle Armenian eatery" (SN 9/23). The headline alone makes one think that the reporters started out with a confrontational attitude even before they reached the House of Kabobs restaurant.

Team good; improve football coaching

Why is our team notorious for snatching defeats out of victories? How many more losses are we going to endure when we actually outplay the opponent?

Draft of April 2-3 review released

Having a city or university sponsored celebration and using less tear gas are some of the suggestions made by the independent commission reviewing the April 2-3 disturbances in a draft report released Friday. The group is preparing to release a complete draft report on how to plan for and handle celebratory events to the public before its meeting at 7 p.m.

Monday musings

• We were going to apologize that the Musings disappeared mysteriously last week. But now we're not going to until the MSU football team apologizes for doing the same thing this weekend. • An Oklahoma man received a 30-year prison sentence this week, but convinced prosecutors to lengthen it to 33 years to match Larry Bird's jersey number. Let's hope Saddam Hussein's a big fan of Wayne Gretzky — No.

Volleyball team splits weekend matches

The MSU volleyball team earned a split this weekend, losing to No. 7 Wisconsin on Friday, then beating Northwestern on Saturday in a five-game thriller at Jension Field House. The Spartans (10-10 overall, 3- 7 Big Ten) snapped their five-game losing streak when they defeated the Wildcats (12-8, 3-7). Starting Homecoming weekend off, the Spartans dropped a five-game nail biter to Wisconsin (16-2, 8-1). The Spartans had controlled most of the game but the Badgers would make plays at key moments to give them the 3-2 edge to win the game.

Bed-hopping lovers, twisted plot define 'Don't Dress for Dinner'

"Don't Dress for Dinner" is a fast-paced hilarious night of secret lovers, extramarital affairs and a cook.

Students deal with issues in city; should vote in local government

I hear a lot of complaints about how MSU is no longer the great party school it once was. Tailgate has been restricted.

No. 1 PSU too much for MSU to handle

In its final two home games of the season, the MSU women's soccer team earned a close win over Minnesota, but fell to undefeated Penn State to close out the weekend. The Spartans (10-4-4 overall, 6-2-1 Big Ten) pitched a 1-0 shutout to the Golden Gophers on Friday, but were in turn shut out by the No.

WEB ONLY: Officials suspect towels are cause of fire in club locker room

A fire Sunday night at the Michigan Athletic Club, 2900 Hannah Blvd., was probably started by dryers in a locker room, officials said. Officials said no one was treated for any injuries, and were not sure exactly how much damage was done to the building. A locker room attendant said he went to remove towels from the dryer and found the fire inside the dryer.

Shootouts have place in college

Ann Arbor — I left Saturday's hockey game against Michigan feeling a little empty. Maybe even a little unsatisfied. And it wasn't because I was disappointed by the Spartans' performance — far from it.

Students deep clean Red Cedar

Dressed in a full-body wetsuit, neon green board shorts and flip-flops, zoology freshman Ryan O'Hagan heaved out the first of 28 bikes salvaged from the Red Cedar River during the fall river cleanup event hosted by the Fisheries & Wildlife Club on Sunday. The bike O'Hagan found was falling apart, its wheels had no spokes and it was covered in mud. Other items found in the river include thong underwear, three tables, a Target shopping cart, a bike rack with two bikes attached, a fire extinguisher, three purses, two vacuums and two wallets. One of the purses was still intact with everything in it, so someone called the owner and she came to pick it up, said fisheries and wildlife junior Chris Homeister. "You never know what you're going to find," said Homeister, also a member of the Fisheries & Wildlife Club and an event coordinator. Students started arriving at around 9:30 a.m.

See City Council hopefuls tonight

With about two weeks left to decide who to vote for during the Nov. 8 East Lansing City Council election, the four candidates will meet on campus tonight to answer questions at a student-organized forum. ASMSU is hosting the event, which is at 7 p.m.

Lansing-area monastery holds 'rain' retreat

Pairs of shoes sat outside the doorway at a meditation building of the Lansing-area Dhammasala Forest Monastery on Saturday as about 50 monks and visitors gathered to chant. Inside, a row of barefooted monks, who bowed in reverence toward a golden shrine, had begun their morning of meditation and chanting.

Officials to allot $1.6M in aid to eligible MSU students

Three groups of students will have a total of $1.6 million in additional financial aid following an MSU Board of Trustees decision Friday. At the meeting, university officials revealed more details of the plan to distribute an unexpected surplus of state funds. The additional money will be given to students receiving federal Pell Grants, to those whose family income is just above Pell Grant eligibility and to create an "emergency pool" for students whose needs have changed during the course of the school year. Freshmen and sophomores who just missed qualifying for a Pell Grant already received an $1,100 break this fall from the university.

Basanez wins battle of QBs

Saturday's Homecoming contest was supposed to be a game of dominant offenses and similar two-dimensional quarterbacks.

Police briefs 10/24/05

MIDDAY UPDATE: E.L. officials seeking student input as commission report nears completion

Some city officials say they want more student input regarding civil disturbances as the East Lansing City Council gets ready to receive a final report compiled by the independent commission reviewing the April 2-3 disturbances. A draft of the report contains 29 recommendations on preventing future civil disturbances and doesn't deem the actions of April 2-3 a riot.