Greenhouse provides relaxing haven for horticulture student

Campus is peppered with leaves, sweaters, fleeces and jackets. Students and professors complain about the cold but admire the brightly colored maples, oaks and flowers that make up MSU’s fall environment.Meanwhile, Wesley Richards is sweating in a light blue T-shirt and jeans while watering a monochromatic habitat of dark green plants and trees.But the horticulture freshman is in the middle of campus.Richards is working Thursday in the Rainforest room of the Botany Greenhouse behind Marshall Hall.“The first thing we do when we come in the morning is open the vents,” he says.

Blue chip recruit commits to cagers

FLINT - Kelvin Torbert badly wanted to end the hectic recruiting process he’d been enduring, but he forgot some important pieces of apparel. After current and former basketball coaches, his guidance counselor, school administrators and Torbert’s brother spoke at a podium in Flint Northwestern High School’s cafeteria Wednesday, the 6-foot-4 wing player stepped up to the microphone to a round of applause. Torbert, 17, thanked friends and family, but when he was about to announce his college choice, the consensus top five nationally ranked high school senior realized his props weren’t nearby. “It was a hard decision where to go to school at,” the guard/forward said just before disappearing into a back room without warning. Torbert emerged minutes later to the rising chatter of the crowd, donning a sparkling green top hat with “MSU” on the side and waving a green Spartan flag. The crowd of classmates, teammates and faculty gave a loud ovation, pleased that another Flint basketball player was heading southwest to East Lansing. Torbert said MSU head coach Tom Izzo and the Spartan players were the main factors in choosing MSU over Connecticut, Michigan and Cincinnati. “Coach Izzo has done real well with the other Flint players,” Torbert said, referring to the success of the Flintstones - Charlie Bell, Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson and Antonio Smith.

Grant helps state police install cameras in patrol cars

The Michigan State Police is installing 58 new video camera systems in patrol cars across the state thanks to a large federal grant.The $247,892 grant was given to the department as part of a $12 million effort to help install cameras in police cruisers in 41 states.Michigan already has 122 cameras deployed across the state, including four in the Lansing area.

E.L.s Eight Ball Grifter to perform in Gothabilly Web cast

In a new twist on rockabilly and Goth, bands such as East Lansing’s Eight Ball Grifter are combining ghoulish and dark lyrics with traditional rockabilly sounds and punk rock to create a new genre touted as Gothabilly.Traditional rockabilly music includes fast tempos that are still danceable, with lyrics about the darker side of life.

Icers preparing to face Irish in first CCHA road matchup

Playing on the road for the first time in the CCHA season, the men’s ice hockey team will battle the Notre Dame Fighting Irish tonight and Friday at the Joyce Center in South Bend, Ind.Not only will the series be the only meeting between the Spartans (2-1-1) and the Irish (2-3-1) this season, but MSU will have to face Notre Dame without two veteran players.Senior center Andrew Bogle and junior center Joe Goodenow will not play this weekend because of shoulder injuries.

State to improve Parkinsons care

The state’s premiere research universities - MSU, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University - will collaborate with major health care providers to improve the quality of medical care to in-state Parkinson’s disease patients.The Michigan Parkinson Initiative, which was announced Wednesday during a press conference at the Kellogg Center, enlists the help of the medical schools of the three universities, the Henry Ford Health System, Beaumont Neuroscience Center, St.

Icers freeze Irish 5-1

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - A week after downing Nebraska-Omaha with a flurry of power play goals, the men ’s ice hockey team overwhelmed Notre Dame the same way Thursday night, thumping the Irish 5-1.Sophomore left winger Steve Jackson, freshman center Jeremy Jackson and sophomore center Steve Clark all scored with the man advantage, pacing the Spartans to the win in their first CCHA road game of the season.Prior to two last-minute Spartan goals, MSU had scored its last eight goals on special teams - seven power play and one short-handed.

Please listen to your conscience

Since as far back as I can remember, my parents have preached many concepts to me, some of which were never waste any food on my plate and share as much as possible with the less fortunate.

Officials ask for sign ordinance compliance

East Lansing officials are asking political candidates and homeowners to abide by a sign ordinance that limits where signs can be placed and how many are allowed in one yard.Lawn signs are a popular way for candidates to display their name and face to persuade voters.

RHA, ASMSU allocate funds to student groups

The Residence Halls Association and ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, approved several allocations recently.

Prognosticators have a winning feeling for U

The prognosticators returned to form last week, although MSU didn’t. However, the boys have a winning feeling about Saturday’s game.

Subway series reaches beyond the Big Apple

Like the leaves on the trees, the Spartan football squad took a turn for the worse before hitting the ground and getting stepped on - losing four games in a row.Luckily Spartan sports fans have been able to take refuge in the World Series.But in this year’s Fall Classic, the actual baseball game is an underlying plot.This is largely due to this fact: The only form of transportation separating the top two teams in the National League and the American League is the No.

Exhibit celebrates Mich., U.S. fairs

There was a time when more than 90 percent of U.S. industry revolved around agriculture. Today only 2 percent of industry involves agriculture.But fairs showcasing the creativity and education related to agriculture have remained popular despite this industry shift.“It’s Fairtime!: Today’s Fairs,” an exhibition celebrating fairs and how they’ve affected the United States, opens Sunday at the MSU Museum.“Fairs have historically been a place where people can learn about new things,” said exhibit co-curator Julie Avery.The exhibit will display aspects of contemporary fairs, including sections about youth education and leadership, volunteerism, technology and recreation.

A case for Bush for next U.S. president

I will not apologize for my support of Texas Gov. George W. Bush for president, despite knowing that I am perhaps in the minority on this Democratic and third-party-leaning college campus.

Candidates turn up the heat at U

On the same day ads for the 70th District state House seat turned negative, the candidates vying for area voters’ support visited campus. Democrat Gretchen Whitmer and Republican Bill Hollister debated health care, education and MSU funding during a 4 p.m.

Devils spawn Bedazzled lacks humor, originality

“Bedazzled” starts off with a chuckle, then goes straight to hell.The beginning is creative, funny and even a bit innovative.

Policy rules

University Committee on Student Affairs and ASMSU should be commended for its involvement in creating a new riot policy, which should be adopted by the university as soon as possible.The existing policy, established after the March 27-28, 1999, riot, allows university officials to punish students who partake in any uprising, whether it be on campus or off.

Go Green and support Nader for U.S. president

You will probably only find this column interesting if you are deciding between Vice President Al Gore and Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader.

Freshmen scammed by fake salesperson

Amanda Smith is a little more skeptical than she used to be.Especially of those who approach the door to her dorm room with what could be perceived as a good deal.Smith, a Spanish freshman, and her roommate were bamboozled out of about $180 last month after purchasing several magazines from a man who said he was an MSU communication student collecting points to win an overseas trip to Australia.“In hindsight I guess it made sense (that it was a scam),” Smith said.

Police briefs 10/26/00