Restricted living is better, study shows

MSU students living in alcohol-free residence halls may be less likely to wake up to vandalism and police sirens, a recent report found.The report, released by the Harvard School of Public Health, showed students choosing to live in substance-free dorms were less likely to drink heavily or to be affected by alcohol-related problems than students living in unrestricted housing.“The best bet for students who come into college and want to avoid the secondhand effects of drinking, like having their studying interrupted for having property vandalized, is to request substance-free residences,” said Henry Wechsler, the lead author of the study, in a statement.Wechsler, who is also the director of College Alcohol Studies at the Harvard School of Public Health, said students wanting a better living environment at college would most likely get it in an alcohol or substance-free residence hall.When Rather Hall was designated alcohol-free in fall 1998, it was the first residence hall at MSU to offer a substance-free living environment.Since Rather Hall became alcohol-free, the overall grade-point average of the hall has risen every year, and vandalism has decreased drastically, said Mark Rinella, director of Residence Life for Rather Hall. “These students come to school and realize that their priority is academics, and they want to be free of distractions that may be associated with alcohol in residence halls,” Rinella said.

Bono, MacPherson pay respects to French artist

ROSSINIERE, Switzerland - U2 singer Bono and Australian supermodel Elle MacPherson were among the celebrities who gathered in this mountain village for the funeral of French artist Balthus. Bono, a close family friend, sang a final farewell before the coffin, draped in Scottish tartan, was lowered into a grave on a piece of ground where a Balthus museum is to be built.

Spartans close in on Big Ten title

Only two games separate MSU and its fourth-consecutive Big Ten Championship. The first is tonight at Wisconsin - a team the Spartans have dominated for the past two seasons. The No.

Fare increase is unfair to others

A 100 percent increase in CATA student bus fares is bad for the university. With the already overcrowded parking situation, then the more people who are encouraged to take the bus, the less people will need to hunt for parking spots and be late for classes (or be driven in by friends). It is bad enough CATA gives you no real break on a semester pass (if you ride two times per day, five days per week for the semester, it works out the same as paying the per ride student fare). At least though, at 25 cents, the bus fare is on par with a semester parking pass on campus. If CATA raises the fare by 100 percent to 50 cents, the cost to ride the bus will be double what it costs to park on campus.

Napster to blame for drop in sales

LOS ANGELES - Sales of CD singles plummeted last year, and recording industry officials say the figures prove that Napster, the Internet music-swapping service, has cut into their business.Shipments of CD singles sank by 39 percent last year, according to data released by the Recording Industry Association of America.“Napster hurt record sales,” RIAA president Hilary Rosen said.A federal court ruled this month that Napster, brain child of Shawn Fanning, helped users violate music copyright laws.

Recycle U

University departments should switch to using 100 percent recycled paper. The philosophy and supply chain management departments recently began using chlorine-free, 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper on a trial basis.

Scholarships help cancer survivors attend college

Gary McMullen wants cancer survivors to have great futures and be productive to society. To help current and prospective college students, the American Cancer Society Foundation, Great Lakes Division is now accepting applications for $1,000 scholarships that will be awarded for the academic year beginning in the fall, said McMullen, a foundation spokesman. “As an organization, the American Cancer Society not only wants to help prevent and detect cancer,” McMullen said.

Police briefs 02/26/01

Vagina Monologues address womens issues in humorous manner

“Vagina. I said it. Vagina. There, I said it again.” These were the words that began “The Vagina Monologues” at the Auditorium on Sunday afternoon. The show, an adaptation of the original by Eve Ensler put on by MSU students as part of Vagina Week, was declared “an extraordinary accomplishment” by international studies junior and co-director Melanie Olmsted. “The Vagina Monologues” showcase different aspects of being a woman, such as domestic violence, childbirth and sexuality.

Track athlete makes dream a reality in weekend meet

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Sherita Williams knew she had to do something big during her final attempts in the triple jump competition at the Big Ten Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships on Sunday. The sophomore from Tampa, Fla., had just seen her leading jump of 12.71 meters eclipsed by Minnesota’s Shani Marks, who jumped 12.74 meters and was seemingly on her way to victory. “I just knew if I wanted to win, I had to put out something better or equal to,” Williams said. Williams, who had set two school records earlier in the year and had the second-best mark in the Big Ten entering the competition, stepped up and launched herself to a season-best jump of 12.74 meters, tying Marks. Because her second-best jump of 12.71 meters was better than Marks’ next best, Williams was crowned Big Ten champion in the triple jump. Her yearlong goal of winning the triple jump at the Big Ten Tournament finally came true. “I’m more than happy just because maybe the pressure is off me a little,” she said. Williams also finished sixth in the long jump and seventh in the pentathlon, but it was her efforts in the triple jump that highlighted MSU’s ninth-place finish. In addition to Williams’ heroics, the Spartans had other solid individual performances during the weekend. Junior Ann Somerville, MSU’s top distance runner, competed in three events, finishing fourth in the 3,000-meter run, third in the one-mile run, and fourth in the 5,000-meter run. “I just wanted to go out there and run my hardest and to stay in the mix of the top three or top five,” Somerville said.

