'Departed' provides comedic relief

A full house sat attentively as it was hit by the first dark-humored joke of the play.The theatergoers, seated in the classy blue auditorium of the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road, didn't exactly know what they were getting into when they purchased their tickets for "Dearly Departed."Presented by the Lansing Civic Players, "Dearly Departed" was written by David Botrell and Jessie Jones and directed by Linda Granger.

EP could prove band's breakthrough

With only $600 in their budget, members of East Lansing's the giveaway didn't have much to work with in the production of their new EP "wake up." The album's seven tracks could see the giveaway get a foot in the door much the same way as bands such as Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers have done - with a low-budget album and a local following. Financed with the help of family members and recorded in just a few takes or less, "wake up" is a creative statement with plenty of raw feeling. A floating melody of four gentle keyboard notes, an obvious acoustic guitar and just the right touch of drums lead into the EP's first song, "Undeveloped." The vocals on the track interlink with the flow of the music, especially in the chorus, but aren't always as strong with the backing music of the verse.

Area protesters bring mural to capital anti-war rally

Washington - Some stared in silence for 15 minutes or more while others talked softly with friends and family members about its meaning.

CCHA, beware of Comley's crew

Feel that trembling? It's emanating from fans in places such as Big Rapids, Marquette and Columbus, Ohio.

America continues to treat 'lesser' citizens like nonpeople

A single lawn placard, the only one thus far on my side of North High Street, is plainly visible from my front door.

Police briefs 01/21/03

Cell phone use isn't a problem for 'U'

Banning cell phone use in campus libraries is unnecessary ("Library may go cell phone free," SN 1/16). People are generally respectful of others and already leave quiet areas to talk on their cell phones.

Drivers' education

The university needs to constantly monitor the demand of parking during athletic and special events.

Title drives wedge between couples

The title The State News chose to give Adrienne Broaddus' column ("Interracial dating should not be a societal taboo," SN 1/17) was disheartening at least and ignorant at best, especially considering the Martin Luther King Jr.

Liberals off base on affirmative action

I was thoroughly shocked when I read some of the completely absurd comments made by liberals regarding Bush's stance on affirmative action ("Bush against admission policy," SN 1/16). Sen.

Football team lands Florida lineman

Ray Hixson, head football coach at Port Charlotte High (Fla.), said offensive lineman Joe Toth verbally committed to MSU on Saturday.

Americans need to utilize free speech

I am responding to the letter entitled, "Column uses free speech to bash U.S." (SN 1/17). One of the great things about this country is that each citizen has a right (and I also believe an obligation) to criticize his or her own government without the threat of being arrested. While I don't agree with all of the points made by the author of the original offending column, "America's unalienable rights include selfishness, greed, power" (SN 1/15), I do understand the difference between "bashing" and "criticizing." While the former points out faults to deride, the latter points out faults to improve.

ASMSU fights financial aid drug law

ASMSU is implementing a plan of attack against a federal rule which bans financial aid to students convicted of drug crimes.MSU's undergraduate student government condemned the drug provision of the Higher Education Act at its Thursday meeting.The provision states students convicted of a drug crime will not be eligible for financial aid for a minimum of one year, depending on the severity of the crime.The policy has been denounced by several universities and national organizations since it was added to the Higher Education Act in 1998."Judges punish people, not federal programs," said Andrew Banyai, representative for Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

Band's sophomore release a solid effort

Who said the space program is dead? The musically-inspired portion, at least, is very much alive. Local space cadets The Fuzz hunker down for the release of their second full-length album, "Noise Destroyers." Opening with a spacey yet creepily-appealing introduction, the voiceless track "The Largest Number" would fit perfectly into any "Lost in Space" episode.

MLK Day volunteers head Into the Streets

Lansing - To some MSU students, Martin Luther King Jr. Day means a day without classes and a chance to sleep in - but the volunteers at Monday's Into the Streets community service project made the day mean much more. "We felt that since we didn't have classes we should make good use of our time," communication freshman Stephanie Gooch said. Gooch joined about 280 student volunteers to donate time to various locations around the Lansing community, said English senior Andrea Hart, chairwoman of the Into the Streets group. "We were really pleased with the turnout," Hart said.

Speaker stresses importance of culture, struggle for freedom

Inside the warm Auditorium, students gathered in remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy and dream. To culminate the celebratory events of the day, keynote speaker the Rev.

Improved Game Boy to see spring release

On Jan. 7, Nintendo announced the most advanced and successful hand-held video game system in the world just got a little better. Being unable to see which direction Mario was going in a dimly-lit room will soon be a thing of the past, as the redesigned Game Boy Advance SP launches March 23 with some bright new technology. The device looks beautiful - and better yet, it's only $99.95, five cents cheaper than the original Game Boy Advance when it launched June 11, 2001.

Fieger to speak at DCL, reflect on career as trial lawyer to students

Attorney Geoffery Fieger will be speaking at 8 p.m. Thursday in Room 343 of the MSU-Detroit College of Law Building. The program, "Champion and Advocate: Reflections On My Life as a Trial Lawyer," is part of the Geoffery Fieger Trial Practice Institute lecture series. Fieger, a 1979 DCL graduate, ran for governor of Michigan in 1998 but lost to then-Gov.

New releases

Country killer Clint Black releases a compilation of his best material with "Super Hits" on RCA today.

Sports briefs

Spartans slide past Butler, spank RaidersThe MSU men's tennis team opened the season with a sweep in a home doubleheader. After falling behind to Butler in the first match, the Spartans (2-0) were able to sneak out a 4-3 victory over the Bulldogs. Against Wright State, MSU didn't drop a single set, routing the Raiders 7-0.