Camp's 'Magnetic' excellent; Decahedron falters

"Magnetic," Andi Camp The packaging for Andi Camp's "Magnetic" lives up to the name.

Police discuss use of chopper in melee

Nearly 90 percent of the video footage taken by a Michigan State Police helicopter during the April 2-3 disturbances was unusable by officers on the ground that night. Technology that would have allowed police at a command center to view video taken from the air malfunctioned, a police report submitted to the East Lansing City Council stated.

'Tavern' does excellent job of tackling family issues

After a successful run in the fall, the Pazinski family is back for another holy but humorous laugh - and it's the only household that can use Jesus and Ed Sullivan in the same sentence.

U.S. House approves $10M RIA funding

Recent lobbying efforts and proposed legislation have revitalized interest in the $1 billion dollar proposed Rare Isotope Accelerator project that, only a month ago, was thought by some MSU officials to be a lost cause. MSU and the Argonne National Laboratory, located near Chicago, have each been vying for the project, or RIA, but a limited federal budget stalled plans for either location to build it. Physics and astronomy Professor Bradley Sherrill said RIA would make its host the most technologically advanced institution in nuclear physics.

Police briefs 05/24/05

Civil Rights Initiative to be protested

Ten buses carrying Detroit high school students will head to the Capitol on Wednesday to rally against a proposal to end preference-based treatment in university admissions and hiring that might end up on next year's ballot. The proposal, called the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or MCRI, would amend the state Constitution to prevent public universities and state government from "discriminating or granting preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin." A national group - the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigration Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary, or BAMN - which helped organize the rally, filed a legal brief with the Michigan Board of Canvassers last month against MCRI, saying MCRI petition circulators deceived those petitioned to sign their proposal. "This is a distinct case, a campaign to deceive the public, and for that reason it should not go forward," said Donna Stern, national coordinator of BAMN. Wednesday's rally at the Capitol will be followed by a public hearing to collect more information from those who say they were lied to by petitioners. Stern said BAMN wants the Michigan Board of Canvassers to force MCRI to redo their petition. BAMN took a statistical sample of 500 people who signed the MCRI petition were able to reach 300 of them, Stern said.

Affirmative action has function in society

It would be nice if the United States weren't still divided along racial lines, as Ward Connerly and the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative seem to think - but this is not the case.

SN article tackled pressing LBGT issue

As a Jewish graduate of MSU who is LBGT identified, I was glad to see the article in Tuesday's issue of The State News discussing the intersection of religion and identity.

Art festival boosts E.L. business

East Lansing businesses in the downtown district say every year they see profits increase during the weekend of the East Lansing Art Festival - and this year was no exception. The festival took place between M.A.C.

Area groups offer religion for LBGT

Thank you for your story on local religious organizations that are open to all, including people who are lesbian, bisexual, gay or transgender "Intersection of Identities" (SN 5/17). It includes a good selection of open and affirming congregations in East Lansing, but there are welcoming religious organizations that are not on your list. Our local Quaker Meeting (the Red Cedar Friends Meeting) is a diverse group.

Shimek finalist for spot on U.S. team

MSU senior forward Liz Shimek was announced as one of 16 finalists for the 12-person roster of the USA World University Games team, after completing five Women's National Team Trials sessions this past weekend in Colorado Springs, Colo. The list includes, Seimone Augustus (Louisiana State), Alison Bales (Duke), Monique Currie (Duke), Leah Rush (Oklahoma), Cappie Pondexter (Rutgers), Lisa Willis (UCLA), Brooke Smith (Stanford), Jessica Davenport (Ohio State), Ivory Latta (North Carolina), Shawntinice Polk (Arizona), Megan Duffy (Notre Dame), Candice Dupree (Temple), Sylvia Fowles (Louisiana State), Erin Grant (Texas Tech) and Brandie Hoskins (Ohio State). The 16 finalists will return to Colorado on July 28 for training camp, at which point the team will be cut down to 12 players.