Mens hoops have a chance for a top seed in NCAA Tournament

The fan polls, rankings and rumors surrounding the March 11 NCAA Tournament are well underway, with experts making predictions on who will contend for this year’s crown. But despite all the hoopla surrounding one of collegiate sports’ largest events, MSU head coach Tom Izzo said he’s just happy his Spartans will be invited to the Big Dance for the fourth straight season.

GVSU considers former U official

A former MSU vice president is among three finalists running to become Grand Valley State University’s next president.One of the candidates, State Treasurer Mark Murray, served as MSU vice president of finance from September 1998 until January 1999 before taking his current position in 1999.

Black History Month closes with Gospel Night event

LANSING - Clifton Jackson clapped his hands above his head and swayed with the music on Saturday during Lansing Community College’s Gospel Night. Jackson, 26, and more than 200 others attended the Black History Month event in the Arts and Science Building, 419 N.

American Pie sequel returns to west Michigan

MUSKEGON - West Michigan is again serving as inspiration for the setting of a motion picture - the sequel to the hormone-charged teen hit movie “American Pie.” “Secret Disguise” hopes to match the success of the original blockbuster, which had a $230 million box-office gross worldwide. The new movie is partially set in a Lake Michigan shoreline community called “Grand Harbor,” inspired by Grand Haven, said Lawrence D.

Wrestling team slammed during weekend, gymnasts win

The No. 14 MSU wrestling team faced a tough test in Jenison Field House on Friday, falling to No. 6 Oklahoma 30-6.“Oklahoma is a very good team,” head coach Tom Minkelsaid.

Polls indicate support for Blanchard

Former Gov. James Blanchard is the preliminary favorite to become the Democratic Party’s nominee for Michigan’s 2002 gubernatorial election, according to a new poll.Blanchard led Michigan Attorney General Jennifer Granholm and U.S.

Bush tax cut does benefit everyone

Contrary to Dan Woike’s opinion (“President’s tax cut doesn’t benefit everyone,” SN 2/23), President Bush’s proposed tax cut does benefit everybody.

Icers solidify rank in Ohio State victory

COLUMBUS, Ohio - One championship down, two to go for the top-ranked Spartan hockey team. MSU (27-4-4 overall, 20-4-3 CCHA) learned late Thursday night that it had clinched the outright CCHA regular season title following second-place Michigan’s 2-1 loss at Lake Superior State. Then, for good measure, the Spartans trounced Ohio State in back-to-back contests - 5-2 Friday and 7-2 Saturday - further solidifying their status as the nation’s elite team heading into March. “It’s a little different clinching a championship when you’re sitting in a hotel room than when you’re actually on the ice,” said sophomore center Troy Ferguson, who scored his third goal of the season Friday.

ASMSU calls on Olin to make RU-486 more accessible

After a detailed presentation, numerous public comments and five hours of debate Thursday evening, ASMSU has decided the abortion drug RU-486 should be more accessible to students.ASMSU’s Student Assembly approved the bill that calls on the university to make RU-486, also known as mifepristone, attainable through Olin Health Center.With the measure’s approval, supporters now hope to discuss the matter more extensively with Olin and MSU officials.“This is not an issue that can be corrected overnight,” Women’s Council representative Melanie Olmsted said.Meanwhile, ASMSU representative Mike Ehlers, who introduced the bill with Olmsted earlier this month, said he was pleased with the amount of deliberation the measure has already inspired.“That was our intention,” said Ehlers, a College of Social Science representative for the assembly.

Hoops team rallies for strong finish

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - One after another, the MSU men’s basketball team continues to stack up records. Saturday’s 76-57 win over Penn State (16-9 overall, 6-8 Big Ten) gave MSU’s seniors - Charlie Bell, Andre Hutson, David Thomas, Mike Chappell and Brandon Smith - their 109th career win, a new Big Ten single-class record. The old class record of 108 was held by two separate Indiana classes, the 1972-73 through 1975-76 class and the 1990-91 through 1993-94 class. “It builds a bond between these seniors that will never be broken,” guard Thomas said.