MSU students win photography awards

State News photographers swept the category for the Michigan Press Photographers Association's College Photographer of the Year award at the organization's annual conference last weekend. The category contains first, second and third ranking and two honorable mentions. The MPPA honors professional and student photographers from across the state for submissions in categories ranging from feature photos to sports photos.

Faculty not at fault for failed quorum

Your editorial on the Academic Senate meeting ("In session" SN 2/28), which appears to criticize faculty for their lack of participation in governance, reflects a lack of understanding of the circumstances and importance of the meeting.

Excessively loud hip-hop band Dälek to perform at Mac's Bar

There often is a very thin line between genius and crazy. One particular New Jersey hip-hop trio is definitely walking this line with its newest album, a disc that teeters dangerously between cutting-edge brilliance and absolute insanity. "Absence" is the third studio album for hip-hop group Dälek, pronounced "dialect." The album already is being hailed by some critics as a daring step into new musical territory, a mind-blowing masterpiece following in the footsteps of pioneers such as Public Enemy and KRS-One.

Hard numbers

On the same day the story of family mourning 1st Lt. Adam Malson, a 2003 MSU graduate slain while serving in Iraq, was shared, 125 people were killed in Iraq by an insurgent suicide bomber in the single deadliest terror attack of the Iraq war. We know a great deal about Malson.

E.L. house 'totaled' after fire

Four MSU students lost their home, at least temporarily, on Monday after a fire broke out in the third-floor crawl space of their Grove Street rental house. All the tenants left the house safely, although three were sleeping as the fire filled the top floor and broke through the roof.

School aid

Animal science Professor Sam Varghese's return to the university after assisting tsunami victims in India should boost efforts here.

New exhibit reflects on 150 years of MSU history

When East Lansing residents Patricia and David Brogan were MSU undergraduates in the 1950s, they experienced events firsthand that are now history. They remember the annual "Water Carnival" on the Red Cedar River and David Brogan's attendance at the 1954 Rose Bowl as a sophomore, during which MSU defeated the University of California, Los Angeles. Photographs of these events are part of "Memories of MSU," an exhibit that opened Sunday at the MSU Museum and will continue through December. The exhibit is a look back at the last 150 years of MSU through photographs, artifacts and timelines from students' perspectives. "It's fun to see it," Patricia Brogan said.

Radical change

In the spring of 1970, former President Richard Nixon had escalated the war in Vietnam with a bombing campaign in Cambodia, four students were slain by National Guardsmen at Kent State University - and at MSU, striking students were pleading their case against the war and against authorities for weeks. The anti-war sentiment energized thousands of MSU students against involvement in Vietnam during the late 1960s.

Smith loses 3rd assistant football coach

MSU head football coach John L. Smith lost yet another assistant coach to a rival Big Ten school. Defensive backs coach Paul Haynes was hired by Ohio State, he confirmed Monday. Haynes joins running backs coach Reggie Mitchell and defensive line coach Steve Stripling as assistants who have left the Spartans in the past few months. Haynes, a Columbus native, said the opportunity to move back to his roots was the only major factor in his decision. "It's home for me," Haynes said.

By Scott Cendrowski The State News In the spring of 1970, former President Richard Nixon had escalated the war in Vietnam with a bombing campaign in Cambodia, four students were slain by National Guardsmen at Kent State University - and at MSU, striking students were pleading their case against the war and against authorities for weeks. The anti-war sentiment energized thousands of MSU students against involvement in Vietnam during the late 1960s.

U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments on commandments

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear two cases this week examining whether the Ten Command-ments should be allowed on government property. The issue of whether the commandments violate the principles of separation of church and state also is a divided issue in Michigan, where both sides of the argument said they hope the court rules in their favor.

Izzo pleased with Bograkos

Tim Bograkos always has been a favorite of MSU head coach Tom Izzo. But lately, the senior guard has been garnering even more praise from his coach for his hard work and determination. "He's probably the hardest working, toughest player that we've got the last three or four years," Izzo said.

By Scott Cendrowski The State News In the spring of 1970, former President Richard Nixon had escalated the war in Vietnam with a bombing campaign in Cambodia, four students were slain by National Guardsmen at Kent State University - and at MSU, striking students were pleading their case against the war and against authorities for weeks. The anti-war sentiment energized thousands of MSU students against involvement in Vietnam during the late 1960s.

Council to debate Burcham construction plans today

Education senior Joseph Becker likes the idea of building new rentals - as a renter on the 700 block of Burcham Drive, he supports the development of new housing targeted at students in the area. If a plan to construct five new apartment buildings on his block is approved by the East Lansing City Council tonight, Becker's wish might become a reality. But before plans to redevelop the area can move forward, the home where Becker resides, along with another rental home and a parking lot, would have to be demolished to make room for the new structures. "Everyone has the choice to live in the dorms, but most students after their freshman or sophomore years don't want to do that," Becker said.

Spartans place 9th in championships

The MSU men's track and field team placed ninth in the Big Ten Indoor Championships this weekend. Wisconsin won the indoor title with 144.5 points, and Indiana came in second with 105.5.

Channel shutdown has hidden reasons

I believe there is much more to the shutdown of Channel 12 than meets the eye. I personally believe that management has systematically devalued the channel and marginalized its staff.

MSU sports post average grades

The MSU athletics department is in good academic position according to a progress report released Monday by the NCAA. The report awards points each semester to "scholarship student-athletes who meet academic-eligibility standards and who remain with the institution." A failing grade would be considered 925 points. Seven MSU sports teams recorded perfect Academic Progress Rate, or APR, scores of 1,000. Nationally, it is estimated that of the 5,720 teams at 328 Division 1 schools, about 410 teams risk penalties.

City's efforts to push students north should be met with resistance

I live in a home on the 700 block of Burcham Drive. It's a quaint house, nestled in among pine trees with enormous apartment complexes rising on either side.

Police briefs 03/01/05

'Constantine' effects pop, characters coerced

Action movies are rarely known for outstanding plot development, but any movie requires character growth and a natural story line to be believable. Unfortunately, the movie "Constantine," directed by Francis Lawrence, lacked these necessary elements. The big special effects of the action-packed thriller are realistically fantastical but not quite enough to distract the viewer from the contrived plot full of holes. John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) is a cigarette-smoking exorcist who is dying of lung cancer.