MICHIGAN

Secretary of State tries to shorten office lines with updated system

Students and residents may find the wait a little more bearable at the Secretary of State office with new technology. The Department of State began installing a $7.4 million computer system in branch offices Thursday. All branch offices should have the new windows-based technology installed by May. The offices were originally on a computer system that, in some branches, dated back to 1984, said Elizabeth Boyd, spokeswoman for the Secretary of State. “The technology we’d been using wasn’t even supported by the manufacturer anymore,” she said of the old disk operating system.

MICHIGAN

Proposal would double speeding fines in state

Lindsay Frederickson

January 11, 2002

Lead-footed drivers beware. A recent proposal that would double fines for speeding in residential areas may give drivers an expensive incentive to slow down. The proposal was introduced last month by state Rep.

COMMENTARY

Public should Get Real when it comes to coming out of the closet

Staying in Seattle with friends during the semester break, I had the opportunity to watch the movie “Get Real.” This British film is an exquisite portrayal of the struggles of Steven Carter, a closeted gay teen in his senior year of high school.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers try to reverse bad trend vs. Western

James Jahnke

January 11, 2002

It’s hard to believe, but only four players on MSU’s roster have ever won a game against Western Michigan. All four - right wing Adam Hall, left wing Joe Goodenow, and defensemen Andrew Hutchinson and Jon Insana - are seniors now.

FEATURES

Orange County hits theaters

Drew Harmon

January 11, 2002

If you’re up for a movie this weekend, your best bet for a new flick for some laughs will most likely be “Orange County.” Starring Jack Black, the man who helped save “Shallow Hal,” and who also put a good number of the laughs into “High Fidelity,” not to mention his hilarious musical musings with rock gods Tenacious D, the movie should provide quite a bit of entertainment. The movie involves Black’s character’s brother, who discovers that his high school counselor sent in the wrong transcript, thus making him ineligible for his dream college, Stanford.

COMMENTARY

Lock down

So much for a return to life as normal. It seems the terrorists that struck New York and Washington, D.C., on Sept.

MSU

Student group cautions against targeting Muslims

Camille Spencer

January 11, 2002

Although some Muslim groups on campuses experienced prejudice after President Bush seized the assets of a group he says is connected to terrorist activities, MSU’s Muslim Students’ Association has not been targeted.In November, Bush confiscated assets of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, one of the largest Islamic charities in America.

SPORTS

Spartans and Wolverines to slug it out

Chris Mackinder

January 11, 2002

You can expect blood and sweat, but don’t count on any tears when MSU and Michigan face off in the ring. Students, faculty and alumni from the age-old rivals will be going head-to-head in a Toughman Contest at 8 p.m.

COMMENTARY

Cant blame T.J. for rushing at chance

While it is extremely difficult to say goodbye to T.J. Duckett, an associate of mine helped me cope with the pain through some easy rationalization. The underlying reason we all came to college was to get a job, whether it be in agriculture, education, engineering ... or the NFL.

COMMENTARY

Duckett is another Spartan sell out

I would just like to say that T.J. Duckett is a sellout. With Duckett we were about to build the most potent offense in college football today.

MSU

Excessive grooming has genetic link

Erica Berg

January 11, 2002

Spending an hour primping in front of the mirror may not be in vain. Recent research said primpers might be using a survival gene. The gene, Hoxb8, is found in all mammals and is responsible for grooming, hygiene patterns and controlling body parts. Mario Capecchi, professor of genetics at the University of Utah School of Medicine, said when mutated in mice, the gene caused them to excessively groom themselves, creating bald spots and skin wounds. “In terms of genetics, humans and mice are almost identical,” Capecchi said.

FOOTBALL

Fans bite into tailbacks departure

James Jahnke

January 11, 2002

Junior tailback T.J. Duckett is bolting from East Lansing - and a local favorite sandwich will probably be close behind. As the news of Duckett’s formal senior-year-skipping announcement bounced around town Thursday afternoon, fans had varying reactions.

FEATURES

Historical Museum airs Michigan shipwreck

Tanee Elston

January 11, 2002

Michigan Historical Museum welcomes “Schooner in the Sand: Unlocking the Secrets of a Great Lakes Shipwreck,” a shipwreck discovered by David Head in 1990.

MICHIGAN

Annual plan decreases natural gas prices

Aaron Johnson

January 11, 2002

Consumers Energy recently filed its annual plan with the Michigan Public Service Commission to predict natural gas prices for the upcoming billing year. The plan would fix the upper limit of natural gas at 35 cents per 100 cubic feet, a decrease from the 46.9 cents per 100 cubic feet rate ceiling for the current budget year. The proposed drop comes as a surprise to customers, who recently saw rates increase for the month of January, said Amanda D’Angelo, a international relations senior. “Yeah, it’s high,” she said.

COMMENTARY

Diocese right to shut down play

This letter is in response to The State News editorial “Bad Break” (SN, 1/9). The article explains the Catholic Diocese of Lansing is shutting down a play due to homosexual content and the involvement of the Michigan Triangle Foundation, a gay activist group, in the play.

NEWS

SPORTS UPDATE: Icers take first in series against Western

James Jahnke

January 11, 2002

Lady Luck was on MSU’s side from the onset as the Spartans battled to a 6-3 win over Western Michigan on Friday night at Munn Ice Arena. The Spartan victory snapped a four-game winless streak against Western and also improved MSU’s home unbeaten streak to 30 games - a school record.

SPORTS

Spartan in the law

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Former Spartan and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress was cited for missing court Wednesday. Burress was charged for carrying an open alcoholic beverage in downtown Cleveland on Christmas Eve. In his second NFL season, Burress had 66 receptions for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns. No further charges have been made at this time.

MICHIGAN

City briefs

Lisa Satayut  and  Kendra Snyder

January 11, 2002

Student ‘perfect’ on admission exam After grading 391,000 ACT college admission exams from high school students around the county, 12 students in the nation discovered they can claim perfection.

COMMENTARY

Columnist didnt do enough research

I would like to remind the writers at The State News that writing unresearched and unsupported columns can be dangerous and misleading.

NEWS

Spartans lose in double overtime

Dan Woike

January 11, 2002

The Spartan women’s basketball team and No. 5 Wisconsin Badgers lined up around the center circle for a jump ball with five minutes of overtime on the clock and the score tied at 63.Five minutes later, the two teams met at the same spot again, this time with the score knotted at 73.But in the second extra frame, the Badgers (14-1 overall, 5-0 Big Ten) played like the savvy, veteran team they are, outlasting the Spartans 86-78.The Badgers opened the final frame by forcing two early turnovers and making nine of their 13 free throws.“The game was won on the free-throw line in the two overtimes,” said Wisconsin head coach Jane Albright.