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MICHIGAN

Doctor loses license due to sexual liaison

An East Lansing chiropractor’s license has been suspended because of an inappropriate relationship with a patient, according to the state Department of Consumer and Industry Services.Fernando Ponce, who practices at Caring Through Chiropractic, 411 W.

NEWS

Englers address focuses on future

LANSING - Gov. John Engler, Michigan’s legislators and MSU mascot Sparty joined together Wednesday night to discuss the future of the state.In his 11th State of the State address, this one titled, “The Next Michigan,” Engler outlined his plans for the next year - an agenda that includes education reform and attracting new high-tech businesses to the state.“After the ‘90s, a decade in which Michigan led the nation, our goal is to restore and review our great state,” the governor told a joint session of the House and Senate in the House chambers.Engler, during his 40-minute speech to a mild audience, said he hopes Michigan can be prepared for any future crisis, while continuing to make progressive movement in state education.While some were in agreement with the governor’s plans for education, the tax cuts he discussed for online businesses - which would encourage the development of more such corporations in the state - were controversial, leading some Michigan leaders to hope for better ideas in the future.“I thought the governor made some good points,” said state Rep.

FEATURES

Puffy didnt possess gun, witness claims

NEW YORK - A former corrections officer who moonlighted as a bodyguard for Sean “Puffy” Combs testified Wednesday that he had never once seen the rap impresario carrying a weapon. Prosecution witness Leonard Curtis Howard said he would never have associated himself with Combs if the defendant had carried a firearm. “If he is going to carry an illegal firearm, there is no reason for me to be there,” Howard said under cross-examination.

NEWS

Speaker offers Real World take on Black History Month

Knowledge of culture, history and hip-hop highlighted Wednesday night’s speech by Kevin Powell, a journalist and original cast member of MTV’s “The Real World.”More than 100 people gathered in the Union Parlors to hear Powell’s address during a Black History Month kickoff event presented by Black Student Alliance.Black History Month begins today.The night’s message needed to be heard, BSA President Tonya Upthegrove said.“We want students to gain insight to the importance of Black History Month and the role they play in leaving a legacy for future generations in terms of black history,” the communication senior said.The struggles of leaders that made black history, such as Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth and Martin Luther King Jr., were presented by students at the start of the program.

SPORTS

W-hoops set for Iowa

Five straight women’s basketball Big Ten losses are not something MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie takes lightly.After the embarrassing 97-49 beat-down at No.

MICHIGAN

Greek system pleased by weeks results

The greek system’s spring recruitment is finished, leaving leaders waiting for an official count of new members.The official recruitment period, which was last week for both sororities and fraternities, consisted mainly of chapter open houses.

MICHIGAN

State to reform voting

LANSING - Some Michigan lawmakers are counting on legislation that will reform voting in the state by making it easier, more assessable and accurate.State Sen.

MSU

Public forum to discuss why Gore lost presidency

Although many in the nation may believe Al Gore was robbed, a forum will take place this week to try to prove it. Brian Kalt, a professor at MSU-Detroit College of Law, will present a discussion forum entitled “Al Gore Was Robbed ... By His Lawyers” on Thursday. The event, hosted by the Federalist Society, a DCL student organization, will take place at 7:30 p.m.

FEATURES

New flick not so sweet

Don’t get the wrong idea. Any movie with cheerleaders robbing a bank, persistent tampon jokes and a Conan O’Brien running gag is probably going to be bad. But “Sugar & Spice” is charming, in a charmless sort of way.

COMMENTARY

Bushs charity could lead to religion-based discrimination

President Bush’s plan to allow faith-based programs to be federally funded opens the door to discrimination against a variety of religious groups.On Monday, Bush signed two executive orders establishing the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

MICHIGAN

Clean up begins in Lansing

LANSING - The Michigan Office of Special Environmental Projects is getting out its brooms to clean up a contaminated site.The effort is part of the environmental office’s project to clean up 17 newly discovered contaminated sites in Michigan.Lansing’s Brownfield Redevelopment Board approved Tuesday at its annual meeting roughly $1.9 million in state funds so that the environmental office could clean up the sites.The State Sites Cleanup Program, which began in 1996 after receiving $30 million from the state Legislature, has been cleaning up 142 state sites.“It’s very difficult for us as a state entity to require other people to clean up their sites when we weren’t cleaning up ours,” said Keith Harrison, director of the environmental office.

COMMENTARY

RHA has fought hard for peepholes

The Residence Halls Association has been leading the fight to have peepholes implemented into the residence halls for over ten years. I personally have been involved in many intense discussions and debates concerning the battle for peepholes the last two years - last year as an Akers Hall representative, and this year as the Asian Pacific American Student Organization representative for RHA. We have spent countless long, hard hours working with the Department of Residence Life, University Housing, the administration, Michigan State and East Lansing police departments and many other groups and institutions to get where we are today - to ensure that peepholes could be installed in all of the residence halls. The State News must stop sensationalizing its stories.

MSU

Women sought for clinical research

Fifty women from MSU are being sought to participate in a health study that aims to give women more information about the products they use. Judy Leventhal, project director of the Daily Activities and Infection Study, said this program will concentrate on the effects of vaginal douching. “Some doctors recommend douching for certain women, other doctors say there are negative effects, and then women have their own feelings,” Leventhal said.

FEATURES

Bumpus returns with second album

Bumpus Stereoscope (Kaprow Records) Bring on the ruckus - it’s time to jam to Bumpus! Like a sequel to a movie, it is usually difficult to make a follow-up to an album that has as much impact as the original.

NEWS

Grad students cite program concerns

Some doctoral students say their programs aren’t preparing them for a Ph.D, according to a national survey released earlier this month. More than 4,000 doctoral students from 27 universities nationwide who responded to the survey said the training graduate students receive may not be what they want or need. The study was conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and funded by The Pew Charitable Grants, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization. The report, “At Cross Purposes: What Experiences of Today’s Doctoral Students Reveal about Doctoral Education,” found that one to two-thirds of doctoral students are unclear about core processes of their programs. Sam Howerton, president of the Council of Graduate Students at MSU, said the survey encompasses a broad spectrum of doctoral students, but concerns typically vary by discipline. “I have found, by talking to people in different departments, that the variance is great,” said Howerton, a chemistry graduate student.

MSU

Celebrity to open events

Kevin Powell, author, poet and original cast member of MTV’s “The Real World,” will inaugurate MSU’s Black History Month celebration today at 7 p.m. Black Student Alliance President Tonya Upthegrove said the group decided to invite Powell because he will bring a perspective to Black History Month that students can identify with. “He has the ability to address issues that are relevant to our generation,” the communication senior said.

COMMENTARY

Cartoon provoked fun, not racism

I was recently disturbed by Ebuni N. Mosley’s letter, “Jackson cartoon was degrading” (SN 1/26). What you fail to realize is Bilicki’s cartoons poke fun at those in the political spotlight, regardless of race or ethnic background. Your letter illustrates a growing problem in America.