U originates from in-state

MSU isn’t a foreign place for most students.Continuing a recent trend, the university’s campus continues to be mostly made up of in-state residents.This year, for instance, about 91 percent of the freshman class are full-time Michigan residents, and preliminary enrollment figures show 80 percent of all MSU students are from Michigan.“That’s common for most public institutions,” said Gordon Stanley, MSU’s director of admissions.Preliminary figures don’t include the thousands of students taking online courses - many who are presumably from other regions of the country.The figures are still being analyzed and will be released in October, but MSU is near the bottom of the Big Ten in that respect, Stanley said.

Plan burns smokers

The Ingham County Board of Commissioners is considering a proposal that would ban smoking in all public indoor establishments - including bars and restaurants.The board will hold a public hearing 7 p.m.

DCL discusses controversial Proposal 1

The MSU-Detroit College of Law held a forum earlier this week to discuss Proposal 1 - which, if approved, would grant parents with children in faltering school districts vouchers to send their children to nonpublic schools. Voters will decide whether to support the state ballot proposal in November’s general election. Sponsored by the Law Review of DCL, the forum focused on the legal and constitutional ramifications of the proposal, specifically whether it would be a violation of the separation of church and state if the voucher was used to send a student to a religious private school. Dissenters insist the proposal is unconstitutional because it takes public tax dollars and invests them in private, and potentially religious, schools. The proposal would grant vouchers to parents with children attending school districts where graduation rates are less than two-thirds. “This is about exploring significant issues in education,” said Peter Koulik, co-chairperson of Wednesday’s voucher forum and note and comment editor for the Law Review. The Law Review is a student-edited academic publication dedicated to the advancement of discussion on timely legal issues. Richard D.

Womens tennis team prepares for season with new expectations

Going into the fall season, women’s tennis head coach Tim Bauer is remaining optimistic even though his team will face an uphill climb.After finishing 2-14 overall and 0-10 in the Big Ten last year, Bauer only has four scholarship players out of 15 total athletes this season.“This is going to be a developmental year,” Bauer said.

Hard drive

MSU made the right decision by not pursuing the removal of Napster from its server. An attorney for rapper Dr. Dre and rock band Metallica sent a letter to MSU and at least 10 other universities requesting them to block Napster on their computer systems.

U helped reader out in accident

On Sept. 20 of this year I was in a little bicycle mishap. It happened at or around 10:15 a.m. while I was biking up Farm Lane, near Service Road on my way to the commuter lot.

After Knight firing, notable Indiana professor to sign new book at U

Indiana University professor Murray Sperber - most famous for his role in the Bobby Knight saga at Indiana earlier this year, will visit campus today to sign copies of his new book, “Beer and Circus: How Big-time College Sports is Crippling Undergraduate Education.” Sperber, who has been an English and American studies professor at Indiana for 29 years, will be at the MSU Bookstore in the International Center from 4 p.m.

LCC hosts Byrum, Rogers

The two leading candidates in one of the nation’s hottest congressional races appeared before more than 500 people for their first debate Wednesday night. State Sens.

Study says campus diversity to bloom

The face of campus could soon change.According to a recent study by the Educational Testing Service, college campuses will become noticeably more racially and ethnically diverse in coming decades.The study, “Crossing the Great Divide: Can We Achieve Equity When Generation Y Goes to College?”, projects the number of undergraduate students qualified to attend higher learning institutions will increase by 19 percent - or 2.6 million students - by the year 2015.And minority students will make up 80 percent of that increase.Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are projected to be the fastest-growing minority.

Groups must stay to defend rock

It’s truly a shame that the Culturas de las Razas Unidas’ mural on the rock was painted over, (“Fraternity paints over heritage message on rock,” SN 9/25) a true shame that the members of the CRU didn’t have the pride in what they were painting to stay til dawn and defend it. As long as I’ve been going to MSU, the only way to have your message stay on the rock was to defend it til dawn.

With birthday looming, its time to be a grown-up

In 10 days I will be 22.And it’s about time.I can’t wait to be done being 21 - to not feel like a kid going out on the town for the first time every time I get carded, to not have waitrons squint at me and say, “You’re only 21?” Twenty-one was an enjoyable year, sure, but I am ready to be done with trips to the bar.I was so excited to turn 21, if only so I could go to the bar with my boyfriend or have a glass of wine when I go out for dinner.

New lecture series lures acclaimed speakers to U

The College of Arts and Letters announced Wednesday its plans to launch a new lecture series.Lectures will focus on current college strengths, such as jazz, film and American studies.

SN article didnt show true Detroit

Although it was refreshing to see The State News highlight the attractions of Michigan’s largest city, (“Rock City provides a trip into the past,” SN 9/22) Jennifer Meese’s writing displayed a disposition to the city that was ill-informed and amateurish at best. Aside from factual errors - the oxymoron of the Detroit People Mover as an “above-ground subway,” or the claim that the Renaissance Center has four, rather than seven, towers - the piece contained an unfortunate and unnecessary slur on the city’s reputation.

MTV to hold Real World tryouts

This is the true story of an open casting call for the MTV series “The Real World.”Casting directors will hold open call auditions for “The Real World” and “Road Rules” from 10 a.m.

Columnist passes on college advice to little sister

To be completely honest, I write these columns because I like seeing my name in print. I like having a lot of people read what I write, and I like the possibility of making someone else think about what occupies my thoughts.

Womens soccer gears up for Indiana road trip

The MSU women’s soccer team will play the latter half of a four-game road trip this weekend - a trip that claimed two players to ankle injuries last weekend.MSU (7-1-0 overall, 2-1-0 Big Ten), will look to prevent any further slide in conference play after a 2-1 defeat by Illinois last Sunday.

the Lowdown

the Lowdown

Bill removes malpractice immunity for U doctors

All MSU physicians may lose legal immunity under a bill that was passed out of the Senate House Policy Committee on Tuesday.

U solution to pollution is in the WATER

Polluters along the Red Cedar River may have a little more difficulty committing their crime.MSU has given $1.4 million toward a five college, 16 department effort to study the physical, chemical, biological and human factors affecting the Red Cedar River and its 293,000 acre watershed.Officials are calling the plan MSU-WATER - Watershed Action Through Education and Research.“We are in a unique position to create something new and be at the cutting edge of watershed programs,” said Scott Witter, chairman of the Department of Resource Development.