La Casa allows Spanish students extra practice

In the past, MSU students have traveled overseas to Spain and Ecuador to speak and study the Spanish language.

Legal pot in Canada would impair U.S.

The legalization of marijuana in Canada would only send our society here in the United States into a further downward spiral.

SN editorial wrong, marijuana not bad

I found the editorial about Canada legalizing cannabis to be poorly researched (“Drug talk” 9/18). Smuggling cannabis across the border into the United States would be inevitable.

Web site bets on election winners

Las Vegas might not be keeping track, but oddsmakers say U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers will be re-elected to Congress and Jennifer Granholm will become Michigan’s next governor. Since 1996, a Web site, The Political Oddsmaker, says it has correctly predicted 98 percent of winners in more than 1,500 races in Senate, gubernatorial, U.S.

Blues musician to play E.L. after 19-year tour

The new Classic Americana Music series kicks off its first concert at 7:30 p.m. today at the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road. The series presents blues musician Jerry Ricks, a historian and storyteller who plays various blues styles on the guitar and mandolin.

U standards should become more elite

In response to the editorial “Exclusive ‘U’” (SN 9/17), I, for one, am glad that MSU is taking steps to become a more exclusive institution. The notion it remain a place accessible to every student in Michigan should become a thing of the past.

Students, kids enjoy weekend science games

Lansing - Six-year-old Carla Jones furrowed her brow as she concentrated on the gumdrop-and-toothpick molecule in her hands. “I like these stick things,” she said, holding up a mangled oxygen molecule. But her favorite activity at the Impression 5 Science Center’s Super Saturday was making giant bubbles. “I made big ol’ circles,” she said, stretching her arms as wide as she could.

Drug war cannot be won, stop fighting it

The Page One story “Drug charges on rise in E.L.” (SN 9/13) represents a rare occurrence - some honesty about efficacy of our nation’s war on drugs. Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth said drugs are just as easy to obtain now as they were 30 years ago.

Murphy hopes to lead House Democrats

Rep. Michael Murphy is plotting his path to become chief of the state’s House Democrats by the end of the year. The Lansing lawmaker said Monday that he plans to run for a leadership position in his party’s caucus after the November elections.

School celebrates 35 years

A lecture on zebra finches tonight will kick off the 35th anniversary celebration of the Lyman Briggs School, MSU’s residential natural science community.

Ice hockey opens practice sans Mason, Miller

Practice starts today for the MSU hockey team and, for the first time in 24 years, Ron Mason will not be presiding over the squad.

Road warrior

Just as the first Ali-Frazier bout drew the who’s who to Madison Square Garden in 1971, P.T.

Mason should find new football coach

Bravo to Del Highfield for saying what all MSU students, alumni and fans have been thinking for quite some time in his letter to the editor “Williams has turned team into NCAA joke” (SN 9/23). One need only look at our opponent on Saturday to see what a real coach can do to improve a team.

Williams impressive, psychotic in One Hour Photo

For anybody who has held a job in the service industry or worked with a customer, there has always been a distinction between what is appropriate treatment and what isn’t. Seymour “Sy” Parrish (Robin Williams) blurs the distinction, then spits on it in “One Hour Photo” as a seemingly customer-friendly film developer. When a relationship with his favorite customer Nina Yorkin (Connie Nielsen) turns obsessively unhealthy, Sy starts to lose it.

Alcohol likely to blame in drowning

Alcohol is likely to blame for the death of Allegan resident Timothy Walters this weekend at an East Lansing hotel, police said.On Sunday, another hotel guest found Walters, 25, face down in the hot tub of Hampton Inn, 2500 Coolidge Road.

Police briefs 09/24/02

Spartan goalkeepers receive Defensive Player of the Week honors

Two MSU goalkeepers received Defensive Player of the Week nods from the NCAA on Monday. After the women’s soccer team shut out Illinois and Iowa this weekend, the Big Ten named junior goalkeeper Stacy Heller Co-Defensive Player of the Week. And Christina Kirkaldy, a sophomore goalkeeper for the field hockey team, also earned Defensive Player of the Week for extending the Spartans’ winning streak to eight with a shutout against No.

MIDDAY UPDATE: McPherson delivers State of University address

Addressing the MSU community in his 10th State of the University address, MSU President M. Peter McPherson urged students to continue to make progress academically and for the university to increase diversity in the classroom.“The preparation of entering classes had steadily improved, and this year’s freshman class has the highest academic profile in the university’s history,” McPherson said.

U Museum receives merit award

The MSU Museum will be honored with a prestigious award this weekend. The museum’s “The FairTime Project,” which began in 1995, will receive an Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History on Friday.

McPherson to deliver annual address, discuss capital campaign, freshmen

Academic standards and MSU’s $1.2 billion fund-raiser are among the ideas that will echo at 2:30 p.m.