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NEWS

Legal limit for alcohol to be .08 by Oct. 1

East Lansing drinkers will have to cut their nightly alcohol consumption by about half a drink or find a sober ride home as the legal blood-alcohol content limit drops Tuesday. The new law changes the legal blood-alcohol content, or BAC, to .08 from .10 and brings Michigan into compliance with a U.S.

MSU

400 people walk for AIDS awareness

Participants in the 5K Aids Walk Michigan-Lansing waved their arms and laughed, receiving honks of support from passing cars as they marched down Grand River Avenue on Sunday afternoon.More than 400 MSU students, local residents and other college students battled chilly temperatures and a brief rain shower to raise awareness and money for the Lansing Area AIDS Network.

FOOTBALL

Blackhawk down

East Lansing was the capital of bizarro-world Saturday as MSU and then-No. 13 Iowa battled it out, resembling

FEATURES

'Just friends' with opposite sex a hot topic

Everyone has someone they consider to be a close friend. You know, the person who was there for you when you failed one of your final exams or when you were just having a downright crappy day and needed a shoulder to cry on.

COMMENTARY

Life of a college student can lead to one gigantic headache

In my life, I have been able to endure getting 16 stitches in my head from falling off a bike, internal bruises from a seat belt after a car accident (I'd like to note I was not behind the wheel) and severe ear infections from the acid content in my ears (so my doctor says). But I cannot always handle the severe tension headaches which incapacitate me on countless occasions. I know I am not alone in this.

MSU

Picnic kicks off 'U' Japan Week

With his hair flying behind a black-and-white headband and arms powerfully pounding out a rhythm, Taiko drummer Ryan Toguri commanded the attention of about 200 people Sunday afternoon at the Japanese Garden Picnic. Audience members responded to Toguri's drumbeats and the other three drummers in Kaminari Daiko, a group out of Chicago, by moving their feet and legs rhythmically. The picnic was the first event of Japan Week, which runs through Oct.

NEWS

McPherson returns to 'U'

MSU President M. Peter McPherson goes back to work on Wednesday - the same day that marks his 10th anniversary as president. McPherson made his first public appearance Saturday since his return from Iraq, answering questions about what he and his team had accomplished during his stint as the financial coordinator for the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance. "It's certainly great to be back on Michigan State's campus," he said.

FOOTBALL

Smoker guides 'U' past Iowa, breaks 3 records

Two incompletions didn't spoil Jeff Smoker's day. All his receiver wanted was a little attention, so it didn't matter when he dropped the second pass. With a boyish grin on his face, something that seemed so far away during the past year, Smoker tossed a Frisbee with little accuracy to "Zeke the Wonder Dog," the black Labrador that usually is a halftime show but somehow became an invaluable portion of the postgame festivities after MSU's upset win over then-No.

COMMENTARY

Communication

If a student has a concern regarding the university, he or she should have a place to go for that concern to be heard.

NEWS

MIDDAY UPDATE: Drummers kick off Japan Week

With his hair flying and arms pounding, Taiko drummer Ryan Toguri played with his bandmates in the Kaminari Daiko group Sunday afternoon at the Japanese Garden Picnic.The picnic was the kick-off for Japan Week, which runs through Oct.

NEWS

MIDDAY UPDATE: Law lowering legal limit for drunken driving goes into effect Tuesday

State and local officials are warning motorists to find a designated driver as the legal limit for drunken driving has been lowered.A law passed in July will go into effect Tuesday bringing Michigan into compliance with a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requirement that withholds federal road funding to states who do not change the legal blood-alcohol content limit to .08.The law - which changes the name of the offense from Operating Under the Influence of Liquor to Operating While Intoxicated - says drivers who blow a .08 on a breathalyzer are to be charged with the more serious charge.First-time drunken driving convictions in Michigan carry a maximum of 93 days in jail, a $500 fine, 360 hours of community service, six points on a driver's license and 180 days with a suspended license, with a restricted license possible after 30 days.

NEWS

WEB ONLY: Poetry slam attracts English majors

On Thursday, the National Council of Teachers of English Student Affiliate of Michigan State University organized its first Poetry Slam.The event showcased poetry spanning a wide spectrum of issues, with titles ranging from Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise" to English sophomore Nicolas Hampton's "A Virgin Beating Off in Their Dorm Room."The group is primarily for students interested in pursuing a career in English education with the goal of connecting potential English teachers with those already within the work place.

NEWS

Spartans beat Iowa in upset

After an inconsistent, shaky start to the season offensively, the MSU football team showed up as a well-oiled machine against Iowa on Saturday. They scored 14 points in the first half of the first quarter and never looked back, upsetting No.

NEWS

McPherson returns from Iraq

MSU President M. Peter McPherson was back on campus Friday, returning from Baghdad where he worked to restore the economy of a war-torn nation.McPherson made his first public appearance at the Union's Green Room, fielding questions on what he and his team were able to accomplish during his tenure as the financial coordinator for the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance in Iraq."It's certainly great to be back on Michigan State's campus," he said.

FEATURES

Weekend concerts plentiful for 'U'

A myriad of musicians, representing several genres, will transform MSU into a musical hot spot this weekend.Canadian artist Ember Swift takes over Common Grounds in Akers Hall tonight, Funktelligence arrives tomorrow and pop artist Jason LeVasseur brings his show to the International Center Saturday.

NEWS

Ruling change allows U-M men's basketball postseason eligibility

After a one-year ban from postseason play, the U-M men's basketball team is now eligible to participate in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. The decision, announced Thursday, reversed a May ruling by the NCAA infractions committee that imposed a second year of restriction from the postseason, among other sanctions. U-M had imposed several restrictions on itself for the 2003 season, following revelations of several counts of player payment from former basketball booster Ed Martin to then-Wolverine basketball players.