BASKETBALL

Ballinger leads seniors to victory

Patrick Walters

March 5, 2003

He had saved his best game for last, was mobbed by his teammates for the second time this season and kissed the green and white "S" at midcourt for good measure. On a senior night that saw four MSU seniors bid the regular-season hardwood at Breslin Center goodbye, senior forward Adam Ballinger shrugged off the criticism of a lackluster season and led the Spartans to a masterful 82-54 win over Iowa on Wednesday. Ballinger, who set career highs in points (22) and field goals (9, including 4-for-5 from 3-point range), set the tone for MSU's (17-11 overall, 8-6 Big Ten) game-winning 16-0 run to open the game. Ballinger and the Spartans never looked back. "The guys did a good job of getting me going," Ballinger said after the game, "Things just flowed.

BASKETBALL

Wolfe will end career after this season

Patrick Walters

March 3, 2003

On the third day of the third month in the third year of this century, No. 3 on the MSU men's basketball team announced this season, his third playing, would be his last. Junior forward Adam Wolfe announced Monday he is "99 percent" sure he will forego his final season of eligibility and leave the team following the completion of this season. Though Wolfe made the announcement abruptly, the decision is not entirely shocking.

ICE HOCKEY

Hockey team falls to U-M at the Joe, Berenson wins No. 500

James Jahnke

March 2, 2003

Detroit - When the MSU hockey team smacked No. 8 Michigan 4-0 on Friday night, almost every bounce of the puck went its way. But the Spartans'puck luck ran out in Saturday's rematch at Joe Louis Arena. U-M head coach Red Berenson notched his 500th career win with a 5-4 victory infront of 20,058 fans. "You know me, it's not a big thing until it's all over," Berenson said of his milestone mark.

NEWS

Women's basketball drops Wildcats, moves on to postseason

Andrew Fifer

March 2, 2003

After the first 16 minutes, it seemed the MSU women's basketball team would be in another close game, in the final contest of the regular season. But the Spartans (17-10 overall, 10-6 Big Ten) clamped down on defense, and routed Northwestern 75-43 in front of 8,614 fans at Breslin Center on Sunday. The Spartans' 10 Big Ten wins are the most in head coach Joanne P.

BASKETBALL

Men's basketball comes from behind to beat Purdue, 69-61

Chris Mackinder

March 1, 2003

Another must-win situation turned into a Spartan victory. The Spartans recovered from a sloppy first half and a lousy start to the second half to defeat the Purdue 69-61 Saturday afternoon at Breslin Center. "It was a strange game - game where there wasn't a lot of flow to it," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said.

MICHIGAN

Students enjoy tour through Capitol

Sarah Frank

February 28, 2003

Lansing - As they walked through the Senate wing of the state Capitol, 25 elementary students gasped in awe at the massive beauty of the building's rotunda. "The rotunda is for us, the constituents," Capitol tour guide Dan Reynolds told the fourth-graders. "It's supposed to make us feel proud - does it make you feel proud?" With mouths open wide, the class stared up through the rotunda's wooden balconies to the high blue ceiling painted with gold stars and answered with a resounding, "yes." The students and teacher Bill Lenyz traveled from Nellie Reed Elementary School in Vernon, about 40 minutes northeast of Lansing, to attend the tour earlier this week. Sixteen capitol tours are led per day, and people have been touring the building since 1979.

COMMENTARY

Meeting should not have been disrupted

I consider myself a liberal Democrat, and let me be the first to say I was appalled by the behavior of Erin Belinger as she represented the Wilson Hall government at the event sponsored by the MSU College Republicans on Tuesday night ("Controversial talk interrupted," SN 2/26). Belinger and, consequently, the Wilson Hall student government, do not seem to appreciate the fact that the university is meant to be a place of learning.

MSU

Activist relates long road to racial equality

Tom Hayden has been beaten, jailed and kicked out of towns across the southern United States. Hayden, a civil rights activist, former legislator and author, spoke Thursday at the Kellogg Center about his time as a freedom rider in Mississippi and Albany, Ga. He was the final speaker in the third annual visiting faculty series sponsored by the College of Osteopathic Medicine. "There are not many of these speakers that I say share my criminal background," College of Osteopathic Medicine Professor William Anderson said during his introduction of Hayden. As an activist, Hayden dedicated much of his time to fighting racial, ethnic and gender bias and discrimination. "It's in his DNA to fight for civil rights and justice," Anderson said. Gregory Jones, a 1980 MSU graduate, said Hayden's lecture gives him a chance to see the activist he so often heard about. "I remember he was a big activist in the '60s and '70s," he said.

