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COMMENTARY

Uneasy comfort

Pap smear. Period. Stirrups. Speculum. Vagina. These words should be a part of society's everyday discussions on women's health, but sadly, most Americans - men, you're included - don't feel comfortable talking about what goes on down there. This week, The State News looked at some of the biggest health and sexuality issues concerning women, including diets, body image, emergency contraceptives, pleasure, sexuality and sexual health.

NEWS

Coping

Tara May
February 27, 2004

Sometimes, a woman says she blacked out and woke up with a man on top of her, and she's not sure how he got there. Sometimes, the student can't admit being sexually assaulted. Sometimes, all they remember is there wasn't a condom. Dennis Martell hears these stories as part of his job, and sometimes, being an HIV counselor breaks his heart. When it's particularly bad, he takes the student under his arm and walks them from Olin Health Center across East Circle Drive to MSU Counseling Center's Sexual Assault and Crisis Center in the Student Services Building. "It's the toughest counseling I've ever done," he said.

MSU

Store aims to login

While selling merchandise through existing vendors works for some, the MSU Surplus Store is looking to expand its business and find its own selling home on the Web. The store, located at 1344 S.

COMMENTARY

No respect

This is the true story of MSU College Republicans and a group of pro-affirmative action activists, picked to share a room at the Union to find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting rude. In a move that overstepped reasonable discourse and essentially spat on manners and maturity, about 25 pro-affirmative action protesters - from campus groups, other Michigan universities and the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action and Integration and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary, or BAMN - disrupted a meeting of the College Republicans on Wednesday night. They jeered guest speaker Barbara Grutter and the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative to the extent that MSU police were dispatched to disperse the crowd. Grutter, a plaintiff in the Supreme Court case against the University of Michigan Law School's racial-preference practices, is a supporter of the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, an organization seeking to ban racial preferences by means of a state constitutional amendment.

NEWS

Administrators address change

Amy Bartner
February 27, 2004

In an effort to answer some of the MSU community's tough questions about her blueprint on the university's liberal arts programs, Provost Lou Anna Simon spoke openly with students and faculty Thursday night. And despite her rush to attend the MSU women's basketball game, Simon remained in the Union Ballroom discussing issues with several students and faculty for almost an hour after the forum. "They asked a lot of thoughtful questions," she said, adding that she gladly would meet with more groups in the future.

SPORTS

PairWise Rankings bad news for 'U' hockey

A computerized ranking to determine the Bowl Championship Series in college football causes more headaches than it originally was intended to, and college hockey's PairWise Rankings are no exception. While the MSU hockey team enjoys a bye week, you, the fans, should be concerned not only about next weekend's series against Michigan, but the upcoming NCAA Tournament as well.

MSU

Activities Board to host cast from MTV

Joseph Clark
February 27, 2004

The University Activities Board will be putting on two events this weekend as a part of the MTV Reality Weekend. "Sex in the Real World," featuring Ace and Mallory from the Paris season, is at 7:30 p.m.

FEATURES

Theater happenings

Joe Guillen
February 27, 2004

• New to the theater scene this weekend is "Seascape," the Edward Albee classic about two people and two lizard-like creatures who come together for some civil conversation. Directed by Addiann Hinds, the fictional story will be playing through March 7 at the Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Drive in Lansing. Tickets for the production range from $8 to $12 and can be purchased at the door or by calling (517) 482-5700. For more information, visit the theater's Web site at riverwalktheatre.com • Also playing in Lansing this weekend is the Capital Area Performers' "Family Love." The story shows how children, parents and grandparents all living in one home deal with the genuine meaning of family love. The show will start at 7 p.m.

NEWS

Spartans' last home test

Chris Mackinder
February 27, 2004

To win a conference championship, Big Ten players and coaches stress two things: Protect your home floor and split your road games. As MSU sits atop the Big Ten, the Spartans (16-9 overall, 11-3 Big Ten) can be proud they have done both. The Spartans are undefeated at 7-0 at home in conference play with one home game left (a March 2 contest against Wisconsin). Away from Breslin Center, despite struggling to find many of the road victories, the Spartans have a 4-3 record. "We've always tried to sell that there is nothing like being a road warrior," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said.

SPORTS

Softball heads south for Florida tourney

Jaclyn Roeschke
February 27, 2004

MSU softball heads to Florida this weekend to play against Stony Brook, Maryland and Florida International before entering into bracket play during the Florida International Tournament. The Spartans will face season-starters Stony Brook and 3-2 Maryland on Friday before taking on 2-9 Florida International on Saturday. MSU has 13 extra base hits on the season and hopes to keep up that momentum throughout this weekend's play. Coming off of a 1-1 showing at last weekend's UNLV tournament, the Spartans athletes hope to keep their record-breaking performances.

MICHIGAN

2nd MIP could mean jail time

Alessa Thomas
February 27, 2004

Some state officials say it's time to get tough on underage drinking. State lawmakers have introduced a bill that would allow the courts to sentence repeat offenders of minor in possession for up to 30 days in jail. "There are minors who know that there is no jail time for a second offender, so they continue to break the law," said Sen.

NEWS

Holding pace in the Big Ten race

The final stretch. Oh, how I remember it well. You see, back in high school, I ran cross-country, and the last mile of a 5K (3.1 miles) race meant so much to where you would place and your final time.

COMMENTARY

Allen makes good point in bad way

I wanted to write in support of Alice Dreger's comments ("Cartoon offensive to LBGT community" SN 2/25) pertaining to Ed Ronco's editorial justifying the publishing of Nate Allen's cartoon (SN 2/23). Ronco makes a perfectly valid point that the continued occurrence of homosexual marriage does nothing in any way to taint heterosexual relations.

NEWS

NCAA approves Big Ten's use of replay

Evan Rondeau
February 27, 2004

The Big Ten Conference has become the first in the nation to gain approval for use of instant replay during next season's football games. NCAA's Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet agreed to utilize existing technology to review controversial calls. Spartans head coach John.

NEWS

Coaches: 20-game season gives the Big Ten championship more meaning

Chris Mackinder
February 27, 2004

Like a pack of thoroughbreds in the Kentucky Derby, Big Ten teams are charging toward the finish line in hopes of claiming a Big Ten Championship. Still, Big Ten coaches are questioning if that title means as much as it could. "I think it would make the conference championship mean more if you played everyone twice," Illinois head coach Bruce Weber said. Technically, only three teams (Wisconsin, Illinois and MSU) are still in the race for the Big Ten Championship.

FEATURES

'Last Comic' finalists make 2-night Lansing stand

The NBC reality series "Last Comic Standing," which began last summer, featured the challenges of stand-up comedy and real-life competition as comedians vied for the title of "Last Comic Standing." After battles for nationwide recognition and time in the spotlight, a few comics now have created a career path of their own - independent of, but with credit to, NBC. Although ousted from the spotlight by Dat Phan at the conclusion of the series, Cory Kahaney, Rich Vos and Dave Mordal still are very much in the public eye. The finalists from "Last Comic Standing" will be the headline acts this weekend at Connxtions Comedy Club, 2900 N.