In harmony

The dancers twisted their arms intricately in front of their bodies before they moved into a rapid sequence of shoulder shrugs and fancy footwork.

Greek Week closes with performances

Fraternity and sorority members gathered at the Auditorium on Sunday for Songfest, the final event of Greek Week. Twelve teams presented performances with the theme of "Great Achievements." Performances were five to seven minutes long and featured teams of 30 to 40 members, each singing and dancing an original routine. Athletes from Area 8 Special Olympics also were present for the event, and area Assistant Director Kathlynn Doran served as a judge. "The greeks do a lot of volunteer work with Special Olympics throughout the year.

Students clean Red Cedar River

As Adriana Cole tiptoed along the mucky shores of the Red Cedar River on Saturday, she spotted a newspaper in the water. "Eww, it's seeping," she said as she held up the saturated edition. After placing the paper in a garbage bag, Cole, a chemical engineering sophomore, continued down the shore looking for more trash. Cole was one of more than 100 helpers who turned out Saturday morning for the Red Cedar Cleanup, an event organized by Friends of the Red Cedar, the Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment and the Fisheries and Wildlife Club. Twice a year, volunteers from across campus wade into the river and tread its shores looking for litter, garbage and some everyday items that have been tossed into the water.

Mixed-race conference helps people celebrate identities

To tap into the growing number of people who have more than one racial or ethnic identity, a student-planned conference was held Saturday to celebrate mixed-race people and address multiracial issues.

MIDDAY UPDATE: Volunteers cut hair to benefit Locks of Love

Tim Thatcher hasn't has his hair cut in seven years, but Sunday he decided it was time for a change.The human biology junior had about 10 inches cut, and all of it went to the Locks of Love program."I had been debating it, and thinking about getting it cut," he said, adding that when he heard a Locks of Love event was taking place, he couldn't resist.All hair donated through the Locks of Love program benefits children younger than 18 with cancer or a medical condition that interferes with their hair growth.As a stylist held up a ponytail of Thatcher's hair, all he could do was laugh."I hope people recognize me," he said.

MIDDAY UPDATE: E.L. porch collapse injures students

At least two students were injured Sunday morning after a porch of an East Lansing home collapsed during a party.East Lansing police Sgt.

U.S.: Border crossing lax for students

Customs officers are not checking the federal Internet database of information about international students as often as they should, government officials said Wednesday. According to a report released by The Chronicle of Higher Education, officials have confirmed that the initial customs officers who check foreign students at border crossings, seaports and airports do not have direct access to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS. In the report, SEVIS director Jill Drury said a secondary line of customs officers have access to the database, but they only review new students and those whose information raises suspicion. In 2001, the USA Patriot Act set aside more than $36 million for SEVIS and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program to collect and manage information about international students.

WEB ONLY: County-wide book recycling to be held Saturday

Ingham County residents can recycle old books, magazines and phone directories during a tri-county collection Saturday. The City of East Lansing is co-sponsoring the collection that will run from 8 a.m.

Campus road work to start in summer

Students and faculty are bracing for several construction projects scheduled to begin this summer on campus. The university will undergo some long-term projects that span the entire summer semester, including lane closures in front of the Main Library and the total closure of Wilson Road near Wharton Center. Jeff Kacos, director of MSU's Campus Park and Planning, said none of the projects involve actual road construction.

Earth Day concert, festival to be held in E.L.

The Dollar Nightclub, the City of East Lansing and area businesses will host an Earth Day celebration from noon to 5 p.m.

'U' readies for 4-game weekend

The MSU softball team is at a critical stage in its Big Ten season as it travels to Ohio State and Penn State for four games this weekend. "We're 3-5 in the Big Ten and we're going to play two teams that are right about where we're at, with Penn State being a little down in compared to Ohio State," head coach Jacquie Joseph said.

'U' fraternities, groups help to 'supersize' event

Musicians and athletes will combine efforts on Saturday to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Mid-Michigan. Two MSU music fraternities, the Acafellas, 53 Feet of Brass, local band the giveaway and more than 100 runners and walkers will meet at the rock on Farm Lane for the first Rock 'n' Run 5K run/walk event. But sponsors and beneficiaries agree that this is no ordinary benefit race.

State might aid pharmacies with new bills

Lansing - Below a blinking black-and-red sign displaying the phrase, "We're glad to see you," John Rocco waited patiently Tuesday while pharmacists at the Apothecary Shop filled his prescription. Catching a glimpse of the pharmacy's owner, Rocco cheerfully greeted the man by his first name. The owner, Dan McNamara, immediately recognized his customer and returned the greeting. In an age when many people opt to get their pharmaceuticals from anonymous professionals at large chain pharmacies or by mail, such familiar pharmacist-customer relationships seem to be a rarity.

Police briefs 04/16/04

Telescope brings 'U' new vision

MSU astronomers soon will be able to look 10 billion to 15 billion years into the past with the push of a button and the new SOuthern Astrophysical Research, or SOAR, telescope. MSU joined with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the National Optical Astronomy Observatories and several universities from Brazil to fund the $43 million project located on the western edge of the Andes Mountains in Chile. On Saturday, the completed telescope will capture its "first light" during a dedication ceremony at 7 p.m.

Don't assume disabled always need help, capable on their own

The girl holding the door open for me looked horrified. I was going to class in Holden Hall, and I noticed as I got closer to the door that she had been holding it open for me for a good two minutes. "I can get the door myself, you know," I told the girl as I maneuvered my wheelchair through the door. Her response?

APASO represents all Asian Americans

This letter is in reference to the article "ASMSU funds Indian show" (SN 4/14). I wanted to fully clarify the concerns of the Asian Pacific American Student Organization, or APASO. First, APASO supports all programs and events that educate communities on Asian-American culture/histories.

15 miles of fame

Nate Daniels lives life a little more dangerously when filming movies. For seven weeks of his past summer, he and Greg Adaline could be found darting in and out of karaoke bars and riding around downtown Detroit on the People Mover at 2 a.m. "I ran in and got as much footage as I could before they kicked me out," the underage Daniels said about filming in karaoke bars.

Lumping liberals as intolerant is wrong

I am writing in response to Matthew Coleman's letter "Liberal outcry over Rice waste of breath" (SN 4/15). I was very surprised to read a letter in which Coleman neglected to address any specific examples of "liberal outcry" on campus to substantiate his claims.

Bands set for friendly battle in 'U' contest

The time to shine for local bands is tonight at the second annual Battle of the Bands. Due to the phenomenal success of last year's show, the International Center is expected to be packed when doors open around 9 p.m. The event is presented by the University Activities Board and will feature 10 bands performing original tunes from genres including punk, funk, jam, rock and retro blues.