FEATURES
'U' reflects student lives, relationships
There's an episode from the first season of "Family Guy" in which news anchorwoman Diane recalls her stint in an independent college film.
NEWS
Bill passed by House to award MSU $20M
MSU would receive $20 million to repair buildings in the capital outlay budget, passed by the Michigan House of Representatives on Thursday, if Gov.
COMMENTARY
Audible silence
In the political arena, a protest sometimes is regarded as the most potent civic expression citizens are capable of creating. The word protest draws in the familiar images of placard waving and chant shouting which, in and of itself, is powerful but isn't the most enduring method of changing minds. What the members of the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community did on Wednesday - crossing their mouths out with tape and quietly making their presence known on campus - wasn't a protest.
NEWS
Fine for now
To help offset financial troubles in the 2006 fiscal year, East Lansing officials are proposing a $5 monthly hike in parking space rentals at some city garages. The increase could generate about $69,000. The city's Parking Administrator Dan O'Connor said the raise is needed to cover parking division employee benefits, such as health care, and building maintenance within the parking division. "It is time to step it up," he said.
MICHIGAN
Students take over Capitol
It was a seemingly normal Thursday afternoon at the Capitol - state representatives and senators argued about affirmative action and welfare. But these legislators and lobbyists were high school students. About 750 high school students from around the state spent four days acting as government officials and voting on bills in the YMCA's Michigan Youth in Government program. Eleventh grader Tyler Deerfield said he wasn't sure what a lobbyist was when he signed up for the event. But a day into the job in the mock government, he had successfully lobbied against a bill that would change the high school drop-out age from 16 to 18. "I've always had an interest in politics, and I thought I'd see how it was actually run," said Deerfield, of St.
COMMENTARY
Get into gear
At a time when it seems the relationship between MSU students and East Lansing city officials is at a definite low, the community can certainly use an organization like the Community Relations Coalition.
MSU
Forum held for possible provost
Members of the MSU community spent an evening trying to find out if Virginia Sapiro is the best person for the position of provost. Sapiro, the associate vice chancellor for Teaching and Learning at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is the first of five provost candidates who will tour campus, meet with students, faculty and administrators and host a public forum. While Sapiro answered audience questions during her forum, but students were not present in the about 100-person crowd.
FOOTBALL
Vying for no. 2
Last spring, chaos. This spring, peace. Last spring, three quarterbacks were vying for one starting role.
NEWS
MSU prof helps find oldest star
One MSU researcher is closer to unraveling the origins of the universe after the recent discovery of the oldest living star in the galaxy. Astronomy Professor Timothy Beers is part of a global team scanning the skies for ancient heavenly bodies in the hopes they will reveal more information about the history of the galaxy.
SPORTS
Scholarships to honor ex-MSU star pitcher's son
One of baseball's all-time greats visited MSU on Wednesday to benefit the cause of one of his former teammates. Cal Ripken Jr., who holds the Major League Baseball record for consecutive games played, spoke at the Kellogg Center on Wednesday night at a dinner benefiting the Brian Vander Laan Scholarship Fund, which commemorates the son of former MSU pitcher Steve Vander Laan. Steve Vander Laan, a star pitcher at MSU in the 1970s, spent a year playing with Ripken in the minor leagues.
SPORTS
World of sports an emotional struggle
From reading the sports pages and watching and listening to the air waves, my emotions toward the sports world are building up.
COMMENTARY
Delayed answer
Are you getting sick of The State News' coverage of the April 2-3 disturbances? Does the issue feel burnt out and tired?
MSU
RHA looks for options to keep Channel 12 afloat
Almost two months after the university's surprise decision to shut down Channel 12 at the end of the semester, university officials and student-produced programs are looking for ways to salvage the channel but also prepare for life without it. The channel broadcasts free movies and student-produced programming to MSU's campus and surrounding cities. Residence Halls Association and University Housing have been looking into options to keep the channel afloat, but RHA President Kevin Newman said nothing has developed enough for him to be optimistic about the channel's short-term future. "At this point, I wouldn't expect anything next year to be different from the decisions the university has already made," Newman said. RHA pays about $15,000 a semester for the movies that air on the channel. One option being evaluated is a digital media player system that would substantially cut the channel's labor costs by enabling a month of its programming to be done in 30 minutes. But RHA Campus Center Director James Henderson said evaluations of the program are very preliminary, and he will meet next week with representatives of the company that makes the system to see if it is a feasible option. "We're looking at possibilities, but that's it," Henderson said.
NEWS
Part deux in Drinking Buddies' tour of Mich. breweries
Some of us, like Matt, who have been going to school for five years or more know that more than one week of consecutive schooling is counterproductive.
NEWS
If you forgot about tax day...
Or you've just been procrastinating for the past few months, relax. You have until midnight Friday to either file taxes or request an extension to avoid the penalty of giving the government even more of your money. Lansing Post Office, 4800 Collins Road, will stay open on Friday until midnight for those people mailing their tax return at the last minute.
MICHIGAN
Court denies patent for Smucker's Uncrustables
At the Mason Hall Totally Takeout, Uncrustables have to be restocked quickly to keep up with the demand.
NEWS
Fabulously couture
There isn't a height requirement to enter the Hannah Community Center, but one would think there is with all the people walking around wearing stiletto heels.
COMMENTARY
Tape shows students clearly misbehaved
I just viewed Andrew Johnson's video of the April 2-3 disturbances and have some comments to make.
MSU
Hip-hop mock rock arrives at Breslin
Destiny's Child, 50 Cent and Usher will shake their stuff at the Breslin Center in a funky battle for hip-hop fame.
NEWS
Day of Silence draws public responses to LBGT issues
With tape crossed over their mouths and fliers on hate crime in hand, members of the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community hoped to raise eyebrows on campus Wednesday. Their protest began at 7:30 a.m., and throughout the day participating students stayed silent.