Lala's conservative viewpoint overdue

The responses to Jim Lala's column ("Liberal students' silent protest doesn't need words to be whiny" SN 4/26) amuse me.

Mayo robbery article should have said race

Mayo robbery article should have said race During the week of April 19, a male student was brutally beaten unconscious and robbed while not resisting to give up his wallet ("3 men rob Mayo Hall room, still at large" SN 4/23). In that same incident, a woman was punched and thrown into a radiator when she tried to intervene. Did anyone read about the severity of the attack?

Police briefs 04/30/04

Gay Men's Chorus sings spring

Bright lights birth sweat on their faces as their feet tap along to the music they sing. Black binders containing sheet music tell them all the words they need to know.

Sharing is stealing

Stealing is wrong, no matter what. Not even if you're just stealing the latest Britney Spears tune electronically - it's still stealing. The Recording Industry Association of America announced earlier this week that it will sue 69 college students across the country, out of almost 500 total offenders.

A second home

It's mid-afternoon on Monday when the call comes in. The tone goes off - one single beep, followed by a deep male voice over a loudspeaker.

Last Oldsmobile rolls off line

Lansing -The last Oldsmobile ever to roll off the assembly line was welcomed Thursday in a private ceremony at the Lansing Car Assembly plant.

WEB ONLY: Theater briefs

If finals are bringing you down next week and the regular release of stress by way of munching out or watching movies is boring you, then check out some live local theater to revamp and revitalize your senses. • The Peppermint Creek Theatre Company will put on their last show of the 2003-04 season, "The Laramie Project," starting at 8 p.m.

Risk vs. reward

Many athletes and fitness enthusiasts seek to improve their training abilities by taking creatine, but many still are deciding whether it is the right way to assist in muscle building and improving fitness abilities. Brett Schurig started taking creatine almost a year ago and has seen improvement in his workout routine and gained 15 to 20 pounds, most of which is water weight. "It makes you stronger, not so much bigger," said Schurig, a business management junior. As an employee at Powerhouse Gym, 435 E.

Q & A with President McPherson

MSU President M. Peter McPherson sat down with several State News staff members, who asked him questions about recent university events. SN: Why the move to Grand Rapids? MPM: We have a very good medical school, but I think it's also true that with support, resources and help, we could have, academically, an extremely strong medical school.

Campaign seeks to mediate file sharing

The Get Real Campaign, which started about two months ago, is looking to get college students and the Recording Industry Association of America to discuss alternatives to illegal file sharing. Campaign director Ethan Clay said the group is looking to get information out to college campuses after a second round of lawsuits were announced Wednesday.

Forestry bill might fund local fire departments

Lawmakers in the state House have proposed a method for funding local fire departments that is starkly different than an earlier proposal to raise the state liquor tax. Republican leaders in the House instead are advocating that local governments and certain school districts sell forest lands that the state claims when the property owners don't pay taxes. Under the proposal, half of the revenue would go to the local government unit and the other would go to the state. Keith Ledbetter, spokesman for Speaker of the House Rick Johnson, R-Leroy, said that the plan would produce about $28 million in revenue in its first year. According to Ledbetter, $12 million of that revenue would go to fully funding fire grants that the state provides to local fire departments for the protection of state-owned buildings.

Professor honored as Sloan Research Fellow

An MSU chemistry professor has joined a group of 116 young scientists and economists who were honored as Sloan Research Fellows. Assistant Professor Aaron Odom will use the $40,000 grant for the two-year period to continue research in forming carbon nitrogen bonds. Odom, who has been at MSU for five years, leads a research group of undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students. "Nationwide, certainly there's a lot of people and I'm very honored to be on the list," Odom said. Odom said he's also excited for the options the extra money can provide. Department of Chemistry chairman John McCracken said the highly competitive research fellowship speaks well for the university. "These awards are given to the best young faculty and chemistry throughout the country," he said. The Sloan Research Fellowship Program awarded $4.64 million in its 49th year.

'U' to partner with Homeland Security in food research

As a partner in a new agricultural security center, MSU will use a portion of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant to develop methods of identifying contaminated foods and preventing terrorist tampering while food is in transit.

WEB ONLY: Softball team prepares for U-M matchup

The MSU softball team's mental outlook all season long has been not placing any more or any less importance on one game. With that in mind, although the Spartans face intrastate rival Michigan at 6 p.m.

WEB ONLY: 'U' student uses drama therapy to help others

Music, dance, sports, counseling, talking to friends, smoking - all of these are considered by some to be different types of therapy.

Students concerned about low graders as final tests approach

Taking Zoology 489? Take it easy - the entire class received a 4.0 last term. Sitting in Economics 201?

WEB ONLY: Coffeelovers get a taste of "Spartan Spirit"

The residents of small farming villages in countries such as Nicaragua are benefiting from the work of Sparty's Cafes and MSU's Real Food Group, which works to improve the global food system. Earlier this month Sparty's Cafes and Coffeehouses started serving "Spartan Spirit," a Fair Trade certified coffee blend that is bought from the farmers at a higher wage to raise standards of living.

WEB ONLY: Health Organization welcomes 'U' student

Nagesh Borse always knew he would participate in activities with organizations like the World Health Organization one day, but he wasn't sure how to go about it.

Blood boils as rivals set to do battle

Troy Krider is about to enter the rivalry danger zone. As the Spartans' freshman shortstop, the Indiana native doesn't know much about the state battle between Michigan and MSU.