Baseball team finally breaks mediocre status

For the first time in his brief career at MSU, Bob Malek sees the Spartan baseball team above the .500 mark.

Sylvia brings laughs to U

“Sylvia,” a play that explores the bizarre love interest between a middle-aged married man and his newly found dog and best pal, opens this weekend at the Arena Theatre in the Auditorium basement. The play by A.R.

Law experts discuss North American electoral systems

Law professors from the United States, Canada, and Mexico gathered at MSU-Detroit College of Law on Monday to compare electoral systems between the three countries.Gregory Tardi, professor of law at McGill University in Montreal, said the event offered insight not found anywhere else.“As a Canadian, I want to know why things happen in the U.S.,” he said.

Cagers prep for NCAA first round

MSU, who’s a 28.5 point favorite over its Friday first-round opponent Alabama State, will most likely cruise to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.But don’t tell senior forward Andre Hutson that the Spartans are just going through the motions in practice and taking the Hornets lightly.

Cartoons idea was ignorant

I’m writing this letter in response to the Bilicki cartoon that ran in the March 13 edition of The State News. This cartoon is an example of the ignorance that pervades our society as a whole.

Live performances can make or break groups appeal

Some of my friends laughed. Some asked me twice.And when I told them I was going to see Vanilla Ice(Rob Van Winkle) over my spring break, they asked me again if I was serious.That’s right, I saw the ice man at the Leelanau Sands Casino in Peshawbestown, Mich., but I also had the privilege of checking out Weezer at the State Theater in Detroit the following week.I’m not ashamed to admit I paid $10 to check out the ice man himself with the 200 others in the small venue, because seriously, how many people can say they’ve seen Vanilla Ice?Don’t even try to tell me you never dug the guy for at least a week in elementary school - we all did.I’m sure most of you know by now that his music is not the poppy bubble-gum geek-rap it once was back when we were in grade school.

Ex-Spartan in line for U-M coaching job

Now that the University of Michigan has made the resignation of men’s basketball coach Brian Ellerbe official, the maize and blue may turn to a former Spartan to try and rescue their fading program.

Census Bureau must work to create categories for everyone

The Census Bureau should be commended for expanding racial categories in the 2000 census and should continue to work toward more inclusive categories on future census forms.Americans were allowed to check more than one box in the racial categories section of the 2000 census, making 63 possible categories.

Team waits for next opponent, Miller placed third in online Hobey voting

The winner of Tuesday night’s play-in game between No. 9-seed Bowling Green and No. 5-seed Northern Michigan will be top-ranked MSU’s next opponent in the CCHA playoffs. No.

Band proves they have elements to stick around

Element 101 Stereo Girl (Tooth & Nail Records) Vocalist Crissie Verhagen could have done anything with her sweet and hypnotizing voice, but music lovers are thankful she decided to contribute it to rock. On Element 101’s latest album, they focus more on the songwriting aspect of their music rather than the loud and obnoxious punk of their debut - a step many bands have delved into recently. Their sophomore release, “Stereo Girl,” gleams of solid rock and roll with a touch of poppy goodness and some clever hooks and catchy choruses to boot. Those expecting tunes more like their debut are in for a surprise as the collection is a more genuinely creative and mature plethora of punchy and jump-up-and-down rock. Verhagen uses some nice harmonization on “Today and Always” while “Standing On The Edge Of Night” has some influence by The Get Up Kids, with drum work similar to MxPx. The guitar work throughout most of the record, though not poignantly original, works convincingly by fusing with the creative bass work of Sal Ciaravino. All in all, Element 101 has proven itself as a staying power in the pop-rock airwaves with their latest. To check out more Grooves, visit us online at www.statenews.com/msandu.

Agencies to announce whether to merge

University and city officials plan to release a report today detailing the future of their police departments. The plan is expected to further cooperation efforts between the two agencies and could lead to a future merger of the two full-service police departments, although officials aren’t releasing details. The two departments already share a jail, 911 dispatch center and shooting range, and combine forces for several special police units.

Eating disorders are not diseases

I am writing in response to an column I read in The State News titled “Pop culture trivializes dangers of eating disorder” (SN 3/12). In her article, Kathryn Garvale attempts to critique society’s use of the word anorexia as an adjective to describe one’s appearance or behavior. Her data, as well as the information provided by the Web site www.anorexia-sufferers.com, attempts to exemplify this and then compare anorexia with other diseases.

New predator colonizes Midwest crops

MSU insect specialists are taking to the fields to research the effects of a new plant predator - the soybean aphid.“The aphid migrated here from Asia and was first detected in Wisconsin last July,” said Christina DiFonzo, an assistant professor of entomology.

