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NEWS

Changing seasons

Ryan Wallace
February 28, 2002

Lansing - Dull lights hanging above a basketball court hum a monotonous tune that overwhelms eerie creaks from bleachers that line an empty high school gymnasium. On any given day, this capital city gym is filled with the thundering sounds of basketballs or volleyballs bouncing off the floors and the squeaks of new sneakers. Lauren Aitch knows these familiar sounds that fill the Lansing Waverly High School gym all to well. Amid the claps and screams from the crowd, Aitch’s vocal leadership can be heard. “I’m loud,” Aitch said. The 6-foot-2 freshman center was an all-state honorable mention basketball player in her first season at the varsity level - she averaged 18.9 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. She also played for the volleyball team in the fall, when she was bumped up to the varsity squad from the junior varsity team. Aitch, whose father Matthew Aitch played basketball at MSU in the late 1960s, remembers the fifth grade and playing basketball with inner-city classmates.

MICHIGAN

Bill to cut care funds

Lindsay Frederickson
February 28, 2002

Sarah Schmidt began using Planned Parenthood at age 15. Now 22 and a social work senior at MSU, she testified Wednesday in front of the Senate Families, Mental Health and Human Services Committee that she doesn’t know where she would be today without the primary care program. A bill presented to the Senate committee would prioritize state family planning funding to go toward organizations that do not publicly advocate, perform or refer women to have abortions. Schmidt said she was uneasy about telling her mother she was sexually active and uncomfortable traveling to receive care.

COMMENTARY

U shouldnt diss student journalists

I wanted to respond to Michael Wayo’s letter about the quality of The State News (“SN stories lacking quality, substance,” SN 2/25). I am getting tired of hearing about the downfalls of our campus paper. The people behind these stories are students who take on the added responsibility and hours of producing a newspaper five days a week.

COMMENTARY

Short-sighted

While it’s somewhat understandable that MSU’s Academic Council cut the university’s visual impairment education program on Tuesday, its reasoning was not well explained.

NEWS

U threatens via letter to end business with cap company

Megan Frye
February 28, 2002

MSU officials will write a letter to New Era Cap Co. letting the hat producer know university administrators are aware of claims of workers’ rights violations at the company’s Derby, N.Y., plant. The university will not renew its contract in December unless the company is accepted into the Fair Labor Association, university officials said. MSU is paid about $5,000 in royalties per year by New Era for licensing the Spartan logo. The decision to write the letter was made Wednesday morning as a compromise between MSU administrators and Students for Economic Justice.

COMMENTARY

Slippery slope

As good and decent people, we would all love to put those guilty of domestic abuse behind bars for as long as possible.

NEWS

Unions agree on health care plan

Ed Ronco
February 28, 2002

The last two of eight labor unions in the Coalition of Labor Organizations at MSU on Wednesday ratified a new health care agreement with the university. MSU’s Clerical-Technical Union and Administrative Professional Supervisor Association voted in favor of the four-year agreement, which will go into effect immediately and lasts until Dec.

BASKETBALL

First, but not last Big Ten Tournament not held in Chicago

Ryan Wallace
February 28, 2002

Goodbye Windy City. Hello Hoosier hospitality. The fifth annual men’s Big Ten Tournament will call Indianapolis its new home, after a four-year run in Chicago.However, the 11 teams that compete in the Big Ten shouldn’t make themselves comfortable.Scott Chipman, associate director of communications for the Big Ten, said the move this year is just the first in a series of moves between the two cities.“The tournament is going back to Chicago next year, then back to Indiana,” Chipman said.

BASKETBALL

MSU mens basketball report card

Record: 18-10 overall, 9-6 Big Ten 2001-2002 Report Card: Shooting: B+ The Spartans have shot the ball especially well lately, most recently hitting 59 percent from the field in an 81-76 win at No.

BASKETBALL

Spartans hitting stride as tournament approaches

Dan Woike
February 28, 2002

Optimism and excitement have surrounded the Spartans’ late-season success. But a few months back, the MSU faithful could only look to what lay well ahead for excitement. The future seemed to be at least one year away for the Spartans (18-10 overall, 9-6 Big Ten) not too long ago. Opening the Big Ten season with three straight back-breaking losses, MSU’s youth and inexperience quickly became a stumbling block and postseason hopes seemed to spell NIT. The first was a 70-67 loss at Minnesota on Jan.

NEWS

Unions agree on health care plan

Ed Ronco
February 28, 2002

The last two of eight labor unions in the Coalition of Labor Organizations at MSU on Wednesday ratified a new health care agreement with the university.MSU’s Clerical-Technical Union and Administrative Professional Supervisor Association voted in favor of the four-year agreement, which will go into effect immediately and lasts until Dec.

MSU

$1 tax rise sought for U paper

Alison Barker
February 28, 2002

The State News is requesting a $1 per semester tax increase when the universitywide polls open online March 12-16. The increase would up the tax from $4 to $5 per semester. “The State News wouldn’t be asking for it if it wasn’t needed,” Editor in Chief Jeremy Steele said.

NEWS

MIDDAY UPDATE: Woman charged with death of U professor recalls incident

Shannon Murphy
February 28, 2002

St. Johns - The DeWitt Township woman charged in the death of her husband testified today, describing her account of the physical altercation which took place before she stabbed her spouse.Jonaki Ray doesn’t deny stabbing her husband Dinesh Balagangadhar, an MSU associated professor of mechanical engineering, at the couple’s home last summer.