FEATURES

'Mister Rogers' star dies of cancer at age 74

Beth Clute

February 28, 2003

Public television star Fred Rogers of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" died of stomach cancer early Thursday at the age of 74 at his Pittsburgh home. From 1968 to 2000, Rogers filmed original programs for the millions of children who tuned in to watch his television show which featured music, puppets, a trolley and a caring host.

FEATURES

Cell phone ads getting more annoying daily

Maybe someone in the advertising department can answer this one for me: Why have cell phone ads gotten so rotten lately? I'm not talking about those juvenile Sprint PCS spots that have people mixing up words because of "static." And I'm not even talking about Verizon's annoying "Can you hear me now?" guy. I'm talking about the ads that show people doing things you wouldn't think of doing even if you were high on some mind-altering drug. One of the most recent offenders shows a family sitting at a table when suddenly they all start receiving text messages on their phones.

MSU

Cadet receives honor

Adam Malson will be joining top ROTC cadets from around the country in Lexington, Va., at the Virginia Military Institute from April 15-18. The interdisciplinary studies in social science senior is a recipient of the General George C.

COMMENTARY

Flag freedom

It's just a flag, but Manhattanville College women's basketball player Toni Smith hangs on a political crucifix because she doesn't worship symbols. Smith, in subtle protest, turns away from the American flag during "The Star-Spangled Banner." This simple action went unnoticed for months in Manhattanville before it came to the nation's attention. People being the politically sensitive vultures they are, came down on Smith calling her a "disgrace" at games.

MSU

Alternative Spring Break provides fulfillment, service opportunities

Allison Lucy

February 28, 2003

Keyan MacCune traveled to Mexico on her first Alternative Spring Break three years ago expecting to just volunteer at a hospital. She came back with a better understanding of life. "You go down expecting to give by doing service but you always bring back more than what you have given through the experiences and knowledge you gain," the elementary education senior said.

MSU

Students, 'U' officials debate energy tax

Casey Mcnenly

February 28, 2003

A tax that would require students to pay $5 per semester for renewable energy is the subject of debate between ASMSU and university officials. ASMSU is MSU's undergraduate student government. Eco, an environmental student organization, wants students to be more aware of the energy they use by voting yes on a ballot proposal which would tax students to purchase environmentally friendly energy sources. Power from sources such as solar panels and wind turbines could replace fossil fuel emissions on University Farms. "Most people don't know what renewable energy is, or even global climate change," Eco spokeswoman Amy Gregory said.

MSU

Leader discusses lack of Chicano presence in history books

For Daniel Osuna, true leadership comes from within. Osuna, a Chicano Yaqui Indian, spoke Thursday night in the Essex Room of Wilson Hall, offering what he said was an account of Chicano history that isn't included in a high school history book. "Are (high school teachers) teaching us what to think, or how to think?" he said. Education freshman Gloria Melina Monita said history doesn't always reflect the way things are. "What do we celebrate about Columbus Day?" Monita asked.

COMMENTARY

Hysteria isn't just a Def Leppard album - it's plaguing America

I'm tired of being scared everyday, whether it is terrorists, war with Iraq, high cholesterol, nuclear missiles, cancer and everything I can't even remember that is killing me.

MICHIGAN

Weight Watchers tries to help curb obesity

Next week, Mid-Michigan will have the opportunity to weigh in and become more healthy. Weight Watchers is working with the American Cancer Society to launch the society's "Great American Weigh-In." Lansing's Weight Watchers center, at 500 N.

COMMENTARY

History needs to be examined for racism

In response to the letters charging Kenya Harvey with overreacting in the recent mannequin incident, I am compelled to say I disagree.

NEWS

Researcher could face charges

An MSU researcher could face federal prosecution in connection with the alleged disappearance of pig bacteria that occurred in September. Multiple charges might be forthcoming against the unnamed researcher, said Bob Huggett, vice president for research and graduate studies at MSU.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Dagenais promoted to associate head coach MSU volleyball assistant coach Todd Dagenais was promoted to associate head coach Thursday by head coach Chuck Erbe. Dagenais, who spent 1997 working as a volunteer assistant and 1999-2002 as an assistant coach, has completed five seasons of service to the Spartan team.