Staff, students in same boat fighting for parking, privilege

If you did, you would have discovered the many cries concerning the have and have-nots on campus are ill founded.

Crowds fill downtown to see festival acts, taste cuisine

Lansing - Common Ground shook the capital city's dirt for the past two nights with high-energy musical acts coupled with brew and soda-pop chugging crowds. The Adado Riverfront Park, host of the fourth annual seven-day fun-food-and-jam fest, brought a crowd that packed the downtown, clogging city streets and waterways on top of covering festival grounds. The festival already has sold all of its 7,500 week-long passes, leaving only single-day passes available for the general public, a festival first. "Can we squeeze another person in here?

Police briefs 07/09/03

Cover artists should not waste breath on criticism

While covering music - both local and national - you meet all kinds of personalities. There are the notoriously cocky musicians who think they are changing the face of music while simultaneously walking on the people who support them.

Yo-yo master performs at E.L. park

Paul Kyprie is no yo-yo.But he can do about 200 tricks if given one.From around the world and pinwheels to walking the dog and loop-the-loop, Kyprie, or Yo-master Zeemo, can do them all.About 75 children and adults attended East Lansing's Play in the Park on Tuesday evening to watch and learn Zeemo's famed tricks.Sitting on lawn chairs and blankets the audience watched Zeemo's tricks in awe and laughed at his jokes and puns.

Calif. group fights U-M admissions

The recent Supreme Court decision to uphold affirmative action is now being challenged in Michigan as a group from California is starting an effort to fight the decision.On Monday, Ward Connerly, the chairman of the Sacramento-based American Civil Rights Coalition, announced his idea for the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative to a crowd on the University of Michigan's campus.

Rapada steals show in 8-1 Lugnut victory

Lansing- West Michigan Whitecaps' left-handed pitcher Jon Connolly had a list of accolades coming into Monday's game against the Lansing Lugnuts.But his little-known counterpart Clay Rapada stole the show in Lansing's 8-1 victory at Oldsmobile Park.The Midwest League All-Star game starter Connolly (13-2) had been nearly untouchable this season, posting a 13-1 record with a 1.06 earned run average.

Tolerance needed in times of change

Wake up America, the world and its ways are changing and there is nothing that you can do to stop it.

Nursing College working with 'U'

I appreciate The State News' interest in the College of Nursing and the nursing shortage. However, the editorial "Unhealthy cuts" (SN 6/30) requires clarification of facts. The College of Nursing has not downsized by reducing the number of students.

Bush's challenge childish, arrogant

I am writing in regards to President Bush's comments on Wednesday regarding the reoccurring ambush-style attacks of our soldiers in Iraq.

Enjoy who you are, don't attempt to be someone else

I'd like to paraphrase a story I read in a very interesting book, "The Tao of Pooh" by Benjamin Hoff. There once was an old woodcutter who lived in China.

Learning to shop

Sending K-12 students to malls for field trips is a good idea as long as it's an appropriate group being sent, such as one that teaches students how businesses market their products. But field trips need to be more than entertainment - rather, infotainment. The Oakland Press reported for a Saturday story that some Michigan educators believe students can benefit from field trips to retail centers. "So much is required of the schools and students these days that any time spent away from the classroom would have to have a valuable academic purpose," Kay Cornell, assistant superintendent for instruction with the Royal Oak School District, told The Oakland Press. But students who aren't of the right age to appreciate the inner workings of the consumer-driven economy shouldn't be expected to grasp the value of hands-on education in the mall.

Lansing man charged in E.L. shooting

A 36-year-old Lansing man was charged with assault with intent to murder in the June 26 shooting at an East Lansing pizzeria.

State legislatures too incompetent

In response to "Frist opposes gay marriage" (SN 6/30), Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., doesn't sound compassionate or conservative saying: "Generally, I think matters such as sodomy should be addressed by the state legislatures." Sorry Frist, but Michigan's legislature, as one example, seemed to not have the backbone to touch our state's outdated law that made oral and anal sex between adults, straight and gay, illegal. Yet the state Legislature can update its salary regularly. They meet three days a week and earn $77,260 a year.

Board gives highest honor to 10 professors

The MSU Board of Trustees approved the designation of 10 MSU faculty members as university distinguished professors. The title is the highest honor a faculty member can receive at MSU.

Senate decreases legal blood alcohol level from .10 to .08

The Michigan Senate passed legislation Thursday to reduce the blood-alcohol level from 0.10 to 0.08, which could redefine the conditions of legal intoxication.

Common Ground schedule

Tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis. Tickets ordered in advance cost $22 per day.

Sports briefs

'BasketBowl' tickets available on Tuesday Tickets for the "BasketBowl", the MSU-Kentucky basketball matchup at Ford Field in Detroit, will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday. MSU ticket manager Chris Besanceney said 50,172 tickets have been ordered through private sales to Spartan donors and season ticket holders.

Witherspoon keeps this dumb 'Blonde' alive

While Reese Witherspoon shines as the smart yet ditzy Elle Woods in "Legally Blonde: Red White & Blonde," her pursuit of Washington, D.C., does not quite measure up to Elle's fun-filled journey at Harvard Law in the first flick. The sequel tells the story of Elle Woods traveling to Washington to oppose future testing on animals after she finds the mother of her precious Chihuahua Bruiser is being used as a cosmetic test subject.

Police briefs 07/07/03