MICHIGAN

Updated: Former City Center II property’s future remains undecided

Michael Koury

January 15, 2013

Well into Tuesday night, the East Lansing City Council discussed before a crowd of residents the future of the formerly proposed City Center II property, an ordinance that would allow those looking to sell their homes to rent them for a short period of time and approved the contract of East Lansing and Lansing Fire Department Chief Randy Talifarro. The council decided to send the proposition back to the planning commission for review and recomendations for the future of the site as well as attempt to solve the parking issue.

MSU

Project in works to assess Mich. biorefineries

Samantha Radecki

January 15, 2013

On Tuesday morning, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., visited Lansing to speak about the future of agriculture, statewide and nationally, at a breakfast hosted by the Michigan Agri-Businesses Association. Stabenow said part of this comes from the support for Michigan’s universities and research institutions, such as MSU.

MSU

MSU in top 20 of 'sugar baby' schools of 2012

RuAnne Walworth

January 15, 2013

Most college students take out loans, earn scholarships or borrow money from family members to cover the cost of tuition. But according to recent studies, numerous MSU students also have turned to websites in search of “sugar daddies” to help pay for college. In 2012, MSU was ranked as the 16th fastest growing university for students to find sugar daddies — older men who pay to date younger women — on www.seekingarrangement.com. In 2011, MSU was ranked No. 9.

MSU

More than 100 faculty dependents off health care

Isabella Shaya

January 15, 2013

At the Tuesday Steering Committee meeting, some faculty voiced their opinions and objections to a requirement for all staff to provide documents verifying dependents on university health plans. Since the “Jan.

MSU

Programs in place to help students, staff quit smoking

Alex McClung

January 15, 2013

Economics senior Adam Mitchell said hasn’t been serious about quitting smoking before, but this time he quitcold turkey.

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Face time with Bruce Dale, one of top 100 experts in BioEnergy

Lilly Keyes

January 15, 2013

Chemical engineering professor Bruce Dale’s contributions to alternative energy only begin with the driving of his Chevy Volt.

MICHIGAN

Working Together: One Year Later

Michael Koury

January 14, 2013

East Lansing and Lansing Fire Department Fire Chief Randy Talifarro works between 40 and 50 hours a week, receives 100 or more emails a day and treks between East Lansing and Lansing daily. Adding time spent outside of work at city council meetings and other community events, his work week sometimes can stretch to nearly 70 hours.

MSU

Engagement Center opens in McDonel

Alex McClung

January 14, 2013

When professional writing senior Brooke Hawkins first saw the new River Trail Neighborhood Engagement Center, she was amazed. Although Hawkins no longer lives in the residence halls, she works at the River Trail Neighborhood’s Writing Center. “If this had happened when I was living in the dorms, I probably would have been happier,” Hawkins said.

MSU

DIfferences in tuition costs raise concern for students

Samantha Radecki

January 14, 2013

From age six, Allison Koning knew she wanted to be a nurse. The accelerated BSN program is a consecutive 14-month undergraduate nursing program in the College of Nursing.

MICHIGAN

Michigan universities differ on Taser use in police depts.

Darcie Moran

January 14, 2013

After Eastern Michigan University police began using Tasers this month, MSU police and students are joining the debate of when and how they should be used on campus. MSU police have about 55 to 60 Tasers for all officers assigned to the road who complete a four-hour training, with renewed training every two years, said MSU police Sgt.

MICHIGAN

US Supreme Court to rule on drunken driving law

Kellie Rowe

January 14, 2013

A Michigan law that required police to obtain a warrant before forcing State Rep. Bob Genetski to take a blood test for evidence of drunken driving now might be implemented nationally, pending a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The Supreme Court held oral arguments last week, but are expected in June to reach a decision on whether or not police should be able to draw blood samples from suspected drunken drivers without a warrant or consent from the driver, which currently is illegal in Michigan.

MSU

LGBT Resource Center opens its doors for spring

Lilly Keyes

January 14, 2013

Sitting next to a table of board games and a bookshelf stocked with titles such as “The Gender Frontier” and “Lesbian and Gay Voices,” psychology senior and queer student Jennifer Wallsteadt made herself comfortable in the LGBT Resource Center, located in room 302 of Student Services.

MSU

Officials plan for meditation room in Butterfield Hall

Robert Bondy

January 14, 2013

The addition of a meditation room as part of the Butterfield Hall renovation project was announced at the Residence Halls Association, or RHA, media general assembly meeting last Wednesday. Residence Education and Housing Services Assistant Director of Communications Ashley Chaney displayed a board with the plan and images of the meditation room at last week’s meeting. The room is set to open in August of 2014.

MSU

Support decreases for Tea Party movement

Alex McClung

January 14, 2013

America’s Tea Party movement might be losing its influence and followers, a recent survey shows. Rasmussen Reports released a poll last week that shows the Tea Party movement is at its lowest popularity ever. The poll, conducted Jan. 3 and 4 from 1,000 likely voters, found 8 percent of respondents identified as members of the Tea Party movement, down from a high of 24 percent in April 2010.

MSU

Face Time: Trustee Brian Mosallam

Samantha Radecki

January 13, 2013

At last Friday’s Board of Trustees meeting, members of the board welcomed newly-elected Trustee Brian Mosallam to their team. In an interview with The State News, Mosallam talks tuition, college affordability and campaign promises.

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MSU Board of Trustees meeting recap

Samantha Radecki

January 13, 2013

At last Friday’s Board of Trustees meeting, Democrat Joel Ferguson was re-elected as chairperson and Republican Brian Breslin was elected as vice chair of the board.

MSU

Hundreds attend MSU Neuroscience fair

Isabella Shaya

January 13, 2013

For Mika Obrecht, a junior at Howell High School, eating a “miracle berry” to change sour flavors sweet sounded like a crazy concept, but she was willing to try. The experiment was at one of more than 20 different booths educating participants about the nervous system at the third annual MSU Neuroscience Fair and Brain Bee, held Saturday afternoon at Biomedical Physical Sciences Building.

MSU

Applying Hazelwood case to college media could mean changes for students

Kellie Rowe

January 13, 2013

The future of college media, including MSU journalists, and their First Amendment rights could be at stake after a recent court ruling at Eastern Michigan University. The court ruled in favor of Eastern Michigan’s Counseling program, which dismissed a student counselor for refusing to work with a gay student for religious reasons.

MSU

Broad Art Museum welcomes back students for new semester

Alex McClung

January 13, 2013

To celebrate a new year and a new semester, the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum held a welcome-back party for students Saturday night.

ICE HOCKEY

COGS offers transportation to hockey game at Joe Louis

Robert Bondy

January 13, 2013

Last Friday, the Council of Graduate Students, or COGS, announced an upcoming trip to watch MSU’s annual hockey game against rival University of Michigan on Feb. 2 at Joe Louis Arena, in Detroit. COGS will be providing 200 tickets to graduate students for $7 each. The ticket also will include free transportation to Detroit and back, if the student chooses.