E.L. funds budget analysis

East Lansing officials decided last week to allocate $50,000 from the city's reserve account to pay for a financial analyst to examine the city's financial structure. The city will pay for several studies to be administered by an analyst in order to determine if changes should be made to the way city officials determine the structure of the budget, council members said. "The council felt it would be a good idea to look more in depth into the economical structure and the budget of the city," said East Lansing Finance Director Mary Haskell, who came into the position Friday after Gary Murphy's retirement. But Councilmember Victor Loomis said what the study will be about has not been completely determined and that the idea to hire a financial analyst came from a budget planning session in December, not from recent budget cuts. Loomis said the purpose of hiring the analyst is because the council needs to see if there are any structural issues involved with determining the budget. City Manager Ted Staton said the study should be ready to be conducted by August or September. "I think we'll spend the summer figuring out what questions we want the research to answer," Staton said. Haskell said the study could be used to find alternative resources of revenue, because the city is experiencing cuts in state funding. East Lansing receives funding from the state in the form of shared revenue which has been reduced and has caused several budget cuts throughout the city. The $50,000 was decided by council members to be allocated from the city's reserve account.

People with disabilities take part in sports

Like many other kids, 13-year-old Anthony Town enjoys playing table tennis and cycling. This weekend, he had an opportunity to do these events and more as he participated in the Michigan Sports Festival for Athletes with Physical Disabilities. Town was one of many people with cerebral palsy who competed in the festival on campus at IM Sports-West and Demonstration Hall, put on by the Michigan Disability Sports Alliance. The athletes are members of teams that compete in various events such as bocce ball, table tennis, cycling and swimming. "This event gives me a chance to play sports that I would not get to do in school," Town said. Town has a less severe case of the disorder, which disrupts the development of motor skills and can be a result of a brain injury. "I feel very fortunate that I can do most of the things that normal people do," said Town.

E-mail pranks strike MSU

MSU students who checked their e-mail in the last month might have been surprised to find messages from Men's basketball coach Tom Izzo and President George W.

Men's Golf places 13th at Central regionals

The MSU Men's Golf team missed a chance to compete at the NCAA Championships, after finishing 13th in the Central Regional Championship this weekend at Notre Dame, Ind. The Spartans were one of 12 teams to have their first round delayed Thursday by thunderstorms, which pushed back tee times three-plus hours.

Sith's final revenge

Ladies and gentlemen, it's finally here. Five films and more than 25 years later, director George Lucas has created a masterpiece and boy was it worth the wait. "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" laid down the foundation in 1999, and in 2002, Lucas taunted fans with "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones." Now it's time to reap the harvest with "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith," undeniably, from start to finish, the best film in 2005.

Tomorrow's Political Leaders gather to construct house for Habitat for Humanity

By Kristen Creager Special for The State News Lansing - On Saturday, a group of 30 aspiring politicians dug, hammered and hauled - getting dirty on their way up the political ladder. Members of the group Tomorrow's Political Leaders were building a Habitat for Humanity home as part of a volunteer project. Tomorrow's Political Leaders includes students and recent graduates of Michigan colleges who want to get involved in politics. The group participates in a two-week program at MSU that helps young people learn about becoming part of the political world. "I always wanted to run for office, but I didn't know how," said Catherine Fontana, a sophomore at Albion College and member of the group.

Police embark on 2-week seat-belt vigilance campaign

This summer, there will be more police officers in more locations looking to enforce Michigan's seat belt law. Today, the East Lansing Police Department is kicking off a statewide effort to maintain Michigan's safety belt use in 53 counties, including Ingham County. Enforcement zones on and off campus will be clearly marked with signs along with several officers in those zones making sure motorists are wearing their seat belts. Through June 5, area police will be out to enforce the Click It or Ticket campaign.

E.L. festivals bring diverse art collections, large crowds

John Chumack likes to spend his time photographing distant stars and galaxies. The Dayton, Ohio native found himself much closer to earth this past weekend when he showcased his photography on the streets of East Lansing during the city's 42nd annual Art Festival. Chumack - whose telescopic images have been published in magazines such as Time, Newsweek and Science - was one of about 230 artists exhibiting their work at the festival. Chumack spends most of his time researching and photographing celestial bodies from his Ohio observatories but makes time for the occasional art festival. "I do the shows so that people can come in and see my work.

Empire attire

Lansing - Mark Housepian, dressed as Anakin Skywalker, and his wife, dressed as herself, arrived 10 hours before "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" began at Celebration Cinema. "I want to name our first son Anakin, but she won't let me," he said. The couple were joined by Housepian's brother, Matt, dressed as Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the rest of the Housepian family, but unlike the brothers, they opted out of dressing the part. Mark said the pilgrimage to see "Star Wars" has become a family tradition and that they sat in the same seats three years ago when "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" was released. The Housepians were among many fans throughout the world who flocked to theaters Wednesday night with their lightsabers and blasters for the premiere of "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith." General Manager Dan Boyer of Celebration Cinema, 200 E.