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MICHIGAN

Powwow shows traditional dance

Lansing - The strands of Jessica Kota’s white shawl laid still as she stood attentively, ready to dance.Dressed in her pink, purple and white regalia - traditional Native American clothing- Kota, a Central Michigan University student, quickly moved into intricate dance steps.Kota was the lead female dancer for the 10th annual Great Lakes Anishnaabek Traditional Pow Wow at Lansing Community College, but this was not the first time she has participated in the event.“My family has always been very involved in our culture,” she said.

NEWS

THE ISSUES: Larry Ward

Name: Larry Ward (R) Age: 41 Hometown: Williamston Education: Bachelor’s in aviation technology and management 1983, Western Michigan University Occupation: Financial services associate Family: Married to Karen; three sons Political background: None Web site: www.ward2002.com Stance on the issues: Overcoming the state’s budget difficulties: Eliminate waste from government; hold the line in low-priority areas to preserve important budget items such as education and health care. Higher education affordability: Supports Merit Award scholarship program and other financial aid; address rising health care costs to help universities keep tuition increases low. Environment: Avid outdoorsman; use a broad bipartisan coalition to protect natural resources. Transportation: Roads are key to increased commerce and must be kept in good repair. Abortion rights: Opposes state funding for abortion. Affirmative action: Opposes discrimination of any type; recognizes importance of diversity on campus; decisions should be left up to universities’ governing boards, students and faculty. Gay rights: All humans are entitled to basic rights that should not be denied because of sexual orientation.

NEWS

Health issues key in county commissioner race

Patrick Walters
November 4, 2002

One new face and a pair of familiar ones will be representing East Lansing and MSU students in the Ingham County Board of Commissioners after Election Day.The city of East Lansing is fragmented into three districts out of 16 total districts in the county.

COMMENTARY

Voting for trustees is a sweet deal

Hungry - why wait? Grab a trustee. It’s Crunch time because the MSU Board of Trustees race is coming Tuesday, and each lucky voter gets a chance to elect two delicious candidates to the post of Candy Land official. On the Republican side, we have the familiar and comfortable Nugent center of a 3 Musketeers bar.

NEWS

THE ISSUES: Dick Posthumus

Name: Dick Posthumus (R) Age: 52 Hometown: Alto Occupation: Michigan lieutenant governor Family: Married to Pam; four children Political background: Lieutenant governor, 1999-present; state Senate majority leader, 1991-98; state senator, 1983-98 Web site: www.dickposthumus.com Stance on the issues: Overcoming the state‘s budget difficulties: Opposes raising taxes to balance the budget; pledges no new taxes and continued tax cuts; protect income tax and single business tax cuts; believes continued spending and tax cuts should increase Michigan‘s long-term tax revenue and protect jobs. Higher education affordability: Create incentive to keep tuition increases down by repealing tuition tax credit and distributing those funds only to institutions that keep tuition rates at or below inflation; reduce funding to universities that raise tuition beyond inflation rates; create a constitutional amendment on the ballot to cap higher education tuition rates at inflation or 5 percent, whichever is less. Environment: Create extensive plan for preserving, protecting water; opposed to Great Lakes oil drilling; remove nuclear waste from state and away from shorelines; install real-time water quality monitoring system at Lake St.

NEWS

2 LCC trustees run for open Lansing City Council seat

Elissa Englund
November 4, 2002

Lansing City Council candidates Kathy Pelleran and Brian Jeffries have shaped many similar ideas for changes within the city.The two Lansing Community College trustees are campaigning to fill the vacated seat of former Councilmember Louis Adado, who resigned amid a sexual harassment scandal earlier this year.

COMMENTARY

Paper isnt biased because of opinion

The State News is not “right” or “wrong” when it chooses to endorse a political candidate. This fact seems to have been forgotten when two James Madison College students and a Lyman Briggs School student wrote letters to the editor that were published Friday (“SN ought to have picked Posthumus,” “Paper proves bias in support for Granholm” and “SN right to support Bernero, Whitmer” SN 11/1). How, might I ask, can a newspaper be right or wrong when publishing support for anyone on the Opinion page? What these above students, as well as others, fail to see is that an opinion simply cannot be right or wrong. One can certainly disagree with an opinion, but people should not criticize an opinion, they will get nowhere. The State News was also called biased for supporting Attorney General Jennifer Granholm for governor.

