Event coordinators say Final Four is tough task

MINNEAPOLIS - For all 65 Division I college men’s basketball teams that were eligible for NCAA Tournament play, this year’s road to the Final Four was at times a long bumpy trip because of the intense scheduling involved with March Madness. And local Minneapolis event coordinators, national media, Metrodome employees and more than 2,000 volunteers who helped set up this year’s nationally acclaimed event can share their pain. “It’s definitely a tough task to set up a Final Four,” said Marc Ryan, the University of Minnesota’s assistant athletic director for external relations. “Our biggest challenge was to put all the right people together, ranging from technicians, maintenance workers, support staff and merchants, to community groups and local businesses.

Police briefs 04/04/01

New supermarket to replace local building

OKEMOS - A new Okemos farmer won’t need a tractor and plow to run his business. That’s because this farmer is a Farmer Jack Supermarket, which will be located on East Grand River Avenue near Park Lake Road. The block dubbed Majestic Plaza houses Pro-Bowl East; Oriental Mart; Pistachios Restaurant, 2827 E.

Alcohol ban wont change U

I must first say that Craig Gunn’s opinion (“Alcohol can cause many nasty side effects,” SN 4/2) was probably the funniest thing I have read in The State News since I came to East Lansing in 1998.

U-M admission policy is wrong

In regards to the admissions process at the University of Michigan’s law school, in high school, I had a 3.6 GPA and a 28 on my ACT.

Columnist responds to e-mail from U

At the end of this column is a short byline explaining that, if you want to write to me, you can do so at kundiris@msu.edu. I’ve been writing this for a year, and in the process I’ve received close to 200 letters.

Attractions abundant for tourney-goers

Pack your bags and rekindle your spirits - MSU still has a chance for an NCAA Championship, as the Spartan hockey team heads to Albany, N.Y., for the a Frozen Four semifinal matchup Thursday. This city, New York’s capital, may be lower profile than Memphis, Atlanta or Minneapolis - the sites of the MSU basketball team visited en route to the Final Four last weekend. But you may be surprised at how much Albany has to offer. Here, The State News breaks down the happenings in New York’s second-largest city: Canada, eh? Think you can handle another 10-hour car ride after following the basketball team through their tournament?

For whom the bell tolls

Church isn’t the only place to hear handbells these days. The Spartan Handbell Choir, a registered student organization, has 11 members - more this year than it has had in its seven-year revival on campus.

Letter blames U for anti-union campaign

More than 25 state legislators sent a letter to MSU President M. Peter McPherson on Monday accusing university administration of conducting “an anti-union campaign against its graduate student employees.”The letter alleges that during special informational meetings regarding graduate unionization, MSU administration attempted to “sway votes by providing prejudicial information.”McPherson said he had not seen the letter Tuesday night but was looking forward to reading it.The letter makes clear that officials did not violate statutes which prohibit voter intimidation, but also said their actions “tarnish the spirit of the law.”State Rep.

Legislation to grant women equal pay

Tuesday marked the day people across the country recognized efforts to close the pay gap between men and women.Sen.

Students can accumulate wealth by saving when its easy--now

As the economy continues to weaken on a daily basis, it becomes more and more apparent that we should be protecting ourselves as much as possible for the future.

Group to model for worker rights

Today Students for Economic Justice will model clothing that sports not the latest fashions - but highlights clothes the group claims are made in factories with unfair working conditions. Student members will walk the runway in the Sweatshop Fashion Show at 12:15 p.m.

Homecoming committee seeks input for new theme

The members of the MSU Homecoming Committee are searching for a theme for the 2001 homecoming celebration to be held in October. And they want the input of MSU students. Committee member Tami Kuhn, who is also the manager of the Campus Center, said the group saw a need for different input. “One of the things we talked about when we met was getting more student input,” she said.

Under Construction blends sounds perfectly for live album

Under Construction All Access Live UC Productions Many bands record live albums, moreso for another paycheck, but every now and then a band puts one out that plainly kicks arse. And for a live album, the material sounds really good on Under Construction’s latest.

New action movie good for people of all ages

Until 1998’s “The Faculty,” it seemed like writer/director Robert Rodriguez had carved out a niche for himself with such big-budget bloodbaths as “Desperado” and “From Dusk Till Dawn.” With that “my high school teachers are aliens” flick, it looked like he was getting softer. But now we have “Spy Kids,” a film that helps prove your average shoot-em-up is going out of style.

Group hosts rally for hockey team

The top-ranked MSU hockey team departs today for the Frozen Four in Albany, N.Y., and fans still have one more chance to wish the Spartans luck before they leave.The Slapshots student cheering section - operated by the Student Alumni Foundation - is hosting a send-off this afternoon at Munn Ice Arena after the team’s final East Lansing practice.Practice begins at 2:30 p.m.

Group investigates wrongful convictions

A Cooley Law School group working to free those wrongly convicted of crimes in Michigan is on the way to its first test.A Calhoun County judge ordered evidence used to convict Michael Hicks of the 1993 rape and kidnapping of a 19-year-old woman be sent to a California lab for DNA testing.

James Madison student receives fellowship award

This summer Andrew Krepps will be working side by side with high-ranking government officials in Washington, D.C.The international relations senior from Marquette is the first MSU student to receive the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Junior Fellow award.

U to host 24-hour Relay For Life

The motto of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life is, “It’s about a community that takes up the fight.” And the MSU community is working to show that’s a true statement. Stephanie Rigler, community development director for the American Cancer Society, said 450 people have already signed up for the event that will take place April 20-21 at Jenison Field House.

Whitmer worked hard to close gap

Last Wednesday, the Michigan House of Representatives passed a higher education budget that would take a large step in the direction of closing the funding gap between MSU and the state’s other research institutions.