Ready & able

It was the first class of the spring semester, beginning sharply at 8 a.m. Instead of tired eyes and mass silence, students curiously flipped through American Sign Language books and chatted with friends in the Erickson Hall Kiva. As Lynn Duckwall, professor of American Sign Language, walked in the room, heads turned and the class quieted down. Duckwall didn't notice the change in volume. Duckwall, who is deaf, has taught at MSU for more than a decade.

Legal activist to visit Cooley Law School

Cooley Law School will host a full day of events in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Equal Access to Justice/MLK Day will take place at 3 p.m.

MIDDAY UPDATE: Study abroad programs change grade policy

Changes in the MSU study-abroad program aim to increase student attentiveness while hitting the books overseas. Starting this summer, credits earned in co-sponsored study-abroad programs will appear on student transcripts with the course name and grade.

Police briefs 01/14/04

Zoo hosts event to recruit volunteers Legal activist to visit Cooley Law School

This weekend, the Potter Park Zoological Society will host a brunch promoting voluntarism at the zoo. The brunch, which takes place on Saturday at 10 a.m., will be held in Potter Park Zoo's Exploration & Discovery Center, 1301 S.

'U' to host surprising Penn State squad

In the past, a conference home opener against Penn State would be one of the easier games on MSU's schedule.

Columnist ignorant of worldly beliefs

I really hope you just published Brian Beute's opinion article ("Truth is absolute, every action is either right or wrong") as a way to illustrate to the entire campus that he is an ignorant, closed-minded moron.

'U' trio brings home gold

With one period left and down two goals, it was do-or-die time for the U.S. National Junior Team, which included three Spartan hockey players.

CATA makes improvements

As January temperatures dip into the teens and lower, students are increasingly huddling around the blue and green bus stop signs. The Capital Area Transportation Authority has made several tweaks to local service as the new year begins. This semester, it will be a shorter wait for students taking the bus to class from the commuter lot on the south side of campus.

Spartan icers stay busy during vacation

Students left campus for winter break and three Spartan hockey players left for the World Junior Championships in Finland, but the rest of the team still had points to earn.

Groups fight to keep highway billboards

One Michigan lawmaker is working to change the scenery along state highways - especially billboards.

'U' might merge departments

The Executive Committee of Academic Council discussed the possibility of reorganizing university departments during its Tuesday meeting. A proposal to consolidate the sports medicine program to become a part of the radiology department was passed to Provost Lou Anna Simon for further action.

Projected $1B budget shortfall concerns city, campus officials

MSU might lose further funds as the state faces a projected $1 billion shortfall next year, officials say. The House and Senate Fiscal Agencies, which presented their 2004-05 budget outlooks Monday, predict the state general fund could fall short - by up to $1 billion.

Red Cross faces blood shortage

The Red Cross is asking students to roll up their sleeves. The Great Lakes Region of the American Red Cross is down to a 24-hour overall supply of blood.

Look around 'U,' stupid behavior is everywhere

Hey, you. That's right, you verminous swine. I'm talkin' to you. You rotten bastard.

All students need a little extra sleep

I have started to wonder why it seems the university likes to screw science majors when it comes to scheduling and classes.

Olin campaign aims to modify students' drinking perceptions

A campaign launching this semester in posters and advertisements around campus is designed to help change students' perceptions about drinking. Olin Health Center is conducting a social norming campaign that seeks to correct misconceptions the public might have about an issue.

Task force to reopen cold cases

A few forgotten homicide cases in Ingham County are getting a second chance at justice. Officials from the Ingham County sheriff's office are planning to re-investigate eight unsolved area homicides, or cold cases. The first case Ingham County Sheriff's Office officials plan to reopen is the 1986 murder of Bonnie Van Valkenburg.

Restaurant offers new option for Asian cuisine

A newly opened restaurant is flavoring downtown East Lansing with an authentic taste of Asian cuisine, but it will have to survive a location that has housed at least five different restaurants in the past decade.

Group seeks Nov. ballot proposal

The battle over affirmative action is raging again - and this time, the final decision might be in the hands of Michigan voters. The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative is a group seeking to ban preferential treatment on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity and national origin from all public institutions.