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MSU

MSU hosts LEGO robotics competition

By Lauren Talley For The State News IM-Sports Circle buzzed with students and adults carrying out "missions" using LEGO robots early Saturday morning during the Spartan FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO League Challenge. Elementary and middle school students from Mid-Michigan tried to best each other in specific tasks, such as lifting a toy truck by using LEGO robots they built themselves. "The motivation (for the competition) is very simple," said Satish Udpa, dean of the College of Engineering.

MSU

MSU students work elections, aid voters

Justin Kroll
November 17, 2006

Many students took the opportunity to vote in last week's elections, but a few took an extra step by helping out their fellow voters and earned some cash along the way. Last week, eight MSU students served as election inspectors, who answer voter's questions during the voting process. The City of East Lansing paid the inspectors $100 for a whole day, $50 for half a day and $20 for the training they needed for the job. The inspectors were brought together by MSU's YouVote, which works to motivate more students to vote, as well East Lansing residents. Jerry Bracy said before becoming one of the inspectors, he really had no idea how much work is put into the voting process. "I learned a lot on how everything is run," Bracy said.

MSU

Campaign aims to end poverty

Tara Thoel
November 17, 2006

Poverty accounts for one-third of all deaths in the world today, according to the Millennium Campaign, a group determined to end extreme poverty. In 2000, global leaders came together at the United Nations Millennium Summit and designed the group, giving them the goal of ending poverty by 2015. The campaign's executive coordinator, Eveline Herfkens, came to MSU on Thursday to make students aware of the campaign's goals and how they can help its efforts. "Today more than ever, we live in a globalized interdependent world and our dependence on others will only increase over the generations," Herfkens said at the start of her speech.

MICHIGAN

Library's missing statue recovered

After more than two months missing and only two days back home, the East Lansing Public Library's "Seated Girl" statue is already receiving well wishes from those who felt her absence. "Someone sent her two bouquets of flowers — she didn't get roses, but she has two vases of flowers on her lap," said Sylvia Marabate, director of the library.

MSU

Officials, students discuss possible long-term development on campus

Alex Altman
November 17, 2006

Some students learned what campus could look like in the future after officials discussed the construction master plan Thursday at the International Center. At the meeting, Campus Planner Stephen Troost and Planning and Budgets Assistant Director Bill Latta laid out their plans for the university's physical outlook in the future. Troost said the master plan will guide long-term development. "Every construction project is coordinated with the master plan," Troost said.

MICHIGAN

Craze draws crowds

Brendan Bouffard
November 17, 2006

Okemos — Shane Ward has spent the past two days wearing a huge pair of mittens while sitting on concrete, huddled around three sleeping bags, two coats and several pizza boxes. With all the preparation, Ward was primed to get his hands on a PlayStation 3 after waiting in line outside Best Buy, 2020 W.

MSU

Same-sex parents fight for joint-custody rights

Brendan Bouffard
November 16, 2006

It has been close to three months since Ingham County Assistant Prosecutor Marie Wolfe has seen the children she loves. Jonah and Harper are 19 months old now, and as they continue to grow, they will have to face the world without the help of their estranged parental figure. "I'm missing out on a lot of things in their lives," Wolfe said.

MSU

BET host addresses leadership with MSU

Cash Kruth
November 16, 2006

Social activist and minister Jeff Johnson told a crowd of about 150 students they need to take leadership roles in their communities Wednesday evening in Wilson Hall Auditorium. Through his speech, "Who Will Lead the Next Social Movement," which was hosted by MSU's Black Student Alliance, or BSA, Johnson asked students to become leaders of their generation. "Nowhere in the history of the world has a generation not led itself," Johnson said.

MSU

Deer crashing into car not rare during hunting season

As Mary Govoni waited inside her red Pontiac sedan at the intersection of Harrison Avenue and Wilson Road Thursday morning, she thought she was being attacked when her passenger side windows were suddenly shattered. Seconds later, the Okemos resident looked outside the car to see a man pointing at a fleeing six-point deer — the culprit of the clamor, said her husband Lenny Govoni. "She didn't know what hit her; it all happened in 30 seconds," said Govoni, who is an MSU Grounds Maintenance landscape services coordinator.

MSU

Professor receives money for research

Justin Kroll
November 16, 2006

Andrew Christlieb, an assistant professor of mathematics, has been awarded $300,000 during a three-year period by The Young Investigator Research Program. The program, which is supported by the U.S.

MICHIGAN

Christmas in October?

Gabrielle Russon
November 16, 2006

The wintery scene looked plucked straight from North Pole — Christmas trees, shiny ornaments, wrapping paper, the works. But there's a reason why this Okemos Meijer's holiday display stood out — it was only October.

MICHIGAN

Jobless rate drops in Michigan for October

Kris Turner
November 16, 2006

Michigan's unemployment rate dropped by 0.2 percent in October, according to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. The state's total employment increased by 11,000 jobs, and unemployment decreased by 13,000 jobs.

MSU

Modified LSAT to include new comparative reading section

Fredricka Paul
November 16, 2006

The Law School Admission Council created a new portion of the Law School Admission Test and removed another — the largest changes to the exam in 15 years. "(The changes) are not particularly earth-shattering changes," said Russell Schaffer, spokesman for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions. Beginning in June 2007, the reading comprehension section of the LSAT will include a new comparative reading portion, according to the admission council's Web site. The reading comprehensive section currently consists of four sets of passages, followed by four sets of questions. In the updated exam, one of the passages will be replaced with the new comparative reading section. "It will be based upon two passages where you compare what you just read," Schaffer said.

MSU

Animal shelter to host tailgate event

Kristyn Peterson
November 16, 2006

A tailgate open-house party will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Ingham County Animal Shelter, 600 Curtis St., in Mason. The open house will feature half-price adoptions on any spayed or neutered pet.

MICHIGAN

In-house election shifts leadership in state Legislature

Lindsey Poisson
November 15, 2006

The Michigan Legislature elected new leadership Tuesday to fill positions that will determine the direction of legislation next year. All leadership positions — left by term-limited legislators or made available through the Democrats' takeover of the House — in the House and Senate were filled by new members. Democrats won the majority in the House, 58-52, during the midterm elections on Nov.

MICHIGAN

Local coffee chain aims for expansion

Gabrielle Russon
November 15, 2006

Once upon a time, Beaner's Gourmet Coffee was a lone store on Grand River Avenue — raking in $300,000 in sales during its first year of business. Fast-forward 11 years, and that store started by two 1988 MSU graduates has grown into a franchise with estimated sales of $34 million for next year. "We wanted to start a concept of our own," said Beaner's CEO Bob Fish, 43, who started the company in 1995 with Mary Roszel.