SOFTBALL
'U' opens year Feb. 18, looks to defend title
The MSU softball team announced its 2005 schedule, with highlights being a five-team season opening tournament Feb.
MICHIGAN
Word on the street
"It's inevitable that the campaigns are going to exploit it. It's an easy topic, and there's not much rebuttal to it like there is when discussing other issues like war records or abortion.
NEWS
MIDDAY UPDATE: East Lansing officials push for fire safety awareness
After a fire at a University of Mississippi fraternity house led to the deaths of three students in August, East Lansing city officials are urging residents to raise their awareness of fire safety.
NEWS
MIDDAY UPDATE: Red Cross seeks union with "U" residence halls
The American Red Cross Mid-Michigan Chapter is seeking a more defined relationship with the Residence Halls Association after years of hosting blood drives on MSU's campus. A long-debated bill that would create the union did not pass during an RHA meeting Wednesday. The bill sought the association's support with on-campus advertising for blood drives and other services offered by the American Red Cross.
NEWS
'U' trounces Central Mich. in home opener
Redshirt freshman quarterback Stephen Reaves came out firing in his first career start Saturday against Central Michigan University, connecting on a 50-yard pass to senior tight end Eric Knott on his first play from scrimmage.
NEWS
Transmitters help students interact in lectures
With the click of a button on a handheld transmitter, MSU students can send infrared frequencies through classrooms to help them take quizzes and gauge their understanding of course concepts and tally attendance. "A lot of students don't really interact much in class - they don't say much - and so particularly in a large classes, teachers are not sure if students in the back rows understand the last point you went through," physics-astronomy Professor Bill Lynch said. In order to solve this problem, faculty at MSU urged the university to set up three different types of audience response systems in four classrooms across campus. The systems have three components, said David Gift, vice provost for libraries, computing and technology.
SPORTS
Band prepares shows to remember Sept. 11
Before the MSU football team takes the field Saturday against Central Michigan, the marching band and alumni band members will honor the Sept.
COMMENTARY
Columnist's take on freshmen skewed
In response to Lauren Phillips' column "Freshmen retain high profile" (SN 9/3), I find I share some common traits with her. This year, I return to MSU a little older and a little wiser as a junior.
NEWS
Notre Dame hopes to rebound at home vs. U-M
Notre Dame vs. No. 8 Michigan The Wolverines (1-0) began their season with a 43-10 win against Miami (Ohio) last week, with a fresh face throwing for the team.
SPORTS
Spikers prepare for 1st road trip
The MSU volleyball team has more to prove this weekend in the Green Mill Restaurant Classic at Wichita State in Kansas. The Spartans will be facing stronger competition in the weeks ahead such as Arkansas, Wichita State and Washington, head coach Chuck Erbe said. "The bar's going to be at a higher level, and we're going to have to play better this coming weekend," Erbe said. Among the biggest areas that the Spartans need to improve upon include diversifying combinations, hitting off the block and timing back court attacks, Erbe said. MSU (3-0) put up high numbers in its season and home opener last weekend and currently lead the Big Ten with a .347 hitting percentage an average of 3.28 blocks per game. The Spartans were second to Minnesota with 17.89 kills and 16.33 assists per game. But those numbers won't make up for serious errors in the future, said senior outside hitter Kim Schram.
COMMENTARY
Boorish behavior has no place in E.L.
At least once a year The State News publishes a letter which argues that attendance at MSU confers upon individual special rights not available to other residents of the East Lansing community.
SPORTS
Spartans head to East Coast with 5-0 record
The MSU women's soccer team is taking its game to the East Coast this weekend for The Rutgers Classic, hosted in Piscataway, N.J.
FEATURES
French film offers look into vile human confrontation, love story
Americans tend to stereotype the French as rude. In reality, we're probably just miffed that the French know how to swear much better than we do. During one of "Jet Lag's" early scenes, a couple in the midst of a breakup trades insults so vile and hateful that I can't even allude to them in print.
NEWS
Spartan Warrior
Not highly recruited out of high school, senior linebacker Ronald Stanley came to MSU in pursuit of a dream to play in the National Football League.
NEWS
State approves $349M 'U' funding as part of higher ed spending plan
Lansing - MSU no longer stands to lose millions of dollars in state funding under legislation passed by state lawmakers Thursday. The Legislature approved a higher education spending plan that gives MSU $349 million for the 2004-05 fiscal year and allows for $17.6 million in tuition restraint incentive money. The Legislature approved the overall $1.65 billion budget for Michigan's 15 public universities with a 33-1 Senate vote and 105-0 House vote after a House-Senate committee on Wednesday unanimously agreed to the deal.
SPORTS
Softball team opens season in Las Vegas
MSU women's softball team is scheduled to open the season on the road at a Feb. 18-20 five-team tournament hosted by University of Nevada in Las Vegas, Nev.
NEWS
Rushers want hardware
One full week of college football has passed and the list of Heisman Trophy contenders is no easier to sort through.
SOCCER
'U' hopes to extend streak
As the MSU men's soccer team enters Sunday's game versus Dayton with a 3-0 record, the Spartans will be without Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week's Jordan Gruber. "I kind of pulled my groin, but now they're thinking it might be a hernia," the senior midfielder said.
NEWS
Not all kickers should be tossed aside
Pity, thy name is kicker. The opening weekend of college football turned into open season on place-kickers. Members of the special face-mask club seemingly botched game after game in pathetic fashion all across the country last weekend.
MICHIGAN
First Lady's visit promotes women in business
Saginaw - First Lady Laura Bush spoke Thursday to a small group of workers and President Bush supporters at the Mahar Tool Supply Company in Saginaw. Addressing the group of about 175 people, Bush spoke about small businesses, women entrepreneurs and the economy. "You're living a great American success story... small businesses are the engines of our economy," Bush said to the crowd. The Mahar company is a family-owned industrial distribution business that has been owned by Barbara Mahar Lincoln since her husband, James, passed away in 1978.