Toadies much anticipated new album worth long wait

Toadies Hell Below/Stars Above (Interscope Records) After an excruciating and painful seven year absence of The Toadies, fans can breathe a sign of relief as their new record “Hell Below/Stars Above” is finally here. The Fort Worth foursome has sharpened its already fierce instrumental attack while revealing new layers of intimacy and insight into vocalist/guitarist Todd Lewis’ personally charged lyrics. Each song resonates with the same energy and complex artistry that their platinum-selling major label debut, “Rubberneck,” did in 1994. “You’ll Come Down” flows along the same mood as the haunting rock anthem “Possum Kingdom” from “Rubberneck,” while “Push the Hand” condones the same innocent, yet hip, swinging mood as “Backslider,” also from “Rubberneck.” Mark Reznicek’s drumming has improved slightly, seemingly adding more fills and a smoother, more concise backbone to the band, while the simple, yet defining strums of Clark Vogeler’s guitar remains perfectly signature of the band’s sound. “Pressed Against the Sky” and the dreary and long-winded “Doll Skin” expose a surprisingly subtle melodic sensibility side of the band, while unfortunately, the guitar riff of “What We Have We Steal” sounds like something from rock has-beens Collective Soul. Bleeding with the same unexpected stops, totally screwed-up time signatures and guitar advances that seem too simple, The Toadies prove they haven’t grown up just yet, while at the same time indicating they’ve simply gotten better at what they do. A listening party for this album will be held at 11 p.m.

Local students focus on safety

LANSING - Lansing-area high school students voiced concerns about school safety to a panel of state House Democrats on Tuesday at Everett High School, the site of a 1978 school shooting.Vince Villegas, an Eastern High School senior, 220 Pennsylvania Ave., in Lansing, said the first step to preventing school violence is making counselors available.“The average student would have to put in a request to see their counselors and wait about a week,” Villegas said.

Students warm hearts, themselves remodeling church

This is the third in a five-part series profiling one of MSU’s Alternative Spring Break trips.MISSION, S.D.

Police briefs 03/14/01

Web Only Groove-Shipping News

Shipping News Very soon, and in pleasant company (Quarterstick Records) The second full-length effort by these lo-fi geniuses clatters with endless pieces of imagery to compliment their creative progressions. They preach about depressing goodbyes and empty carousels, among other painful everyday occurrences. Opening up with the powerful and confusing chord progressions of “The March Song,” the album carves itself into a beautiful album focused on calmness. The gentle tapping of the percussion on “Actual Blood” rattles as if it were recorded beneath the sea, while the single string progression is minimal enough to appreciate the emotional depth of vocalistKyle Crabtree’s words. Parts of “Nine Bodies, Nine States” sounds similar to something veteran rockers The Jesus Lizard would do - then they turn the volume down and start over again. There is also a strong presence of Archers of Loaf, Slint and even some guitar work similar to Don Caballero throughout this instrumental. “Quiet Victories” and “Contents of a Landfill” are purposefully restrained, settling the listener and forcing every overlapping note and every echo to be absorbed to relax in the constant constellations of sound. The only downfall of the record is that there isn’t one song that stands apart from the rest, which is somewhat irritating, but at the same time the album wouldn’t flow as well if there was one song that stood apart. This album is the perfect soundtrack to an evening at the beach watching the sunset with a loved one, or for a depressing evening alone after a break-up.

Experience key in contestants bid for title

This is the third in a five-part series profiling the contestants of the Mr. Black MSU pageant. Something is missing at MSU, said Jelani Still, the Black Student Alliance representative for Rather Hall Black Caucus. “There’s more leaders needed in the black community to take a stand and make things happen for the good of the community,” the urban planning and geography freshman said. And if Still becomes the next Mr. Black MSU on Saturday, he said he plans to help fill the void. The Mr. Black MSU pageant, sponsored by Black Student Alliance, profiles black male undergraduates who stand out academically through their student leadership on and off campus. Marketing senior DeAndre Carter, founder and president of DCI Motivational Services, a motivational speaking business, was crowned the first Mr. Black MSU last year. Carter’s active role on campus during his reign provided Still with inspiration for the moment he will compete for the title, he said. “I thought to myself ‘this brother is really active,” Still said.

Religious term was inappropriate

With regard to Sheena Harrison’s “Poor living conditions test Lakota Sioux spirit” (SN 3/13), I am troubled by her description of the local Native American religion as “Shamanism.” The term Shamanism depicts the traditional Lakota religion in a negative light, which is not acceptable.