Silence helps players avoid law

Two East Lansing police investigations involving MSU football players were foiled last semester after witnesses refused to cooperate with authorities. Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III said he was unable to process the reports filed during the 2001 football season because witnesses wouldn’t discuss incidents involving players. Dunnings’ comments came a day after sophomore defensive end Clifford Dukes was arraigned in the 54-B District Court on four charges of assault and battery and two charges of aggravated assault.

Band flows with new influences

Brett Bielski admits his band, The Flow, is always looking for new influences to dig itself into. Later this month, the band will take a master class with Antibalas, an Afro-funk group from Brooklyn. “Basically, they do workshops while they’re touring and Afro-funk is something we’ve been listening to a lot lately,” Bielski said.

Lansing veteran to play Harpers Saturday night

Brian Vander Ark will perform an acoustic set Saturday at Harper’s Downtown, 131 Albert Ave. Vander Ark will play a selection of songs from his band, The Verve Pipe, as well as performing some solo material. “We’ve already got people calling about it,” said Christian Dorsch, general manager of Harper’s.

Graduation event stirs debate

Black students at MSU have the opportunity to graduate twice in one weekend.MSU’s first Black Celebratory will be May 3 in Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre.

Film Festival continues this weekend

Easiest “Best Bet” to write ever. Want to see some good movies this weekend? Go to the East Lansing Film Festival.

U gets mixed results in first-round of NCAA

The 2002 NCAA Wrestling Championships started Thursday and two Spartans’ title hopes are finished. Juniors John Wechter and Rashad Evans lost their first-round matches, sending them both into the consolation brackets.

Shifty moves

Lame-duck Gov. John Engler should quit trying to play the godfather by making Michigan judges offers they can’t refuse during his final months in office. The chief executive hoped to move an early retirement plan for judges through the Legislature before lawmakers broke for a two-week vacation this week.

Team travels to Oregon for WNIT semifinal game

The MSU women’s basketball team members left East Lansing Thursday on their way to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament semifinals, carrying luggage and dreams of making the final game with them. The Spartans (19-12) are two victories away from a WNIT title.

Web site shows professors ratings

After more than five years of planning, MSU officials uploaded a Web site that shows results of students’ opinions about teachers.The site, Students’ Opinion of Courses and Teaching, www.soct.msu.edu, allows students, faculty and staff members to see students’ ratings for undergraduate courses and course instructors.

Engler pushes bonuses

Before the Legislature breaks for two weeks of vacation, Gov. John Engler is hoping to move an early retirement plan for judges through the Senate and into immediate effect.The plan, which would offer bonus benefits for judges who retire early, has been criticized by many Democrats as “court-packing” and bribery.

MHSAA plans released for new seasons

The first plans by the Michigan High School Athletics Association to realign high school sports seasons will be unveiled today at Breslin Center. As part of a December U.S.

Stereotypes used in SN article on AIDS

This is in response to the article “Speaker discusses Third World AIDS crisis” (SN 3/19). In the light of cultural understanding, I was surprised to open The State News and read this statement: “Gulick said one major reason Africa has the highest number of estimated cases is because the culture promotes unsafe sex.” I would not expect such a generalization from a highly educated medical practitioner.

SPORTS UPDATE: Icers begin quest for NCAA title

The Spartan hockey team is four wins away from its first national title since 1986. But it is also one loss away from an abrupt end to the season.Such is life in the NCAA Tournament, which starts Friday.

Man suspected of scamming for donations

A 32-year-old Lansing man was arrested Monday night as he is suspected of scamming money from the American Red Cross and other charities after the Sept.

Spartans prove their versatility

With another high-scoring win against Alabama on Tuesday night, the Spartans continue to prove they can win playing both offensive and defensive styles of basketball.Early in the season, the MSU women’s basketball team (19-12) was known for shutting down its opponents defensively.

Speaker addresses public health

Madalyn Pollock fidgeted with her pearl necklace Wednesday as tears filled her eyes.Photos of her husband flashed across the screen in Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre as an introduction to journalist Laurie Garrett’s presentation.

Police briefs 03/21/02

NCAA considers overtime rule change

A new proposal by the NCAA may change the way overtime games in men’s and women’s soccer will be decided.During its annual meeting in February, the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Soccer Rules Committee proposed to eliminate ties by shortening the sudden-victory overtime periods and implementing penalty kicks if the game has not been decided.Currently, men and women play two 45-minute halves.

Years Oscar winners picked despite intense hatred for award shows

I hate award shows. I mean, I really, really hate award shows. At first, it’s fun to pick your favorites to win.

Making the choice

Standing in the bathroom of her boyfriend’s apartment, a 19-year-old MSU English sophomore glanced down at her over-the-counter pregnancy test.