Instead of shopping, make gifts this year

As of today, there are only a few weeks remaining until our families come together and presents are placed on everyone's lap.

Woman sentenced in hit-and-run accident

Susan Swanson will serve four and a half to 15 years in prison for the hit-and-run death of a 40-year-old man on Grand River Avenue in Okemos last year, a judge announced Wednesday.Swanson, 42, was sentenced by Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Brown on Wednesday, nearly two months after a jury found her guilty of drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident causing death, said Joyce Draganchuk, an assistant county prosecutor.On July 31, 2002, Swanson's Cadillac struck Alejandro Salinas as he walked along Grand River Avenue to his brother's home.

Seniors' gifts should give back to 'U'

Because of the state budget crisis, funding for universities has decreased significantly. Universities are increasingly relying on private donations from alumni to provide additional funding.

Top 10 box office

1. "Elf,"Total gross: $129 million2. "Brother Bear,"Total gross: $77.7 million3. "Dr. Seuss' The Cat In The Hat,"Total gross: $75.8 million4. "Master and Commander," Total gross: $66.6 million5. "Love Actually,"Total gross: $43.4 million6. "Gothika,"Total gross: $41.3 million 7. "The Haunted Mansion," Total gross: $34 million8. "Bad Santa,"Total gross: $16.8 million9. "The Missing,"Total gross: $15.2 million10. "Timeline,"Total gross: $12.4 millionSource: Nielsen EDI

Unfashionable sports take away from game

Have you seen the reality series "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy?" I have, and it's great.

Trimming budgets

Just hope that MSU President M. Peter McPherson doesn't start sitting down with University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman and Gov.

Westrin and Mowry to compete in national open mic

When psychology junior Pete Mowry first picked up a guitar more than eight years ago, he never imagined where the music would lead him.

MIDDAY UPDATE: E.L. WWII veterans featured in film

When Tom Dutch arrived in Pearl Harbor, there was no memorial, no tourists and no souvenir shop.

Police briefs 12/03/03

TV draws criticism, praise for recent gay trends

They're five gay men, out to take over the world - one straight guy at a time. "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" uses its five gay main characters and their respective talents - fashion, grooming, culture, interior design, and food and wine - to rescue style-deprived, straight men. As more producers realize the marketability of gay characters on reality television shows, cable television shows and network sitcoms, programs such as "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," "Will & Grace," and "Queer as Folk" are continuing to find their way into network programming. "I remember back in the early '90s when allusions to gay lifestyle were done in a very cautious way," MSU Professor Gary Hoppenstand said.

Professor discusses Polish Jews Friday

Jewish communities in post-Communist Poland will be discussed Friday afternoon through the Jewish Studies Program. Professor Keely Stauter-Halsted, director of Jewish Studies and professor in the Department of History, will discuss the question of "Polish Jews or Jewish Poles?" in room 113 of Linton Hall.

Libertarians might not win, but they still have good goals

With the political debates heating up and students deciding which candidate to pick, it is foolish to think that we only have one Republican and a handful of Democrats to choose from.

Area Catholics react to Mass. ruling

Members of the Lansing-area Catholic community are reflecting on the Massachusetts Supreme Court decision that said banning same-sex unions is unconstitutional.During Thanksgiving weekend, Massachusetts Catholic churches read a statement from the state's Catholic Conference regarding same-sex marriages.Now, as the church enters the season of Advent, a period regarded as a time of preparation, Catholic officials are educating their congregations on the issues."Marriage for us is a complementary union," said the Rev.

State fiscal crisis is understatement

Characterizing the present state fiscal difficulty as a "crisis" is gravely understating the enormity of the problem actually confronting citizens of Michigan.

Make placement tests for all classes

Last time I checked, Math 1825 was not a required course if you could score well on the math placement test given before you even begin classes at MSU.

'ArtAttack!' to showcase new, original works by 'U' students

If you enjoy going to plays but get restless after the first act, "ArtAttack!" might be the remedy for your problem. Today at 7 p.m., "ArtAttack!," a combination of three original one-act plays and a dance piece written and directed by MSU students, will open in the Arena Theatre.

'U' alumnus returns to E.L. to join police department

Not every graduate is in a hurry to race out of East Lansing for a sunnier state or big city. Christopher Shadduck, a 1998 MSU criminal justice graduate, is one of the newest members of the East Lansing police force and said he feels "back at home." Shadduck, a Lansing native, was sworn into the East Lansing Police Department on Nov.

Patience required

High school seniors and toddlers have one thing in common - they both are waiting for the most important part of the year.

'Holiday in the Woods' brings fun for families

This weekend at the Harris Nature Center, 3998 Van Atta Road in Meridian Township, a gathering of holiday spirits and outdoor nature will provide families and those interested with simple and fun activities to spread holiday cheer.

Character development helps 'Philadelphia' excel

Gabrielle Russon Special for The State News The theatrical production "Philadelphia, Here I Come!" fit perfectly into the lives of director Judith Peakes and her husband, actor John Peakes. The performance was the family's final show at downtown Lansing's BoarsHead Professional Theater before they relocated to Philadelphia.