MIDDAY UPDATE: 'U' police redefine buddy system

The buddy system is in the process of being redefined after an increase in sexual crimes on campus last year, MSU police officials say.

Izzone rocks the Breslin

After returning from the Great Alaska Shootout with a fifth-place finish, men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo wasn't happy. So he called on the Izzone to give the Spartans an extra boost against Virginia in a mass e-mail. "I am asking each and every member of the Izzone to take a personal interest in the outcome of this game by rocking Breslin Center like it has never been rocked before," the e-mail read. MSU's student section didn't disappoint.

Weekend guide

Friday • The Temple Club, 500 E. Grand River Ave. in Lansing, presents Jazz Prodigies during Live Jazz Happy Hour from 5-9 p.m.

Holiday sounds liven Lansing area

As the holidays creep steadily nearer, area artists and venues are gearing up for annual holiday shows and new Christmas comedies to fill each chilly December weekend."I think people love tradition at Christmas," said Josh Rafsky, an MSU-Detroit College of Law first-year student, as he carried his coffee to a table at Espresso Royale Caffe, 527 E.

Conflict of culture

But Agrawal, who was born in Lansing, says his parents are a little old-fashioned in a few ways. "They're not coming from an American background, they're coming from an Indian background," Agrawal said.

Don't forget about giving when caught up in buying holiday spirit

So the holidays have finally arrived. I think it is highly probable that some Christmas zealots have been foaming at the mouth and dreaming about this wondrous time for months.'Tis the season for overpriced items, maddening mobs packing shopping outlets, lots of food, mistletoe, wrapping paper and so on and so forth.

Voyeur-taped athletes get $506M

The 46 college athletes who were secretly videotaped in locker rooms in 1995, including some from MSU, will receive a $506 million settlement, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. One of the athletes who is affiliated with MSU and captured on the tapes awaits to hear from his lawyers if he will receive a share of the settlement money.

Police briefs 12/05/02

Fretter fights off illness, works to make impact on ice

Colton Fretter would have been a perfect son a few generations ago because he tends not to speak unless spoken to.The freshman right wing's quiet demeanor is in stark contrast to most MSU hockey players - generally a vociferous bunch.

Volunteers' drive keeps non profit theaters alive

For a weekend or two, actors bask in the glory they have earned by spending countless nights perfecting each line and movement.

Go sell it

The Residence Halls Association has some earnest explaining to do if it wants students to take the organization's request to renew its $21 per semester tax seriously in the spring. In the same vein, it is important for the more than 14,500 students living in the residence halls, who foot the bill, to take the time to hold their RHA representatives accountable.

Winter weather greeted by chili competition, festivities

East Lansing is welcoming the cold weather with a hot chili contest and other free activities to greet the holiday season this weekend.The East Lansing Winter Festival and Chili Cook-Off will take place from 1-5 p.m.

MIDDAY UPDATE: Campus Jewish center offers holiday comfort away from home

This year, many Jewish students at MSU were thankful that they were able to celebrate the beginning of Chanukah with their families over the Thanksgiving break."For the first time in four years, Jewish students were able to spend the beginning of Chanukah at home," Jennifer Stotter, president of the Jewish Student Union at MSU, said.

SN shouldn't publish intolerant opinions

I could not believe The State News chose to publish such an awful column ("Religious majority doesn't understand atheist views," SN 11/26). The author was not only wrong, but completely intolerant. I find it ridiculous that we pay money for a paper and are force-fed liberal ideas every day.

Trustee Pittman all business

Business has always been a passion for Trustee Randall Pittman, but even after 150 mergers and acquisitions, he said he enjoyed helping people so much that he was ready to try his hand in another facet of entrepreneurship - health care.As chief executive officer of Forest Health Services Corp., Chatham Capital Corp.

Conflicted plan

If work continues as they have been, mid-Michigan could soon be brought up to speed on the information superhighway thanks to the help of MSU's services.

Group asks colleges to stop Internet file-sharing

Telecommunication junior Jason Shamberger says he downloads material from the Internet on a regular basis, such as movies, music and software.But there's a group that wants to prevent college students from enjoying such freedoms.Recently, there have been efforts to persuade officials at American colleges and universities to make students aware of the dangers of file-sharing, or downloading copyrighted materials from the Internet.On Oct.

E.L., 'U' prepare for expected budget cuts

The long battle to protect MSU's fire station may have been in vain.State lawmakers face a tough decision today as they are handed an executive order that would cut about $470 million from the state's current budget - a move that would likely harm cities such as East Lansing, which stands to lose between $200,000 and $400,000.In September, Gov.

'Extreme Ops' an extreme flop

Throw in a group of skiers, stunt performers and camera crew trying to shoot an extreme commercial with the Austrian Alps and a war criminal and you're bound to get a confusing film. "Extreme Ops" is just that. The distinction between the actor and characters is blurred by the separate goals of the film and its characters. The production crew discovers an unfinished ski resort at the top of a range dividing the former Yugoslavia and Austria.

Antarctica program proposed

MSU students will be able to study abroad on all seven continents next winter if a proposed plan is approved for travel to Antarctica. MSU already has 183 programs in 57 countries. Paul Roberts, director of study abroad and international training for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the college hopes to send the proposal to Study Abroad by the end of the week.