NEWS

THE ISSUES: Joanne Emmons

Name and political party: Joanne Emmons, Republican Age: 68 Political background: state senator, 1991-present; state Senate majority leader since 2000 Hometown: Big Rapids Occupation: state senator Family: married to John, two children Education: MSU bachelor’s degree in home economics Web site: no personal Web site, but more information can be found at www.senate.state.mi.us Overcoming the university’s budget difficulties: Says she will use her connections with state legislators to bring more state funding to MSU Tuition increases: Wants to fight tuition increases by requesting funding from alumni Faculty salaries: Says MSU must compete with other Big Ten universities, but higher salaries will be difficult to achieve in coming years with budget woes Affirmative action: Agrees with current policy Gay rights: Supports equal rights but does not believe in medical benefits for gays because they are not married Presidential searches: Agrees with closed-door meetings Off-campus student conduct: Supports a conduct code, because safety is essential

NEWS

THE ISSUES: Jennifer Granholm

Name: Jennifer Granholm (D) Age: 43 Hometown: Northville Occupation: Michigan attorney general Family: Married to Dan Mulhern; three children Political background: Michigan attorney general, 1999-present Web site:

NEWS

THE ISSUES: Virg Bernero

Name: Virg Bernero (D) Age: 38 Hometown: Lansing Occupation: State representative Family: Married to Teri; two daughters Political background: State representative, 2001-present; Ingham County commissioner, 1993-2000 Web site: www.votevirg.com Stance on the issues: Overcoming the state‘s budget difficulties: Delay or eliminate some Engler administration tax cuts; examine state programs for budget cuts, excluding human services and K-12 and higher education; consider reinstating inheritance tax. Higher education affordability: Ensure affordable education to all students; restructure Merit Scholarship Award program to reward top students at every high school; strengthen need-based financial aid. Environment: Pass tough “polluter‘s pay“ law; reward companies committed to environmental protection; rebuild ability to detect, prosecute polluters. Transportation: State is challenged to find funding to fix delayed maintenance on main roadways, to repair bridges and to support local governments in fixing roads; funds for road repairs must be spent for that purpose; road work should be under warranty; enhance public transportation. Abortion rights: Pro-choice. Affirmative action: Supports affirmative action as a necessary tool to remedy patterns of institutional discrimination and economic inequality that places minority students at a disadvantage in pursuit of education and jobs. Gay rights: Discrimination, hatred and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people must not be tolerated, or encouraged by regressive laws that treat life partners differently based on sexual orientation.

MSU

Recordamos los muertos

Tara May
November 4, 2002

Small white crosses lined the grass around the rock on Farm Lane. On each of the crosses, which stood no more than a foot off the ground, students wrote the name of a loved one who passed away. A little altar has been built near the crosses, with offerings of bread to the spirits of ancestors.

SPORTS

Rogers-Jackson matchup overshadowed

Andrew Fifer
November 4, 2002

The showdown between one of the nation’s top wide receivers and defensive backs didn’t play out the way many envisioned. Michigan sophomore cornerback Marlin Jackson - a Jim Thorpe Award candidate for the nation’s best defensive back - wasn’t matched with MSU junior wide receiver Charles Rogers in man-to-man coverage nearly as much as some thought. Instead, the Wolverines’ secondary played zone most of the afternoon and had safety help on other plays.

NEWS

Student turnout at polls expected to remain low

Patrick Walters
November 4, 2002

Are politicians overlooking the student vote, or are student voters overlooking the politicians? Traditionally, voter registration and turnout at polls among college students have been lower than other groups - a problem experts see solidifying itself. Political science Professor Carol Weissert, director of the MSU Institute for Public Policy and Social Research, said a variety of factors play into keeping Michigan student voters off the political radar. “I think where you vote has caused some problems on campus,” Weissert said.

COMMENTARY

Prop. 1 helps stop blind votes at polls

I feel compelled to respond to The State News’ “No” endorsement of Proposal 1 (“Stay Straight” 10/25). While the Editorial Board raised some interesting points, it glossed over key issues that deserve more attention.