Passengers increase at Lansing airport

Lansing's Capital City Airport, Michigan's fourth largest passenger airport, has seen a steady increase in travelers since September.

Four new businesses open in Old Town

Lansing's Old Town becomes slightly newer with four businesses opening their doors today. Lansing Mayor David Hollister will welcome the stores with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2 p.m.

Drug policies need to change focus

In response to the recent article heralding the accessibility and usage of hard drugs at MSU ("Drug use becomes reality," SN 11/18), current policies are obviously not working to help those with addictions. There is a great fear on campus of overzealous drug busts and the threat of prosecution.

Saliva pleases with energetic southern rock

For those of you who are still unaware of the southern rock band Saliva, you must be living under a rock.

Media shouldn't promote violence

In the light of all the violence in our society, especially after our sporting events, I fail to see why The State News would run reviews explaining and depicting the graphic nature of Xbox video games, such as "Deathrow" ("'Deathrow' offers combination of distractions with fighting, sports" SN 11/19). This game speaks of breaking bones, beating people to a pulp, threats and profanity, ramming knees into faces - all of this at slow motion for special effects.

Trustee objects to closed meetings

Trustee Dorothy Gonzales is troubled and upset by a Friday morning closed-door meeting by MSU's Board of Trustees.Gonzales was not present at the meeting because of a scheduling conflict.

SN is unfair in its Pittman coverage

With some concern, I read the recent articles about Trustee Randall Pittman. I have been acquainted with Pittman for a long time, extending well beyond his service on MSU's Board of Trustees.

Police briefs 11/20/02

Criticism of newspaper about race issues not warranted

I'm irritated. For the past few weeks, some minority student groups on campus have been targeting The State News for a lack of coverage of their events and issues. On Nov.

Senior golfer picked for prestigious tourney

Senior Eric Jorgensen was one of 24 selected to compete in the Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic at the El Paso Country Club in El Paso, Texas. The tournament, hosted by the Sun Bowl Association, will be held Sunday through Tuesday. The tournament opens with the Titleist Long Drive Contest and the Ping Putting Contest.

User error

Wanted: One village of gnomes to search for the lost software licenses the undergraduate student government couldn't keep track of.

Engineering student earns national award

His résumé reads like a parent's dream.Outstanding Student Volunteer of the Year, senior citizen aide, National Honors Society Youth of the Year, a certificate of appreciation from the mayor of Flint, President's Education Award Program certificate signed by Bill Clinton, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars member - the list goes on and on.So when mechanical engineering junior Justen Bond was named the sole recipient of the 2003 National Black Engineer of the Year award in the student leadership category, he shouldn't have been surprised."I try to get involved in anything I can," he said.

Blood drive challenge sets record

Despite MSU's close loss to Penn State University in the ninth annual blood drive challenge, American Red Cross officials say people in need still benefited.MSU students gave blood at 15 on-campus blood drives and more donations were taken at the Red Cross Donor Room, 1800 E.

Assistant coach heads back to Ohio

No matter what, Tom Newton was going to be at the BGSU Ice Arena this Friday. But the MSU assistant coach probably wishes he was directing the Bowling Green bench instead of being in a supporting role with the Spartans. Newton applied for the Falcons' head coaching vacancy this offseason, but Boston College assistant and fellow BGSU alumnus Scott Paluch got the job.

Detroit-based Bump hopes to broaden audience at Rick's

The Detroit-based band Bump was constructed of self-proclaimed pacifists searching peacefully for a way to expose more people to their music - and they hope to do this when they play tonight in East Lansing. The band will take the stage around 11:30 p.m.

'Together' offers realistic characters, lifelike view of communal living

Believe it or not, the idea of different people from different backgrounds living under the same roof was not spawned by MTV's "The Real World." And in case you haven't noticed, "The Real World" lacks a significant amount of reality; but that's so secret. Perhaps the best kept secret about communal living lies in "Together." The 2000 film portrays life for six Swedish hippies living under communist ideals in the mid 1970s. Elisabeth (Lisa Lindgren) and her two children move into a hippie commune with her brother Goran (Gustav Hammarsten) after her husband Rolf (Michael Nyqvist) hits her.

Back to the 80's

Flash back 15 years. Ma and pa sent you packing PB&J in a Care Bears lunchbox. Man, that Professor Coldheart was mean.

Auditorium to host rap-battle contest

The Hubbard Hall Black Caucus is holding its third annual Cypha Tournament at 7:30 p.m. today in the Auditorium's Fairchild Theatre in conjunction with BlackNotes of ASMSU. The night features a freestyle rap-battle contest where the artist must combine quick wit, rhythm and poetry to earn the right to be crowned MSU's top lyricist. Three years ago, in the Hubbard Hall Black Caucus Room, Cypha Nite was originally a time to relax and enjoy the company of others among poetic reverence. "It was an event that started in Hubbard's basement," said Hubbard Hall President Charles Stephens.

Field hockey team has 5 on regional team

Five members of the No. 3 MSU field hockey team were named to the 2002 STX/NFHCA Division I All-West Region Team this week, tying the record for most players from a single school.Sophomore midfielder Annebet Beerman and freshman goalkeeper Christina Kirkaldy nabbed first-team accolades, while senior back Cynthia Martin, junior mid fielder Sophie Rosmalen and sophomore Judith van Haeringen all earned second-team honors.Kirkaldy also was dubbed National Rookie of the Week this week for her efforts during the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament during the weekend.

Spartans to travel to Hawaii

Say aloha to the Spartans. MSU and University of Hawaii athletics officials signed a contract Monday to play three football games against each other starting in 2004. The Spartans will play at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu on Dec.