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MICHIGAN

Report shows states program misses grade

Lindsay Frederickson
April 8, 2002

In a Friday report, the Michigan League for Human Services claimed Michigan’s unemployment system has not kept pace with economic change. The report, “Out of Date and Out of Reach: Michigan’s Unemployment System Needs Repair,” arrives when unemployment benefit changes are a high priority for the returning Legislature. According to the report, the state’s maximum unemployment benefit is well below other states and does not correspond with inflation.

COMMENTARY

Rad ad

Instead of criticizing MSU and Anheuser-Busch Inc. for joining forces for commercial time slots during the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, the American Medical Association should be commending the two organizations for sending a positive message. Sparty, along with seven other well-recognized college mascots, appeared in a 30-second commercial sponsored by Anheuser-Busch and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges to promote responsible alcohol consumption. The commercial begins by focusing on a basketball coach who is giving his off-camera squad a pep talk. “The way you celebrate says a lot about you,” he says.

COMMENTARY

College, city should be working together

I have to take issue with the State News editorial “Housing help” (SN 4/4). The university needs a local community so, among other activities, students can buy groceries, gasoline, clothes, get medical, dental and legal services, and go to church.

MICHIGAN

Conflicts cause delay in drowning case

Shannon Murphy
April 8, 2002

The preliminary examination has been postponed for another week for four female MSU students charged in connection with the drowning of an 18-year-old Bay City man.Nicole Bukowski, 21, Cassandra Duggan, 20, Laurel Trezise, 20, and Sara Kaufman, 21, were charged with running an unlicensed bar at a party they hosted in October.

MICHIGAN

Malls set up sessions to improve service

Amy Bartner
April 8, 2002

It takes employees with a good attitude and a lot of motivation to keep customers coming back. Several malls around Michigan are trying to improve customer service skills with sessions for their staff members to learn how to better the mall environment.CBL & Associates Management Inc., an umbrella business that manages several malls, including the Meridian Mall in Okemos, the Fashion Square Mall in Saginaw, the Midland Mall in Midland and The Lakes Mall in Muskegon, recently asked for Michigan Works’ services to better the quality of employees.The sessions will work to improve the performance of the hourly employee up to the highest manager of the retail stores.“We had very, very good feedback,” said Cindy Leyrer, Capital Area Michigan Works workforce development consultant.

NEWS

U grad schools ranked in top 25

Ed Ronco  and  Chad Previch
April 8, 2002

U.S. News & World Report has ranked 20 of MSU’s graduate programs in its 2003 “Best Graduate Schools,” set to be released today. Of the five categories ranked annually by the magazine, three MSU colleges appear in the top 25: The Eli Broad College of Business ranked 24, up from 30 a year ago; the College of Education retained its ranking at 15; and the College of Human Medicine ranked 17. Other rankings are done on a rotating basis, with programs in business, education, engineering, law, medicine and the sciences ranked this year. But despite MSU’s high placement in some categories, MSU spokesman Terry Denbow, who has disputed the validity of rankings in the past, said the report doesn’t change the university’s stance.

COMMENTARY

Change jobs if you want more benefits

This letter is in response to the article “Student makes stand with billboard” (SN 4/4). I was an employee of Sam’s Club during the summer and Christmas breaks and intend to return this summer.

COMMENTARY

Cultural show poster has incorrect map

I’m writing in regard to the State News article about Satrang held by the Coalition of Indian Undergraduate Students (“Annual event will show Indian culture,” SN 4/5). I really appreciate the students’ efforts in celebrating the glory of India, its rich cultural tradition and its vibrant diversity.

COMMENTARY

Playboy ad offensive, objectifies women

I cannot believe The State News published an advertisement from Playboy. As close as some of the advertisements have come to being pornographic or objectifying women, I find it hard to swallow you actually published an ad from someone who sells the stuff.

MICHIGAN

Phi Psi 500 fund raises for children

Kendra Snyder
April 8, 2002

Seiko’s police badge hit the ground with each thump of his tail as a group of children giggled and stroked his fur.The German shepherd made an appearance at Phi Psi 500 on Saturday as part of the East Lansing Police Department’s canine unit.Phi Kappa Psi and Kappa Alpha Theta members hosted the event in Valley Court field from noon to 4 p.m.Lansing area children won candy for participation in several games, including a ring toss, tick-tack-toe, bean bag toss, musical chairs, sucker pull, horseshoe throw and bowling.

MICHIGAN

Greek week begins with games

Kendra Snyder
April 8, 2002

A rope, potato sacks and Hula-Hoops were all part of the Greek Week kickoff on Sunday. Fourteen teams, each with one sorority and two fraternities, participated in field events at noon in the Valley Court field.

MSU

Aspiring vets visit U

Erica Berg
April 8, 2002

Heather Hill wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. The 11-year-old owns two cats, Blacky and Jimmy, and wants to own a horse someday, too. “I love animals and I’m having a lot of fun today,” the Alma resident said while visiting MSU College of Veterinary Medicine’s Vet-a-visit open house Saturday.

FEATURES

Hash Bash lights up Ann Arbor with pro-marijuana message

Leslie Escobar
April 8, 2002

Ann Arbor - Amidst the watchful eyes of police officers, visitors to the 31st annual Hash Bash still managed to hit the hookah. The line to smoke the flavored tobacco from the pipe was just one of the attractions of the pro-marijuana event, which was kicked off with a rally on the Diag of the University of Michigan’s campus. Cheers of “Marijuana, marijuana, hey, hey, hey, get high,” were sung over and over again as signs proclaiming “Hemp: It’s food, not drugs” and “Legalize freedom” were held up by protesters on the Diag. “I think it went real well and I think it was a good crowd,” said Hash Bash organizer Adam Brook.

NEWS

MIDDAY UPDATE: U grad programs ranked high in U.S. News & World Report findings

Ed Ronco  and  Chad Previch
April 7, 2002

Twenty MSU graduate programs are ranked in a report to be released Monday by U.S. News & World Report, three of them in the top 25.The College of Education doctoral program is ranked 15th, the College of Human Medicine doctoral program in primary care medicine is ranked 17th and the Eli Broad College of Business’ Graduate School of Management is ranked 24th.MSU spokesman Terry Denbow said he pays more attention to the general ranking group the university fits into rather than its actual numerical rank.

COMMENTARY

Student shouldnt complain about food

As a Christian, I was saddened to read Allison Thompson’s letter regarding Lenten cafeteria fare (“Observing religion hard to do in cafs,” SN 4/4). I could only imagine her standing at the foot of the cross, complaining about the menu.

COMMENTARY

Catholic missed the point of Lent ritual

I read with great interest Allison Thompson’s letter describing the difficulties she faced attempting to observe her religion’s Lenten restriction on eating meat on Fridays, given the food choices available in her residence hall cafeteria (“Observing religion hard to do in cafs,” SN 4/4). Thompson criticized what she characterized as unappetizing vegetarian dishes, fish covered with plastic wrap, and macaroni and cheese as not meeting her need for “good, warm sustenance.” Apparently she feels the Friday Lenten menu should substitute lobster for burgers. Thompson complained about “suffering through 40 days of Lent as a Catholic” just before explaining the purpose of the Catholic tradition is “to remember the suffering Jesus endured.” It sounds like she missed the point. Katie Donnelly 1981 graduate