FEATURES
Smoker says it's fun, promises to quit soon
Surgeon General's warning: Cigarette smoking can cause poverty, wheezing and an uncomfortable smell.
NEWS
Beer Guy welcomes 'U' with first class
I don't buy beer by the can any more. What's the point? It's much easier, not to mention cheaper, to buy half-barrels - 166 beers in one shot - rather than waste my time running to the store every day.
NEWS
Let the games begin, young thirsty Spartan
It seems that in this Olympic year, a refresher course of the long-standing tradition between attending sporting events and consuming alcoholic beverages is needed. Greece is not only famous for its Olympic history, but for its rich and heroic mythology as well. Long forgotten are the tales of tailgaters camping out in the Minotaur's Maze and grilling mutton outside the Cyclops' cave. Cool rocky mountain brews once streamed down Mount Olympus to quench the thirst of ancient-parched Olympic patrons. By the beard of Zeus!
SPORTS
Spartan juniors picked in 2004 MLB Draft
MSU right fielder Travis Gulick and catcher Erik Morris, both juniors, were selected in the 2004 Major League Baseball draft on June 8. Gulick decided to leave and is playing for the Missoula Osprey of the Pioneer League in Missoula, Mont. For Gulick, the two days of sitting in front of his computer listening to the draft online seemed endless until his name was finally called that afternoon. Gulick was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 23rd round, 686th overall. "It's been a long process," Gulick said.
NEWS
Outdoors offers enjoyable meals
Looking for a place to sit outside and enjoy the weather? Want to order a few beers, or just hang out and people watch? Restaurants with outdoor seating can provide just the ticket, and East Lansing is stirring with them. Those who are 21 or older can order alcoholic drinks, and those who aren't can still enjoy food and non-alcoholic drinks.
SPORTS
Spartans hungry for NCAA Tourney
The MSU women's soccer team fell just short of an NCAA Tournament bid last year, but the Spartans are hoping a strong nucleus of seniors will lift the team into the NCAA Tournament this season. "We have a great group of veterans," head coach Tom Saxton said.
FEATURES
Cell phones convenient, disturbing for students
It's exam time, and the classroom is silent. Just a few more questions to go with time running out. Then all of a sudden, the brrrrrrrring!
FEATURES
iPods popular among 'U'
They weigh between 3.6 and 5.6 ounces, come in a miniature or regular design, and are dancing across the nation in hues of pink, green, blue, gold and silver. The iPod is an MP3 player extraordinaire.
SPORTS
Izzo not interested in Raptors, plans to stay
Despite speculation that MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo would have met with Toronto Raptors general manager Rob Babcock about the team's head coaching vacancy, Izzo said June 14 that he is committed to MSU and is not interested in the job. Through a statement, Izzo said he knew a lot of candidates have been interviewed for the Toronto job but that he is not one of them. "I have a commitment to this program and that is to try to win another national championship," Izzo said. Questions surrounding Izzo's interest began when a source close to the Toronto search told ESPN.com and college basketball analyst Andy Katz that Izzo had talked to Babcock, the newly hired GM, and that the two will meet at a yet to be determined time. Katz said he didn't know of Izzo's interest in the job vacancy but he did know Izzo took the call from Babcock and the two talked. According to Jim LaBumbard, director of media relations for the Toronto Raptors, no candidates for the coaching vacancy have been announced. "Rob has not said anything on the coaching search and will likely not comment on the search until it is over," LaBumbard said. Babcock could not be reached for comment. Izzo is one of the candidates being considered for the position according to a report by the Toronto Star.
NEWS
'U' gets more research funding
MSU professors are becoming more successful in obtaining funding for their research projects, Associate Vice President for Research Paul Hunt said.
NEWS
Mexican president visits Lansing
Lansing - Before he even began speaking, thousands of people gave Mexican President Vicente Fox a standing ovation on June 17 as he entered the Lansing Center.
NEWS
Mighty Mac 50 years old
Although construction of the Mackinac Bridge began 50 years ago, Margaret Halava remembers the details of the bridge as if it was built yesterday.
NEWS
'U' creates Olympic turn field
MSU students and professors brought a bit of Spartan Stadium to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games this summer by helping to create a portable turf field for the event's main stadium.
NEWS
Rental? Get served
A $2,000 programming upgrade to the Residence Hall Association's computer systems will allow students to open online movie rental accounts and see if, where and when flicks are available. RHA is the student-run residence hall governing board and offers free movie rentals to on-campus students who pay a voluntary $22 RHA tax assessed each semester. RHA's previous system required students to either telephone or go to RHA movie rental locations to check a movie's availability, which was dependent on a paperbound membership system. The move, like RHA's changeover to all DVD formats last year, is meant to keep the group competitive with its competitors, said Kevin Newman, RHA chief of staff.
NEWS
Eateries serve late-night appetites, culture
The latest an MSU class usually runs until is 9:50 p.m., which gives some students only 10 minutes to find dinner before many Lansing joints and restaurants close. If you are one of the many unlucky individuals who can't make it to the counter in time, don't fret - dinner is still in sight and a handful of restaurants keep their "open" lights on. "There aren't too many places where people can go at 3 in the morning and find a complete variety of what they want to eat," Pizza House manager Jeremy Bates said.
SPORTS
John L. Smith
It's 5 a.m. and John L. Smith has just hopped out of bed. As usual, Smith has chores to do on his parents' farm in Iona, Idaho.
NEWS
Parks offer open spaces
As the leaves change shades of red, yellow and brown, students can take advantage of the comfortable fall weather while relaxing at the different parks surrounding MSU's campus. City officials in Lansing and East Lansing say there are a variety of recreational opportunities in each city, including basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, a soccer complex, a BMX track and an ice rink.
NEWS
'U' makes buildings more easily accessible
A Supreme Court decision made this summer to guarantee accessibility in government-owned buildings, such as schools and courthouses, provided greater encouragement for MSU to push for more accessibility on campus, university officials said. "We have, for the past years, taken strong steps to make the campus more barrier free," said Carol Swinehart, chairwoman of the President's Advisory Committee for Disability Issues at MSU.
SPORTS
2 new coaches named for '04
One coach out and two new in. That's the story line this fall for the MSU men's and women's cross country teams. For the past 20 years Jim Stintzi has coached the Spartans men's cross country team, while he shored up the duties of being the woman's coach for the past four years.
NEWS
Bookstores open for enlightenment
There will be plenty of reading to do for MSU students come this school year. With everything from Calculus 201 to Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales," Spartans will have their work cut out for them. With all the required textbook reading, casual left to right eye movement can be a treat when there is time away from East African history homework.