FEATURES
HOM-TV caps off 25 years of service
One of the Lansing area's oldest television stations will be celebrating its anniversary this weekend.
COMMENTARY
Smoldering
Companies have a responsibility to make information about their products available to the public. However, consumers also need to take personal responsibility for their actions. On Monday, the Supreme Court refused to allow the Bush administration to go after a $280 billion penalty for tobacco companies that supposedly mislead consumers about the harms of smoking.
NEWS
Commission looks to improve, tone down noise ordinance
Altering East Lansing's noise ordinance to be less restrictive and allowing drinking games only at certain times of the day were some of the ideas discussed by the University Student Commission on Tuesday evening. The group was asked to review a proposed amendment to the noise ordinance by the East Lansing City Council.
COMMENTARY
Viagra anyone?
Spam. We all get it and we all hate it. Unfortunately, there is very little we can do about it. It is time for the government to come up with a solution. The recent seizure of financial records, computers and disks from the home of a West Bloomfield, Mich., resident demonstrates just how large a problem this has become. One person operating from home had a collection of more than 150 million e-mail addresses. The same person was sued in 2001 by Verizon Communications Inc., who claimed that he shut down the company's network with spam. This clearly would increase the cost of doing business by taking up time and manpower to fix the situation. Many people do a significant amount of their communication using e-mail and having an inbox full of junk doesn't facilitate efficient work ethic. If it is possible for the government to organize and implement a program such as the National Do Not Call Registry, why is it not possible to do the same for e-mail? Spam filters and laws attempt to protect our inboxes, yet they are still overcrowded on a daily basis. Aside from the annoyance of receiving large amounts of e-mails that have little or no use, many of the solicitations have offensive content. Penis enlargement devices.
NEWS
Where they stand
Part Two: E.L. City Council contenders share more views on hot topics. Check out tomorrow's edition of the paper for the E.L.
MSU
Groups to hold cultural, historical festivities
In an effort to provide more cultural opportunities during MSU's homecoming festivities, the Black Student Alliance, or BSA, and the African American Celebratory are holding several events this week. The festivities, called the African American Homecoming, will include events such as discussions, a jazz night and a semiformal dance. The theme for the week is "98/89", which represents the 98 years since Myrtle Craig became the first black female graduate of Michigan Agricultural College — MSU's former name — in 1907. It also represents the May 1989 study-in, when several black students took over the Administration Building for 10 days to present administrators with a list of 36 demands pertaining to racial incidents on campus, history senior and BSA member at large Geneva Thomas said. Many black students frequently return home on weekends or attend other university homecoming events at other schools, such as Howard University in Washington, D.C., Thomas said. "People go home every weekend, and homecoming is not an exception," she said.
COMMENTARY
ASMSU retreat part of serving students
In response to "Paid getaway" (10/14), is it really that unfeasible for a student group to spend its budget on itself and still be benefiting those students it serves at the same time? Publicly traded companies invest in themselves for employee enrichment and developmental trips all the time with little argument from any shareholders.
NEWS
Students to discuss proposed ordinance change
The University Student Commission wants to hear student opinions on a proposed amendment to East Lansing's noise ordinance at its meeting today. "We're looking to discuss (the noise ordinance amendment)," said Cody Dawson, chairman for the University Student Commission.
NEWS
Loomis targeting areas known to vote, wishes that every resident was registered
Vic Loomis took a swig of water. Standing behind his battle station Sunday afternoon in the Hannah Community Center parking lot, he primed for another full day knocking on East Lansing doors. The opened trunk of his silver Jeep Grand Cherokee functioned as a mini-campaign headquarters, equipped with a cooler for lunch, stacks of literature and badges reading: "Our Hometown Choice, Vic Loomis." "I'll be out till it's dark tonight," said Loomis, 59, dressed in khaki pants, a blue pullover wind jacket and dress shoes. "My old bones feel it when I get home." His wife, Nancy, 43, pulled up in a Pontiac minivan shortly after Loomis finished eating two grilled chicken roll-ups she had made for him.
SPORTS
Pistons about to be eclipsed by LeBron, Heat, Artest's rap career
The NBA preseason just kicked off and the regular season opens on Nov. 1. There's no time like the present to answer some pressing questions heading into the opener. What team didn't do anything to get better? That would be none other than our own Detroit Pistons, who desperately needed a three-point threat for when Rip Hamilton or Tayshaun Prince are ready for a breather.
MICHIGAN
Group wants smoke-free workplaces to benefit employees
A group formed to represent bar and restaurant employees who are affected by smoking while at work, is urging local business to inform their employees of the impact being around smoking can have. The group, Breathe, or Bar and Restaurant Employees Advocating Together for a Healthy Environment, is part of the Campaign for Smokefree Air and is a "grassroots" coalition supported by several health organizations.
MSU
ASMSU analyzes student concerns at 3-day retreat
At their retreat last weekend, ASMSU members discussed ideas for working on problems they deemed "hot issues" for students. Members talked about adding specific criteria to professors' policies on canceling class in bad weather, said Robert Murphy, ASMSU's Academic Assembly chairperson. "Sometimes the university remains open when it's dangerous for it to do so," Murphy said. Representatives also are interested in adding a fall break to the university schedule, he said.
NEWS
Oral sex still brings risks, for HIV/STIs
Dear Dr. D., HIV from oral sex? How does that work, and how concerned should one be about unprotected sex? — Unprotected Dear Unprotected, Thanks for writing, now let's get it on.
COMMENTARY
SN misled readers, must give context
I am offended by an instance of grossly irresponsible journalism in the State News editorial headlined "Oct.
NEWS
Former policeman Sharp not campaigning at volunteer duties, but trying to be visible
At a Blue Line Club luncheon on Friday, Bill Sharp and his wife, Arlene, stood near the entrance selling strips of blue raffle tickets.
MSU
StateWalk sees low demand
Four days a week, three or more students spend five hours in a small room in the Main Library, waiting to accompany students who want to be walked home. But in the last few years, not many students have come. Alpha Phi Omega, a coed service fraternity, created StateWalk more than 15 years ago to offer a safe alternative to walking home alone late at night. The fraternity regained control of StateWalk in 2002, after the program had spent more than a decade under the Residence Halls Association.
NEWS
Assessing Katrina
The reality of Hurricane Katrina hit Tom Wolff last week when he was in New Orleans. "Being in the city of New Orleans is overwhelming to the senses right now," said Wolff, MSU's associate dean for engineering undergraduate studies.
NEWS
MIDDAY UPDATE: Study shows violent crime decreases nationally, E.L. sees increase
Although, nationally, violent crime saw a downward trend last year, those same crimes increased in East Lansing. According to an FBI report released Monday, violent crimes across the nation fell by 1.2 percent.
MSU
Homecoming celebration returns to tradition with campus bonfire
MSU's sesquicentennial, a 16-month-long celebration of the university's 150th anniversary, has left its mark on this year's homecoming festivities. The sesquicentennial committee has revived another campus tradition for homecoming week — a bonfire for students and community members — and the Oct.
COMMENTARY
Erasing lines
A recent study suggesting women are more likely to engage in a sexual encounter with a member of their own sex points to a larger question of how sexuality is defined in our society. Can you define someone in one sexual category? Nearly twice the percentage of women, compared to men, said they had at least one sexual encounter with a member of their own sex.