City might cut police cadet program

While nearly 2,000 people filled East Lansing streets on March 30 trying to avoid spending the night at police headquarters, Heather Dunn started her night there.Dunn, an East Lansing police cadet, spent the night after the Elite Eight MSU loss to the University of Texas running water and food to officers, managing phone calls from concerned residents, coordinating an onslaught of media calling for updates, grabbing requested equipment and listening intently to the police radio."We were just basically behind the scenes," the criminal justice junior said.

GEU files grievance

The Graduate Employees Union plans to announce it is filing a grievance against the university concerning undergraduate students serving as teaching assistants today.The union said its contract, negotiated with the university and made effective on May 16, 2002, forbids undergraduates from obtaining teaching positions.

Price of gas continues to fall statewide

For the third consecutive week gas prices in Michigan are dropping. The statewide average is down 17.1 cents, according to AAA Michigan. While the average rests at $1.59 per gallon statewide, prices in the greater Lansing area are 7 cents lower than the state average and 22 cents lower than a month ago.

Police briefs 04/15/03

Counseling Center adds staff to help 'U' deal with war

The MSU Counseling Center bolstered its staff by adding four temporary counselors to accommodate an influx of students requesting its services since the war began last month.

'Things' has echoes of band's New York influences

New York quartet Longwave's new album "The Strangest Things" takes its audience on a tour of astral sky-scrapping epic guitar sounds. With warm atmospheric drums, dissonantly murky basslines and spacey floodlight guitars, Longwave has a sound that's graduated from the U2 college of epic rock balledry.

Construction project to add more sidewalks, lighting to Northern Tier

New sidewalks and lighting will soon enhance the streets leading to the apartment complexes of the Northern Tier under a plan by East Lansing and Bath Township officials. Officials and residents say the additions to the newly constructed student housing district will make the area safer for its more than 2,700 inhabitants. Without necessary safety measures in place, Melrose Apartments resident Kelly Hurley says Northern Tier roads are "really dangerous" for runners as cars speed through poorly lit areas. During her daily runs, Hurley says she fears being struck by a car.

New releases

Winner from the first season of "American Idol," Kelly Clarkson's debut album "Thankful" is out in time to be forgotten while people watch the second season.

Assistant hoops coach to take Cleveland State head job

MSU men's basketball assistant coach Mike Garland is expected to be named Cleveland State's head coach this week, senior forward Brian Westrick said.Westrick said the seven-year MSU coaching veteran told him this morning that he was leaving for Cleveland State."He seemed pretty upbeat," Westrick said.

Former senators, businessman to receive honorary degree from 'U'

Two former state senators will receive honorary degrees at MSU commencement ceremonies on May 2. Harry Gast and George McManus Jr.

Liberation may not have been intention

In response to Jason C. Miller's column about the anti-war liberals being wrong, I must point out that Miller makes many mistakes in criticizing the liberal stance ("Protesters were wrong on Iraq; now it's time to help out" SN 4/14). Just because liberation of the Iraqi people is the shoe that fits, that does not mean it is the shoe the Bush administration was shopping for.

Duo's debut contains nothing new

Here's an idea: Musically inclined siblings forming an act to produce 20-something poppy beats with rhyming lyrics and infectious whining. OK, so it isn't an original idea, but throw an actress into the mix and the duo known as Boomkat is formed, creating an upbeat mix of hip-hop, electronic sounds and Gap commercials. Kellin and Taryn Manning make up the group and were raised by musically influential parents.

Talent wasted in 'Anger'

Oh mediocrity, why do you plague talent so? Look what you've done. You've taken Adam Sandler - whose early films "Billy Madison" and "Happy Gilmore" struck chords of pure, insane laughter - and taken over his career. It started with "The Waterboy," and last year we all hoped it would be over after "Mr. Deeds," but no.

Filers rush to post office for today's tax deadline

In Michigan, nothing is certain. The Red Wings can lose and it might snow in April, but everyone knows April 15 is tax day.Students and area residents will be scampering around the city to finish their taxes today, hoping to postmark them as tonight's midnight deadline rapidly approaches.Li Xiong, a graduate international student, was busy copying forms at the East Lansing Post Office, 1140 Abbott Road, on Monday.

Victims seek help for riot damage

When Courtney O'Neill drove away from her apartment near Cedar Village to study in the Main Library on the night of the March 30 riot, she thought she had made a smart decision. What the biosystems engineering junior didn't know was that hours later, her gold 1994 Mazda 626 would become the focus of a disorderly crowd that tore through the city and campus, overturning cars and setting fires. About 2,000 people took to the streets after MSU's loss to Texas in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, causing at least $10,000 in damage to private property - which included O'Neill's car. When O'Neill left the library, she spotted a tow truck in the parking lot.

World will cry buckets over WNBA

Alas! The 2003 WNBA Draft was canceled Monday, and this just might be a prelude to tough times ahead for the ugly duckling of the sports world.

NFL: Rogers' drug test diluted

Former MSU star Charles Rogers found himself under the microscope of NFL executives Monday after it was revealed he used a substance to dilute his drug test at the NFL combine in February. The news left Rogers' agent, Kevin Poston, on the defensive, claiming the consensus top-three pick in the April 26-27 NFL draft drank an excessive amount of water because he had difficulty urinating on the day of the test. During the pre-draft combine, potential draft picks often participate in drills for NFL scouts and submit to drug testing.

Film adaptations bring Thompson to life

It's probably fairly difficult to make a film about a man who is to many a living legend, especially one who would likely pull a gun on you were you to approach his home to ask a question. Such is Hunter S.

Ads do not show all sides of conflict

Regarding the lengthy campustruth.org opinion statement in The State News ("Ads present often neglected viewpoint" SN 4/7), I would like to offer a reply on behalf of the Students for Palestinian Human Rights at MSU.

Board of Trustees passes graduate rights revision

Three years of changes to a document that governs graduate students were approved by the MSU Board of Trustees on Friday. The Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities Document cements the rights of graduate students, lays out the steps for filing grievances and explains the processes for theses and dissertations. The document was created in 1971 and had not been modified since 1984. Among the changes to the document is a mention of the Graduate Employees Union, which was formally recognized in April 2001. Council of Graduate Students President Jim Ciszweski was relieved to have this document passed. "It has taken several years to get this far," he said.