MIDDAY UPDATE: City official wants subleasing restrictions

A prominent city official says there should be some restrictions on subleasing which would limit and prohibit the popular practice.“We have seen a number of situations where there have been subleasers not taking care of the property,” said Howard Asch, director of housing code enforcement and neighborhood conservation.Every summer - the season where most subleasing occurs as students move home or to their internships - there are complaints of subleasers holding parties, not cutting the grass and damaging the property.The problems don’t end there either.Many times the subleasing process is so informal, the landlord doesn’t even know new tenants have replaced the old ones, said Darryl Svochak, chairman of the East Lansing Housing Commission.“It is one of the biggest problems from the landlord’s perspective,” he said.Subleasing issues have been important to landlords for some time, but they struggle to find solutions.Landlord Linda Meyer allows students to sublease because she said she understands that students have to leave for the summer or they graduate.“What we tell the students is that we have an application,” said Meyer, who owns and rents property on Stoddard Street.

MIDDAY UPDATE: Hockey program expects to maintain recruiting edge despite Masons departure

Plenty of uncertainty surrounds the MSU hockey program as legendary Ron Mason enters his final months as head coach.But recruiting is the lifeblood of most athletic programs, and the Spartans don’t expect to take much of a hit in that department when Mason leaves.MSU has already signed three players to National Letters of Intent and has verbal commitments from two others.

SPORTS UPDATE: Spartans top Wolverines, 3-1

Detroit - Five minutes into Saturday’s game it looked like No. 5 MSU and No. 9 Michigan were on pace for an up-and-down scorefest.

SPORTS UPDATE: Mens basketball holds off Purdue

West Lafayette, Ind. - The Spartan men’s basketball team stole a close one on the road Saturday night, as it downed Purdue 62-59.

Speech to empower women

Maria Zavala suffered second- and third-degree burns on her face and hands last November in an accident involving a gas stove. For Zavala, a community organizer for the Chicano Development Center in Lansing, said she hopes discussing the accident will help strengthen women in the community when she speaks at Saturday’s Dia de la Mujer Conference. “I am pretty scarred, and it’s very visible,” said Zavala, one of the conference’s founders.

MSU Repertory Dance Company performs

Members of the MSU Repertory Dance Company began their biannual concert on Valentine’s Day with their hearts in every step. An ensemble of 44 students will continue to perform eight dance routines directed by Dixie Durr, professor of dance and artistic director of the program, until Sunday. “All of the students participating in this program auditioned in the fall,” Durr said.

Racism shows in stereotype support

This is in response to Ellen Conser’s letter “Stereotype contains factual information”(SN 2/7). I am utterly appalled by the racist views that were expressed.

Officer reflects on career

Lansing - Growing up in Oscoda, Ray Hall’s favorite TV show was “Hill Street Blues.” The early ’80s police drama show helped influence Hall’s decision to enter law enforcement. Hall, who is serving his last day as a lieutenant with the Lansing Police Department, will be promoted to captain within the department on Saturday. “I thought it would be cool having a job where I got to catch people and help people out,” he said.

Weapon in hand, Spartans off to Junior Olympics

Three members of the MSU Fencing Club have fought their way to the Junior Olympics in Columbus, Ohio, this weekend.

Police briefs 02/15/02

U looking to rebound

After a disappointing effort its last time out, the Spartan men’s basketball team travels to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on Purdue at 7 p.m.

Catholics prepare for Easter

Each year Amy Frazier tries to give up something for Lent. And each year, she forgets to stick to her choice. “I’m giving up chocolate this year,” the education sophomore said.

Varicella vaccine is useful to students

An Emmons Hall resident was diagnosed with varicella, commonly known as chickenpox, last Friday. Emmons Hall residence director Glen Midkiff said the student went to Olin Health Center Friday after noticing a rash.

Theorist speaks to groups about misperceptions

Alan Berkowitz spoke to members of the Community Relations Coalition and the Responsible Hospitality Council on Thursday evening about improving the relationship between East Lansing residents and MSU students. About 20 people packed into the board room of the Administration Building from 4:30-6 p.m.

Services compete to chauffeur U

The couch, television and posters of Led Zeppelin and John Belushi that adorn Big Daddy Taxi’s headquarters render the place more dorm room than business.

Ability abroad

The Land Rover, in highest gear, kicked up dust as it darted further into the grassy plains of Kenya, escaping a herd of enraged elephants. History senior Molly Conley was on her first MSU study abroad. “We had to speed off from a charging African elephant - definitely one of the more adrenaline-inducing moments in my life,” she said. In 1999, Conley was a zoology major, transitioning between her freshman and sophomore years at MSU.

American attack on Iraq is uncalled for

Iraq is not a danger to U.S. security, and any military attack on Iraq is inappropriate. There is no evidence that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, and there is no evidence Iraq was in any way tied to al-Qaida or any other radical militant organization.

Season opens with Classic

The MSU softball team opens its season today at the Louisville Slugger Classic in Tempe, Ariz. The Spartans get started at 9 a.m.

Dont drill here

It was a good move for the state Senate to end decades of slant drilling under the Great Lakes. The state Senate passed a bill banning directional drilling on Michigan’s Great Lake shorelines by a vote of 28-5 on Wednesday.

Businesses seek to prevent theft with greeting

As students walk into local businesses, it may not be unusual to receive a simple “Hi” or “Hello.” Most students don’t think twice about such greetings, but most students aren’t shoplifters. Joe Orlowski, store manager for Steve & Barry’s University Sportswear, 515 E.