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MSU

Scientists seek longer strawberry season

Chris Boyer
January 14, 2002

MSU researchers are trying to fill fields and grocery stores with strawberries - even when the red fruit is out of season. Researchers are investigating the possibility of cross-breeding wild strawberries with conventional short-day breeds to produce a new variety of strawberry that can produce fruit throughout the growing season. Instead of the usual short growing season consisting solely of the beginning of summer, these strawberries would produce fruit from spring through fall. The primary trait researchers are hoping to adapt into the strawberries is a resistance to a particular fungus that causes a condition called black root rot.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Gymnastics season off to record beginning The MSU women’s gymnastics team opened the season Friday at Jenison Field House with a second-place finish. The four-team field included No.

COMMENTARY

Poor sports

Children’s sports should never become a matter of life or death. The case of Thomas Junta, the Massachusetts hockey dad who beat another father to death at their sons’ practice, illustrates that point. Junta, 44, was found guilty Friday of involuntary manslaughter for the death of 40-year-old Michael Costin, who died as a result of a ruptured artery in his neck.

FEATURES

Playwright to offer cast tips on Been Taken, film industry

Tanee Elston
January 14, 2002

Contemporary American playwright and screenwriter Roger Hedden visits MSU’s Department of Theatre to lecture the cast of his latest play, “Been Taken.” The play debuts next Thursday at the Auditorium’s Arena Theatre.During the visit, Hedden will give telecommunication and theater students advice on the film industry, screenwriting, directing and acting.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans split weekend series with Broncos

James Jahnke
January 14, 2002

Kalamazoo - Sixth-ranked MSU had the pedal to the metal in Friday’s 6-3 win over Western Michigan, but the Spartans’ offensive fuel tank went dry a night later as they sputtered to a 2-0 loss in Kalamazoo.The Spartans (16-5-2 overall, 11-4-1 CCHA) seemed to get all the bounces in the series opener at Munn Ice Arena, but MSU players and coaches were left scratching their heads after their luck took a 180-degree turn Saturday at hostile Lawson Arena.Western (12-9-3, 6-8-2) packed 4,575 rowdy fans into Lawson for a “Black Out” promotion Saturday, and the arena continued to be an Achilles’ heel for the Spartans.

MSU

Mild weather is coming

As the weather takes a milder turn in the next couple weeks, Michigan residents can expect a break from the harsh conditions many come to expect from the early part of the year. But this kind of weather isn’t unusual for this time of year, said Walt Felver, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids.Temperatures are still around average for the month. “We often have a mild period in January,” Felver said.

NEWS

Library benefits from Internet use

Megan Frye
January 14, 2002

Students are finding that research has become a matter of flipping a page and clicking a mouse. Librarygoers find themselves searching both Web and book pages more than ever at the university, MSU library officials say. “We are probably one of the largest providers of Internet access on campus, and that helps bring people in,” said Clifford Haka, director of libraries. Haka said more books are checked out of the library each year, but the rate of the increase is slowing down, as 15 percent of the materials available through the MSU libraries are electronic. “I think the Internet and the library are working together now,” he said.

FEATURES

Orange County falls short of funny

Drew Harmon
January 14, 2002

There’s an air about the new movie “Orange County” that about 10 to 20 minutes of really funny, funny stuff ended up on the cutting room floor before it got sent out all over America for us to enjoy.

MICHIGAN

City briefs

Lisa Satayut
January 14, 2002

Church to hold MLK service tonightPastor’s United will be holding a birthday observance Tuesday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

COMMENTARY

Cash crunch

While budget woes can lead to heated debates over government spending, East Lansing city officials are doing a commendable job in trimming the city’s planned expenditures for the next fiscal year. The city council will vote Tuesday on $695,875 in proposed cuts to the East Lansing budget, which could eliminate police overtime, delay city sidewalk plans and stop the airing of planning commission meetings on cable television.

MSU

Movies improved by grant

Casey Mcnenly
January 14, 2002

A $25,000 grant from AT&T helped the Campus Center and RHA Movies in Wells Hall by offering students what was missing - better picture and sound quality.

MSU

Study: Early admission policy may not be best for students

Chad Previch
January 14, 2002

Early decision admissions policies have been called a great way for students to get into their colleges of choice - but some critics say early is not always better.Three Harvard University professors who recently completed a study on early decision said a greater number of students are applying earlier, and colleges have set lower standards for early applicants.The 2000 study of 14 selective colleges showed there was a slight admissions advantage to students who applied with early decision.