FOOTBALL
Williams, 'U' part ways with payment
While MSU continues searching for its next football coach this week, former head coach Bobby Williams will be waiting for a big check to arrive.
MSU
Class to focus on Islam
The Department of Political Science will offer a new class beginning in the spring semester. Political Science 950, Research Seminar in Comparative Politics, will now focus on the interaction of religion and politics in Muslim states, including Egypt and Nigeria. Mohammed Ayoob, a university distinguished professor of international relations in James Madison College, will teach the course.
COMMENTARY
U.S. foreign policy is an academic topic
I'm writing in response to the article "Academic Council axes talk on warfare" (SN 11/27). My inclination is to be surprised at the apoliticalism and moral complacency of those students who voted against discussing the possibility of war in Iraq.
COMMENTARY
Columnist's words were hypocritical
I was floored by John Bice's column "Religious majority doesn't understand atheist views" (SN 11/26). I found his arguments to be intolerant and ignorant of opposing views. Bice complained of a "surprising level of hostility toward secularism," but only offers an even more hostile attitude toward theists. He chose to highlight only negative acts committed in the name of religion, leaving the benevolent actions of religious figures like Mother Theresa, Ghandi and organizations, such as the Salvation Army, out of his equation.
NEWS
Unemployment benefits dwindle for state, nation
Jobless Michigan residents might find unemployment benefits running out before the new year, barring a change of heart from U.S.
MSU
'U' hosts musician Jason Mraz
Aspiring singer-songwriter Jason Mraz is performing at 7 p.m. in the Union Ballroom on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Virginian spent the past two years of his life in the sunny streets of San Diego playing regular gigs at coffeehouses until the day he was signed to Elektra Records.
MICHIGAN
Program offers free tutors
Paul Troutman hunched over his U.S. history book Tuesday afternoon, quietly reading to himself.
VOLLEYBALL
Team splits at home, earns NCAA tourney bid
Another weekend of Spartan volleyball brought another split, but this time it earned the team a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans will face George Mason in the first round of the tournament in South Bend, Ind. MSU (19-11 overall, 11-9 Big Ten) picked up a thrilling five-game win over Northwestern (17-15, 10-10) on Friday night in a match that seesawed back and forth from the first serve to the final kill.
COMMENTARY
Money talk
Employees who perform unsatisfactorily are rarely given a bonus after being booted out the door. But the MSU athletics department is developing a troubling habit of rewarding those it no longer wants to have around. On Wednesday, officials announced MSU will pay former football head coach Bobby Williams $550,000 to end his contract.
SPORTS
Paths of perseverance
Aaron Scheidies is probably the only world champion preparing for finals this week at MSU. A month ago, the kinesiology junior flew to Cancun, Mexico, to compete in the athletes with disabilities category of the International Triathlon Union World Championship.
MICHIGAN
Official warns to stay out of credit card debt during holiday season
As the holiday season draws near, many shoppers fill local shops, carelessly racking up charges on their credit cards.
ICE HOCKEY
Weekend trip leaves team feeling confident
After back-to-back weeks of riding home on a deathly silent bus, the MSU hockey players were finally cheery enough to chatter as they returned from a road series this weekend, freshman left wing David Booth said. For a struggling team, getting three points in the College Hockey Showcase spawns such liveliness. On the ice, the Spartans let their play do the talking - tying 5-5 at Minnesota on Friday and winning 2-1 in overtime at Wisconsin on Saturday.
SPORTS
HARDY:Izzone has joined the best sports sections
You've finally arrived, clad in togas, laurel wreaths, Simpson- and Disney-character costumes. Welcome, Izzoners.
NEWS
MIDDAY UPDATE: Spartan cheerleaders struggle to raise funds for national competition
The MSU cheerleading team is in dire need of funds to be able to make a trip to the College Cheerleading National Championships in Orlando, Fla. Each of the past three years, MSU has improved its ranking five places, and last year, the Spartans earned 12th-place recognition - the highest of any nonscholarship team. But this season, the $6,100 needed for the entry fee, room and board, might be a little much to expect from the squad. "With 20 hours of practice a week and games to attend, it makes it extremely difficult to fund raise," four-year member Bryan Robinson said.
MSU
RHA official intent on keeping it all in order
When political theory sophomore John Sturk slams his gavel, he commands the attention of 40 representatives of the Residence Halls Association. As internal vice president of RHA, one of Sturk's responsibilities is to make sure the General Assembly abides by parliamentary procedure - called Robert's Rules of Order."I happen to find parliamentary procedures personally fascinating," Sturk said.
MICHIGAN
Mall hosts program to help fund cancer research
Ciara Barclay scrawled messages of hope, remembrance and celebration on three white tags at Meridian Mall in November to honor her family and friends touched by cancer. Barclay, a human biology senior and volunteer for the American Cancer Society's Love Lights a Tree Program, was three years old when her mother won a battle against cancer.
MSU
Strips offer whiter teeth at lower cost
Mike Nowak wanted a brighter smile.After viewing several commercials for Crest Whitestrips, a two-week method to whiten teeth, the accounting sophomore decided to give the strips a try."I tried them because teeth can never be white enough for me," he said.
MSU
Center to hold luncheon
The African Studies Center will be presenting a brown-bag luncheon titled "Elephantiasis: An Ancient Medical Scourge, Under Attack" at noon Thursday in 201 International Center. The luncheon will be conducted by Charles Mackenzie, a professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine's Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation. Tara May
FEATURES
'The Emperor's Club' wears old clothes
What starts as a thematic adaptation of Ken Kesey's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," ends as an updated version of "Dead Poets Society" and "Stand and Deliver" wrapped into one. Whatever its intent, Michael Hoffman's "The Emperor's Club" turns out to be one of those feel-good stories meant to make the viewer reflect upon his or her life. As a teacher of Roman history, William Hundert (Kevin Kline) is responsible for molding the lives of his students as well as teaching them random facts and dates.
COMMENTARY
Saddened silence
The student segment of Academic Council was astoundingly united Tuesday in its effort to sway the assembly to not discuss the possibility of warfare in Iraq.