Ahoy Matees

Imagine being out on the open seas, only pulling into port so you can save a damsel in distress or right some wrong done against your honor. Hollywood has created the seldom produced but timelessly popular pirate film. From the silent move "The Black Pirate," with Douglas Fairbanks, to "The Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl," audiences have been swept away with tales of sword fights, rope swinging and plank walking. "I think stories about the sea and pirates and ships have been popular since history began," said Ken Wlaschin, director of creative affairs for the American Film Institute.

McPherson, others, taking job lightly

The remarks made by President M. Peter McPherson as quoted by The State News ("McPherson: Cool under pressure," SN 7/3) tell us a great deal about the task the U.S.

Police briefs 07/10/03

Foé: Lionhearted in life, death

Even those of you who hate soccer have heard of the World Cup and David Beckham. But only the truly passionate have heard of the Confederations Cup and Marc-Vivien Foé. The cup is an average-sized international soccer tournament and Foé is an over-sized soccer player, standing at 6 feet 4 inches.

Lugnuts drop second straight to Whitecaps in heated, 6-2 contest

Lansing - Some of the ugliness from the July 1 bench-clearing brawl between the Lugnuts and West Michigan Whitecaps nearly boiled to the surface again Wednesday night in Lansing's 6-2 loss. Lansing starting pitcher Dan Foli (4-4) hit Whitecaps' (10-11) second baseman Rob Watson with a pitch in the fourth inning, which Watson - as well as West Michigan Manager Phil Reagan and a few teammates who ventured out of the dugout - took exception to. Lugnut Manager Julio Garcia insisted that there was nothing behind the pitch. "I talked to Dan and he assured me that it was nothing more than a pitch that got away from him," Garcia said. Suspensions from the original brawl are still pending, but offense from the Lugnuts was nearly nonexistent for the second straight night. When the 'Nuts needed runs in the heart of Wednesday night's loss to the West Michigan Whitecaps, a timely hit was hard to come by. The Lugnuts (9-12) stranded two runners in each of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

Ballot action

Democracy is the best way for the people to decide the fate of such a personal issue as affirmative action. The Sacramento, Calif.-based American Civil Rights Coalition is at work to place affirmative action's future on the Michigan ballot.

Allman Brothers keep up their act

"The Allman Brothers rock," said East Lansing resident Nate Foster as he waited eagerly to see the band Tuesday night at Common Ground. And despite some rain before the show, Foster remained excited to see the band.

Chapter found destroyed

East Lansing housing officials threatened Wednesday to condemn an uninhabited fraternity house after discovering the Theta Delta Chi chapter containing rotten food, empty 40-ounce beer bottles, exposed wires, punctured pipes leaking gas, broken electrical appliances, bags of garbage, clogged toilets, pornography and the stench of urine. Fraternity members say not all of the mess was theirs, fearing trespassers ransacked the home.

Lansing silenced by Whitecaps

Lansing - West Michigan Whitecaps' pitcher Joel Zumaya nearly kept the Lugnuts at bay single-handedly Tuesday night at Oldsmobile Park - even though he's barely old enough to vote.The righthanded, 18-year-old Zumaya struck out 11 Lugnut batters en route to West Michigan's 3-1 win.

Local government is right to challenge USA Patriot Act, protect people's civil liberties

Civil liberties need to be protected amidst events such as the war in Iraq and terrorism. The Ann Arbor City Council passed a resolution to protect civil liberties, which also could limit Ann Arbor police enforcement of immigration laws on Monday, The Ann Arbor News reported. Benjamin Franklin said "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Perhaps never in our nation's history has this statement had more prevalence and meaning than now.

Students convicted of rioting

Lansing - Four students involved in the March 28-30 disturbances plead guilty in Ingham County's 30th Judicial Circuit Court on Tuesday afternoon.Students Brian Balamucki, Kimberly Martin, Timothy Ricker and Tony Warren were convicted of felonies and misdemeanors before Judge James Giddings.The maximum penalty for a felony is five years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Students reflect on heath care costs after graduation

While health care coverage might not be a pressing issue for Tomeka Carroll during her last two years of schooling at MSU, she says getting coverage after graduation is an important issue that she hasn't looked in to.

There's something about Harry

I was that girl at my math final. That's right, I arrived a modest 10 minutes early to the single most challenging class session of my college career without my calculator.

Bush's Iraqi weapon claim baseless

By Walter Pincus The Washington Post Washington - The Bush administration acknowledged for the first time Monday that President Bush should not have claimed in his State of the Union address in January that Iraq had sought to buy uranium in Africa to reconstitute its nuclear weapons program.

All-Star Game suddenly shady

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is a celebration of the game of baseball and an honor to every player who receives an invite to play in it each July.

Diversity achieved at law school without race factor

Vertical licenses being issued to minors

Michigan is making a simple change to driver's licenses to make it harder for minors to purchase alcohol.Secretary of State offices are now issuing vertical driver's licenses and identification cards in an effort to stop the sale of age-restricted products to minors."This law will literally have a sobering effect," Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land said in a press conference announcing the release of the new licenses.

Employees to nominate 'U' bosses for sensitivity leadership award

For years Lori Strom received phone calls from MSU employees eager to complain or praise their supervisors.So two years ago Strom, a coordinator of the MSU child and family care resources, decided to create a way to reward bosses and supervisors across campus for their understanding, sensitivity and dedication to their employees with the annual MSU Supervisor Recognition Award."It was one of those light bulb moments," she said.

Ohio creates rioting law for universities

University officials in Ohio are concerned a new law regarding students who participate in a riot might limit the institution's right to assess disciplinary action on a case-by-case basis.The law mandates students who are convicted of crimes related to a riot, such as failure to disperse, be expelled from state-funded institutions and be ineligible for financial aid for two years.

Take the test

At first, kids would jump at the idea of a four-day school week. But if you told them it would mean they'd have to be in school longer per day, they would take time to think about the tradeoff.