Cheap dates

The Red Cedar River hasn't frozen over yet, but that doesn't mean you have to wait to get your skate on. On second thought, you'd probably want to avoid ice dancing on the frozen stream running through campus. But fear not, Michelle Kwannabes, there's a skate spot not far from your next class. The Munn Ice Arena offers open ice skating to the public almost every day and it costs students only $3. Whether you're a wobbly twinkle-toes on ice or the next Tara Lipinski, ice skating is a fun afternoon or evening out - enjoyable year-round. Worried that you might look like a goofball because you don't know a toe pick from a toothpick?

Work continues on campus accessibility

It's the seemingly little things. A toilet paper holder at the proper height. Door signs with Braille. Or it's the big things.

Swing Society hosts dance lessons

More than 60 people concentrated as the smooth sounds of jazz rhythmically pulsed throughout the MSU Union Ballroom on Tuesday night.

Top 10 albums

1. "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below," OutKast, Arista (Last week: 1)2. "Too Hot For T.V.," Bad Boy's Da Band, Bad Boy (not on charts)3. "Sacred Love," Sting, A&M (not on charts)4. "Life for Rent," Dido, Arista (not on charts)5. "Some Devil," Dave Matthews, RCA (2)6. "Results May Vary," Limp Bizkit, Flip (3)7. "Martina," Martina McBride, RCA (Nashville) (not on charts)8. "The R.

Upcoming concerts

October: Friday: Goldblade, Mac's Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave.

House of the Dead: A pointless, money-wasting horror attempt

One time, I got a piece of corn stuck in the back of my teeth and spent a good 5 to 10 minutes trying to get it out. In those few minutes, I was more entertained with that kernel of corn than watching "The House of the Dead" in its entirety. Based on a video game from Sega, the film boasts plenty of violence and gratuitous nudity.

Meet Millie

After a stressful week of studying for severe mid-terms, you might find yourself looking for a new source of entertainment to put your mind at ease. You've already seen the latest movies and it's too cold to play Frisbee on the orange and yellow leaves blanketing the grass.

Selective memory plauges Hollywood

A few weeks ago, one of the greatest film directors ever, Elia Kazan, died of old age. Little was said or done on television.Meanwhile, "Entertainment Tonight" devoted an hour special to the "Diff'rent Strokes" cast - giving the true stories of Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges and Dana Plato.

State Democrats split about voting via Internet

Democrats inside and outside the MSU community are split on a new form of voting via the Internet. The plan, introduced by the Michigan Democratic party, becomes effective during the Feb.

BEER GUY: Dark Horse offers four stouts for fall

This week, instead of focusing on a certain type of beer as I have the past three columns, I thought it might be kosher to say hello to a local brewery.

City officials address off-campus noise, drinking at housing exhibition

Tough talk from a city determined to quiet its noisiest and most unruly residents turned soft Wednesday as East Lansing officials welcomed students to off-campus life during the MSU Housing Fair. Hosted by city and campus leaders, the second annual informational session about off-campus housing for hundreds of students became a how-to session about living in city neighborhoods without getting in trouble.

Police briefs 10/16/03

Budget crunch

Hurry! Hurry! Step right up to witness the one, the only, Amazing, Shrinking Budget! Just when you thought things couldn't get worse, they did.

Student caught snipping 'U' corn

An MSU student is learning the hard way that the university's vast fields of cornstalks aren't open for public picking - even for innocent Halloween decorating.Just after midnight Tuesday morning, MSU police caught a 21-year-old female student yellow-handed as she snipped cornstalks from university fields near the corner of Jolly and College roads.

Art museum showcases well-known, loved American artists

When some people hear the phrase "Snap the whip," they might think of the ever-popular 1980s song "Whip It" by Devo.

Survey: 'U' more affordable

A recent ranking of educational value placed MSU closer to the top than last year, and while some officials say it's reflective of the quality the university provides, others say additional factors should be considered. In Kiplinger's 100 Best Values in Public Colleges 2003, MSU was ranked 29th - a jump from 61st last year.

Top 10 box office

1. "Kill Bill Vol. 1"Total gross: $22.1 million2. "School of Rock"Total gross: $39.7 million3. "Good Boy!"Total gross: $13.1 million4. "Intolerable Cruelty"Total gross: $12.5 million5. "Out of Time"Total gross: $28.7 million6. "House of the Dead"Total gross: $5.7 million7. "The Rundown"Total gross: $40.3 million8. "Under the Tuscan Sun"Total gross: $28.3 million9. "Secondhand Lions"Total gross: $35.4 million10. "Lost in Translation"Total gross: $18.1 millionSource: Nielsen EDI

Task force to address defense funding

Members of Michigan's judicial system are working to change public defense practices.The Institute for Public Policy and Social Research sponsored a forum Wednesday titled "Reducing the Corrections Budget through Effective Public Defense" for senators, MSU-DCL College of Law faculty and state officials.The forum offered the information from a task force assigned to make recommendations to reformat Michigan's defense system.According to the task force, Michigan offers no state funding for trial defense services and assigned counsel receive some of the lowest wages in the country.

Group to sponsor Indian dance session

Indian rhythm will flow Friday in the IM Sports-West basement at 8 p.m. at "Tarang." ASHA for Education, a volunteer organization which raises funds for educational projects in India, is sponsoring the event, the first fund-raiser for the organization. Participants will learn a dance called Garba/Raas and MSU's Bhangra dance team will perform.

E.L. firefighters reach 4-year deal

More than 14 months after their contract expired, East Lansing firefighters have reached a four-year agreement with the city amidst a shrinking budget.The contract seeks a balance between the city's money woes and concerns about staffing and overtime among firefighters, officials on both sides of the agreement say.Fire Union President Don Carter said members are not thrilled with the agreement, but understand that economic troubles cause "some give and take on both sides."The firefighters' contract is among the most expensive for the city, accounting for an estimated $4 million of East Lansing's $30 million general fund, said George Lahanas, the city's human resources director."The budget is tight and health care issues are increasing demands on our shrinking budget," he said.The new contract calls for no reductions in the department's overall staffing levels, which stand at 51 including the chief.One concern among firefighters is the reduction in the minimum number of firefighters required to be on duty at any given time.