Freedom festival to prove activism can be fun

The MSU Freedom Festival 2001 will commence at the rock on Farm Lane at noon Saturday, meshing student activism, music and offerings for an all-around good time. Aaron Allen, MSU American Civil Liberties Union chapter president, said the event, which will run from noon to 5 p.m., is meant to present the idea that activism can be fun, while offering opportunities for student activist groups to collaborate and hand out literature. “Throughout the years, we’ve stood up against many things,” said Allen, whose ACLU chapter focuses primarily on students’ rights.

Reverend remembers Oklahoma bombing

On the morning of April 19, 1995, Rev. Wayne Robinson was busy at home in Oklahoma City, working on a sermon he was to deliver the following Sunday at Channing Unitarian Universalist Church in nearby Edmond. It was then he heard a sound that, although he didn’t know it at the time, would be associated with one the nation’s most notorious events. “I heard a loud sound, so I went outside, and at the house next door, there was a man working on the roof,” said Robinson, 63, who moved to East Lansing last August to serve as the interim minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing, located at 855 Grove St.

Classic Steinbeck tale comes to local stage

Steinbeck’s classic drama “Of Mice and Men” will open in the Arena Theatre, in the basement of the Auditorium, on Saturday and tell the tale of two traveling workers during the Depression. “It’s about the value of being alone versus the value of being with someone,” said Director Dave Goss, who completes his master of arts degree this semester.

Faculty children shadow parents for a day

Mary Blakely wants to be an astronomer.The 11-year-old student at E.E. Knight Elementary in Elsie, Mich., was one of 180 students participating in MSU’s third annual Take Your Child to Work Day.“I’m gonna do my best to get into MSU,” she said.

SN sports writers reflect on past year (5)

I had never been on the actual field of Spartan Stadium before. So when I got to help cover a football game this season and learned that the press was allowed there for the last few minutes of the game, I was stoked. And luckily for me, the game I chose to cover was one of the most exciting I’ve seen in my three years here. I’m not sure why MSU has a special rivalry with Notre Dame, but on that Saturday afternoon, there was no doubt that pride and bragging rights lay clearly on the line with the game. We had beat the Irish for the past three seasons, something they weren’t really used to, and they seemed determine to not let it happen again.

Police briefs 04/27/01

SN sports writers reflect on past year (3)

Thank you, thank you, one and all. Please be seated. Thank you for voting me as the best reporter on The State News Spring 2001 Sports Desk!

Alumnus to donate tree; add beauty, shade to campus grounds

When 1962 MSU alumnus Peter Secchia read an article last year about students donating a tree to the university, it made him reminisce about his days on campus. Secchia, a financial contributor to the Student Academic Center and the new addition to Breslin Students Event Center, thought it would be fitting to donate a tree on Arbor Day. Secchia, chairman of Universal Forest Products Inc. in Grand Rapids, and others will be planting a 20-foot autumn blaze maple tree at 10:30 a.m.

Spartans beat Oakland in doubleheader

ROCHESTER - Strong pitching and timely hitting preserved a two-game sweep at Oakland for the MSU softball team.With junior pitchers Becky Gray and Keri DeJong posting complete games, the Spartans (20-34, 4-10 Big Ten) completed the sweep with 5-3 and 1-0 wins, respectively.

Paying attention helps U avoid accidents

Have you ever wanted to turn to that individual next to you on the street, in the hallway or in your classroom and scream at the top of your lungs, “are you brain dead?” I’ve heard that expression a lot lately and wondered what exactly would classify someone as a member of the Brain Dead Society.

Olin incapable of providing RU-486

I’m writing in response to Tuesday’s article, “RU-486 not an option for Olin ” (SN 4/24). I was surprised The State News referred to Olin Health Center’s inability to safely provide RU-486 as a “decision.” I attended the ASMSU meeting where Dr. Glynda Moorer repeatedly explained Olin doesn’t even have the capability of offering RU-486 because it cannot meet the qualifications necessary to legally and safely provide the abortion drug to women.

March hecklers were embarrassing

As a former student at MSU, I continue to participate in and support activities on campus that have relevance to me.

Recreation, food found in morel mushroom picking

Kurt Lamour is a morel mushroom maniac.To him, April is a time to get outdoors and forage through the Michigan foliage to find some tasty fungi.“Mushroom-picking is a tradition that has been passed down in my family from generation to generation,” said Lamour, a botany and plant pathology graduate student.

Police hope to mend minority relations

MSU police will hold a public forum tonight to discuss the department’s 12-point plan to improve relations with the minority community. The plan, announced in November, addresses racial profiling, supporting minority students in the police department and promoting greater knowledge of police procedures.

Economy slows professor pay

A slowing economy might be to blame for lower faculty salary increases, some believe.An annual survey of college faculty salaries has found that average wages in 2000-01 increased by 3.5 percent - only one-tenth of a percent more than the national rate of inflation.And the survey, released by the American Association of University Professors, showed the economic downturn may be responsible for the slowdown and the reason for tougher competition for the best faculty throughout the country.“An important message to be derived from any report like this is that all of the public universities in Michigan are competing for faculty in a national marketplace,” said Glenn Stevens, executive director of the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan, adding that retention rates have been strong on Michigan campuses - but the economy could bring that obstacle soon.“One challenge is attracting the best faculty you can find, and the other side of that that same coin is the question of retaining faculty that have been on a campus for a period of time.”Ernst Benjamin, director of research for the American Association of University Professors, said Michigan public universities have benefited from strong state support overall.

Terek breaks two school records

Paul Terek may have just broken two MSU records for track and field, but he wants more.“I think I can score higher points,” he said.Senior co-captain Terek set the records in the decathlon, scoring 7,441 points, and the pole vault, with a height of 17 feet, 7 inches, last weekend.

Lawmakers consider hate crime legislation

State legislators are trying once again to pass new regulations including the term “sexual orientation” into previous discrimination laws.“This has been proposed before, and we decided we wanted to move it forward,” said Rep.

Panel opens up debate to public

It only took a few minutes and a rearrangement of furniture for the three-member panel appointed to examine an MSU police investigation of a campus activist group to turn its first formal meeting into an informal discussion.Quickly changing the setup from a lecture-hall style forum to a personal gathering in a circle, the panel appointed last week by MSU President M.

Lawmakers seek to keep organs in state

The state Legislature may attempt to make it a little easier for Michigan residents in need of a vital organ to receive a transplant.A package of bills was examined by the state House Health Policy Committee this week.

Logic was very absent in column

I first heard of John La Fleur’s column (“Institution of marriage is for heterosexuals,” SN 4/20) Saturday, but did not read about it until Monday evening.