Wheeler Smith, Bonior join forces in governors race

Alma Wheeler Smith, after months of poor showing in the polls, has joined forces with U.S. Rep. David Bonior in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.Wheeler Smith, a state senator from Salem Township, decided to step into position as Bonior’s lieutenant governor when it became clear she would not be able to raise the money for her campaign.“They both believe it’s time for Michigan to have a real change,” Mark Fisk at Bonior’s campaign office said.Bonior, D-Mt.

Author imparts writing experiences

Dressed in relaxed attire, author and feminist bell hooks chatted with about 75 people at the Union about blacks in the media, movies and her books Tuesday.

SN stance on union talks one-sided

Throughout the five-month negotiation process between the Graduate Employees Union and the administration, I have been consistently disappointed by The State News’ editorial stance.

Alcohol poisoning suspected in death

The Ann Arbor Police Department is awaiting autopsy results in the death of a 21-year-old Ann Arbor man this weekend.

Role of mentors deserves more credit campus

Somewhere on campus an ugly rumor has been circulated: Being a mentor is torture. It is a job attempted only by three groups of students: those who have a death wish, those who want a guaranteed single with free room and board or those who (cringe) actually care about their fellow students and want to make college the best years of their lives. Yes, I am part of the third group.

Take action

If one wants to change the world, it cannot be done by talk alone. Talking about it is just one step, but action is where the answer lies in making ideas reality. Minority students and other university leaders met Monday evening in the Union Ballroom for an annual town hall meeting to discuss important issues concerning MSU’s minority community.

U questions validity of sources on college survey rankings

Depending on where the information comes from, MSU has the nation’s 15th best graduate school, is the third biggest “jock school” in the country, ranks below 50 in overall quality and has the sixth largest fraternity and sorority scene. Sources such as The Princeton Review and U.S.

Caf Passover meals not on par with moms kosher home cooking

My mother makes a mean matzah lasagna. Even with the limited selection of delectable (yes, that’s sarcasm) kosher-for-Passover foods available in grocery stores, I take comfort in knowing there will be homemade matzah-ball soup and matzah lasagna at home waiting for me.

Holmes hosts guitar club

A reincarnation of rock favorites and original songs may be found in Holmes Hall, but “MTV Unplugged” series hasn’t relocated to MSU.It’s Open Mic Night, an acoustic guitar showcase live at the Holmes Hall Sparty’s Convenience Store every Monday night.The event was created by economics sophomore and Holmes Hall mentor Chris Girdwood in January after he noticed a wealth of guitar talent in the dormitory.Girdwood said he routinely heard someone playing the guitar while he was on rounds.“I’d usually hear two or three people playing each time,” he said.Calling the club The Acoustic Sessions and armed with only acoustic guitars and vocals, the six founding members began a format of playing and learning new songs by example.“About eight of us would get together in Sparty’s and just play and teach each other,” Girdwood said.But as membership and interest in the club grew, so did a need for a change in format.

Police briefs 04/03/02

Saddle up

Coach Susy Turcott stood in the middle of a sandy horse arena Thursday encouraging her riders and their horses to lean, loosen up on the reins, progress from a trot to a canter and, hopefully, ride their way to nationals.As the season winds down, three members of the MSU Equestrian Team are still saddling up for competition.

Custom manages to fail Fast

After a first listen, it’s easy to dismiss Custom as another Everlast or Staind rip-off. Better yet, just a one-hit wonder with the popular “Hey Mister,” the controversial song about pedophilia. After a second listen, those feelings intensify. In “Mess,” Custom rambles on about how his parents made a huge mistake with him, while “Streets” is the worst song released by an artist, any artist, since everything in Limp Bizkit’s catalogue (except “Break Stuff,” it’s possible to hate Fred Durst but like that tune, right?). “Morning Spank” is a Sugar Ray song that carries the message that “there is no piece of ass worth a friendship.” But there are some tasty nuggets in this otherwise undercooked pile of unwanted chicken parts.

Court declares obscenity law unconstitutional

The Michigan State Court of Appeals ruled Monday that a law prohibiting obscenities in front of women and children was too vague and thus unconstitutional. In 1999, Timothy Boomer, of Roseville was convicted for violating the law after shouting obscenities when he fell from a canoe into the Rifle River in Arenac County.

Free speech

It took 105 years and a ridiculous accusation, but a state appeals court panel did the right thing Monday and ruled Michigan’s archaic law banning vulgar language in front of women and children unconstitutional. The statute, enacted in 1897 and revised in 1931, states that anyone using “indecent, immoral, obscene, vulgar or insulting language in the presence or hearing of any woman or children shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.” The law became the center of controversy after the 1999 conviction of Timothy Joseph Boomer for violating it. After tumbling out of his canoe into Michigan’s Rifle River, near West Branch, Boomer was heard uttering a string of swear words by a woman and her children. Boomer was ticketed by law enforcement officers upon the conclusion of his trip and found guilty of violating the 1897 statute by an Arenac County jury. The swearer contested the decision on the grounds that it violated his First Amendment right to free speech, but that argument was rejected by two local judges.

Spartans hope to rebound after poor home opener

After opening the Big Ten season 1-3 at home, the MSU softball team will play three nonconference games this week to regroup.The Spartans (12-21 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) host Eastern Michigan (8-13, 3-3 Mid-American) 4 p.m.

Starbucks official to speak on public relations

Wanda Herndon, senior vice president of worldwide public affairs for Starbucks Coffee Co., will speak Thursday as part of the Edward Zabrusky Lecture in Public Relations series. The event will be held at 4 p.m.

Student continues to make movie

Famous movie directors won’t spend their entire budget filming in East Lansing, but to student filmmakers, pocket change might mean lunch for the entire crew.

ASMSU representation from freshmen upped

The number of elected ASMSU representatives from the undergraduate student government’s Freshman Class Council has increased this year. The council, which is made up of about 30 members, met every Monday night in the middle of ASMSU’s territory - third floor of Student Services - instead of a basement corner, which officials say encouraged council members to be more involved.Five members were elected to ASMSUassemblies in the March elections.

Dad provides ideal career role model

On the wall of my dad’s office there hangs a folded up piece of paper with the words “Your an great princebul Mr. Ronko” scrawled on it in black crayon. My dad, an elementary school principal since 1993, always has been great. He was the coolest guy ever when I was a kid.

Proposed bill enables security guards to use reasonable force

Watch out unruly shoppers, disruptive concertgoers. Security guards may soon have legislative permission to use “reasonable force” when removing those who engage in disorderly conduct from the premises of a shopping mall or concert hall.A bill introduced by state Sen.