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COMMENTARY

Medicare should put pressing health concerns before impotence

Please tell me you believe the following thesis to be correct: Preventing a death from cancer is more important than a firm penis. Women's health care is often a banner picked up by liberal folks but, regardless of political bent, I would like to call your attention to the fact that starting next January, Medicare will cover Viagra, Cialis (apparently they weren't deterred by the lackluster Super Bowl ad) and other drugs for erectile dysfunction.

NEWS

MSU picks up defensive efforts, intensity to win

Matt Bishop
February 11, 2005

It's the floor slap, it's the hand-guarding of an opponent's face, it's the shouting and communication - all these things personify the intensity of the MSU men's basketball team's defense. "You can't play any defense without talking," senior swingman Alan Anderson said. And this intense defense often leads to good things on the offensive end for the Spartans. The defense-to-offense theory certainly holds true for MSU, as the team holds the second highest scoring margin in the Big Ten, with a 16.3 point margin, behind Illinois.

ICE HOCKEY

WEB ONLY: Icers adjust to wider ice surface at Alaska for 2-game series

Eric Fish
February 11, 2005

After two ties against CCHA-leading Michigan last weekend, the MSU hockey team will again play a challenging series this weekend when the Spartans travel to Alaska-Fairbanks to take on the Nanooks for a two-game set. Aside from the competition, the Spartans (13-11-4 overall, 8-9-3 CCHA) will also be battling the flu that has spread through the team, as well as adjusting to the four-hour time difference and the Olympic-size ice surface the Nanooks play on. If there is a bright side to making the long road trip, it's that Alaska-Fairbanks (9-12-3, 8-11-3) was on the road against Northern Michigan last weekend and will also have to make the haul back. "That's a lot better than them being home a month waiting for us," MSU head coach Rick Comley said of the Nanooks' travel back from Northern.

COMMENTARY

Campus clutter

The MSU Board of Trustees has been discussing some pressing issues regarding campus design lately. Namely, restructuring of the intersection that surrounds Sparty and erecting a parking ramp near Morrill Hall, with an entrance leading in from Grand River Avenue.

NEWS

Freshman starting to get the point; Neitzel 2-0 in new role

Matt Bishop
February 11, 2005

It has been a year of change and progress for MSU freshman guard Drew Neitzel. The learning process has been steady and has eventually culminated in a pair of starts, the last two games. MSU head coach Tom Izzo has been impressed with the freshman's play, especially his performance against Ohio State. "Drew played very good," Izzo said.

NEWS

Granholm budget could change MSU funding

Rebecca Mcnulty
February 11, 2005

State funding for MSU is a mix of cuts and bonds in Gov. Jennifer Granholm's proposed 2006 Executive Budget. Michigan's 15 public universities and colleges would receive a $30 million base cut in funding this year, but also would receive $200 million worth of bonds during the next two years for building maintenance and other university construction projects.

NEWS

Smart money

The route to job creation in Michigan is switching focus from assembly lines to laboratories. State officials are increasingly investing money into university research in an effort to transfer the products of knowledge into high-paying jobs. The latest example is the Governor's University Award for Commercialization Excellence that will be announced within the next few weeks. Two researchers from Michigan's 15 public universities will be recognized with a cash award of $25,000 each, for projects that create jobs outside campus boundaries. "Universities are looked at as a critical component to economic development in the state," said Kenneth Paulus, director of entrepreneurial affairs for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

COMMENTARY

More for less

How do you make one of the fattest states in the union trim its waistline? Apparently by sitting it down at a computer and having it take health quizzes. Last week, Michigan launched a free interactive Web site (michiganstepsup.org) geared towards teaching people how to make healthy choices.

MSU

Pow-wow of Love to be held this weekend

Josh Jarman  and  Tom Keller
February 11, 2005

The 22nd annual "Pow-Wow of Love" will start today at 7 p.m. inside the Jenison Field House and will run through the weekend. The powwow is sponsored by the North American Indigenous Student Organization, or NAISO, and will showcase American Indian traditional dances, drumming and food.

MSU

Team of leaders agree on med school future

Margaret Harding
February 11, 2005

The members of the MSU medical school development team signed an agreement outlining their commitments to the expansion of the MSU College of Human Medicine to Grand Rapids during a meeting Tuesday, a statement released Thursday by the Van Andel Institute said.

COMMENTARY

New endowment could prove useful

Although I am probably opposed to the particular tax increase ASMSU is proposing - due to concerns such as a lack of criteria regarding the scholarship it will set up - I'm not totally opposed to the theory behind it. Having students pay an extra $3 a semester ($24 in their whole college career, on the four year plan) is not much to ask for - I spend more on a tank of gas.

COMMENTARY

Majority needs to leave comfort zone

This is in response to the article "Cultural understanding through campus 'families'" (SN 2/10). In the wonderful six years I spent at MSU, the issue of racial segregation always existed.

NEWS

Back-to-back 20-win seasons, second time

Chris Barsotti
February 11, 2005

In a season where the record book is constantly being rewritten for women's basketball, it is only fitting that one more record be tied and many more are on the way to being broken. With Sunday's win against Illinois, the No.

MICHIGAN

Building demolition approved by planning commission

Kris Turner
February 11, 2005

A plan to demolish a Grand River Avenue building to make room for a mixed-used property is set to go before the East Lansing City Council for approval. The East Lansing Planning Commission reviewed and approved the project at this week's meeting, sending it to the City Council. According to city documents, plans for the Grand River Avenue and Bailey Street site next to Taco Bell include creating a building to house retail space in addition to upper-level apartments targeted at young professionals and families. "If someone does not want to make a long-term solution to owning, they would have the option of renting," said David Krause of Corey Partnership, the project's developer.