COMMENTARY

Accusations in no way prove one guilty

After reading about Sarah Morgan's disappointment over the "not guilty" verdict handed down in the MSU student's rape trail, my only response was simply, "wow" ("Being drunk/high is no excuse for rape" SN 4/13). "Wow" that Sarah Morgan feels that just the accusation of rape should be enough to convict a young man of a felony punishable by several years in prison. "Wow" that Sarah Morgan thinks that the knowledge she has acquired from The State News article on the event trumps the knowledge a panel of 12 people acquired from witnessing both sides present their cases in a court of law. "Wow" that Sarah Morgan seems to believe that the defendant's case centered around the "I was drunk" excuse, and that it worked. Sarah Morgan needs to realize that in the American justice system you are "innocent until proven guilty," not "guilty even if proven innocent." Joe McCleer 2003 graduate

NEWS

Local bands up for $25K prize

Emily Bingham

April 14, 2005

Some say that opportunity knocks. But for local musician Cory Phare, a member of the pop-punk trio The Minor League, opportunity decided to take a more modern approach - it telephoned him. The phone call was from officials at mtvU, MTV's 24-hour college network, who informed Phare that The Minor League had been selected as one of 10 semi-finalists in the station's second annual Best Music On Campus contest.

NEWS

The joke's on Bernero?

Lansing - Getting an appointment with a state senator can be hard enough with a real press pass - let alone a fake one. Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" invaded state Sen.

COMMENTARY

E.L. does not have a real downtown

What direction is East Lansing's "downtown" headed? If you haven't noticed lately, there are a few empty lots along our variation of "the strip," Grand River Avenue.

COMMENTARY

Sharers beware

Students beware, your file sharing days might be limited. The Recording Industry Association of America planned to sue 20 people from MSU on Tuesday for illegal file sharing.

COMMENTARY

'Nothing language' detrimental to critical thinking in American life

The political and commercial spheres are two arenas of human social relations in which the more people who are involved, the more organized and accepted insanity is involved.

MICHIGAN

New bill would protect employee actions

Rebecca Mcnulty

April 14, 2005

When Cara Stiffler learned she would lose her job in fall 2003 for smoking, she never imagined she would wind up in the Michigan Legislature.

SPORTS

Haynie anticipating pro draft

Chris Barsotti

April 14, 2005

During her four-year career at MSU, senior guard Kristin Haynie has accomplished quite a bit and it is only fitting that she moves on to the WNBA, which is where she will be heading after the draft on Saturday in New Jersey. "I am just really excited to have the opportunity to play at the next level," Haynie said.

MSU

Students, officials react to RIAA suits

One day after the Recording Industry Association of America, or RIAA, filed 405 lawsuits for illegal file sharing at 18 colleges and universities - including 20 at MSU - members of the university community are beginning to react. "It's kind of ridiculous because I know a lot of people who do it," education freshman Colleen Goergen said.

NEWS

Student Film Festival

The 2005 festival will be held Friday through Sunday at Wells Hall. Times are listed below. For film summaries, please visit http://rha.msu.edu/oop/sff.php. Check out Friday's edition of The State News for further coverage of the Student Film Festival. Friday Shorts Program I (7 p.m.) - Approximate Running Times Bulldog Joe - 5 minutes Reality - 5 minutes Requiem for a Kreme - 10 minutes Sleepers Awake - 5 minutes Sole Survivor - 10 minutes Life Guard - 4 minutes Quantum - 10 minutes Down - 12 minutes La Mano - 22 minutes Down the Dirt Road - 19 minutes Feature Film (9:15 p.m.

MICHIGAN

Budget could hurt book collection

Kris Turner

April 14, 2005

The East Lansing Public Library could operate with 5,000 fewer books in the next fiscal year if the City Council approves a budget that slashes funding by $50,000. The funds necessary to purchase books are at risk to be cut by nearly one third, said Sylvia Marabate, director of the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbott Road, adding the institution normally purchases about 15,000 books a year. "We will work hard to meet our community's expectations, but it may mean some have to wait a little longer for the bestsellers," she said.

NEWS

1st provost candidate pays visit to campus

Margaret Harding

April 14, 2005

The first of five provost candidates will mingle with the MSU community today. Virginia Sapiro, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will tour campus, meet with deans, students and other MSU officials and host a public forum at 4 p.m.

COMMENTARY

McPherson brought strong speakers

This is in regard to The State News editorial "A strong voice" (SN 4/12). If I were years younger and graduating from MSU this spring with a degree in education, business or engineering, who would I like to hear at commencement?

NEWS

Area group works to unite city, students

Members of the Community Relations Coalition want people in East Lansing to know they exist. And, despite a proposed 50 percent cut to their budget by the City Council, they are ready to make their voices a little louder. Following the disturbances of April 2-3, members of the Community Relations Coalition, also known as the CRC, say they are looking forward to creating a forum for the community to examine the incident and create future goals. "The CRC can almost flex its muscles now," said social relations junior and coalition member Chris Marshall. The group, which was formed after the MSU riot of 1999, works to bridge relationships between students, community members and city and university leaders.

NEWS

Popular 1960s, '70s television show adapts to stage

Maddie Trier

April 14, 2005

The children's cartoon "Schoolhouse Rock" comes to the stage without the regular characters, but with the eternal songs including "I'm Just a Bill" and "Conjunction Junction." The MSU Department of Theatre presents "Schoolhouse Rock Live!" in an attempt to reach out to the community and teach students about the controversy in the 1960s and 1970s. "The historical context brings the childlike messages into a larger scope," Director Rob Roznowski said.

COMMENTARY

SEJ members should have shown respect

We have always respected campus organizations such as the Students for Economic Justice, but we were appalled by their behavior on Wednesday.

BASKETBALL

Izzo: players staying, tough schedule, injuries

Brian Charlton

April 13, 2005

As summer approaches, many questions swirl about the MSU men's basketball team's next season.

COMMENTARY

Being drunk/high is no excuse for rape

I was disappointed to read that the MSU student accused of rape had been found not guilty ("Student found not guilty in rape trial" SN 4/8). This verdict seems to send the message that being drunk and/or high means that a person is not responsible for his own behavior, including criminal acts.

FEATURES

Becoming a gigging band

Emily Bingham

April 13, 2005

Calling all closet musicians: It's time to make those dreams of super stardom come true. OK, so you might not have the time, talent or moolah to move to a big city and get signed right away.

NEWS

MIDDAY UPDATE: 'Daily Show' visits local senator

Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" overran state Sen. Virg Bernero's office Wednesday afternoon, prying and jesting him with questions about a privacy bill he introduced in the Michigan Senate earlier that day. Daily Show "correspondent" Samantha Bee served up the show's usual bantering style with quick quips and mockery aimed at the senator, who said he has only seen the work of the show's main anchor Jon Stewart - not any of the sometimes-satirical correspondent stories. "If it makes me look foolish or whatever, I can live with it," Bernero, D-Lansing, told The State News in his office Wednesday.