Pimpology

Mattresses lined the floor of Wonders Hall Kiva on Thursday night as part of a program teaching students about maintaining healthy sexual relationships. "Pimpology: It's About the Relationship," a program initiated by Case Hall resident mentor Evan Fowler-Guzzardo, is designed to teach students how to carry on healthy, meaningful relationships — including sexual ones. "It's about the relationship between you and your significant other, you and your roommate and even how you understand yourself," Fowler-Guzzardo said. Using the word "pimp" in the event's title puzzled some students who attended, but Fowler-Guzzardo said the reason for it was simple. "I chose the name Pimpology because I wanted to show that being a player or being a pimp isn't constructive to the kinds of relationships that are so meaningful in college.

Bill may create jobs in Mich.

Michigan construction workers could be first in line to build facilities for expanding businesses such as ethanol production plants — no matter what the cost. The Michigan Senate commerce and labor committee met Tuesday to discuss legislation that would give job preferences to in-state construction firms when an agricultural processing, renewable energy or forest products processing facility is created. The bill was introduced by state Sen.

Focus on bioeconomy

When Mariam Sticklen watched gas prices nearly quadruple during the oil crisis of the 1970s, the then-Ohio State graduate student knew she had to do something to help. "Back in the '70s, we didn't do anything to start solving problems, and that was the time to start," Sticklen said. Sticklen then moved to Michigan and into the emerging field of biotechnology to research ethanol production.

Finance experts to share tips on managing money

MSU graduate James Glenn wants you to keep your money. In fact, he designed the School of Money to do just that. The School of Money seminar, scheduled at 6:30 p.m.

Police briefs 09/21/06

Study: U.S. sex assault programs inadequate

A study conducted by an MSU professor revealed that sexual assault educational services across the nation need improvement.

Dean: College's future looks high tech

After spending more than two decades at MSU, Marsha Rappley said she's still learning. The MSU College of Human Medicine graduate and former nurse has been an MSU faculty member since 1988 and was named dean of the college Friday. "My learning curve was very steep and continues to be very steep," said Rappley, who served as acting dean of the college for the past year. Rappley said there will be a lot of hard work ahead, as plans for the college's expansion to Grand Rapids move into the final stages, and she begins collaborating with other MSU colleges. "It's a challenge to keep movement on all fronts, and it's important in research and clinical enterprise," Rappley said. The medical college is looking at creating joint-degree programs with other colleges, such as the College of Engineering, and integrating more technology into classes, she said. "The synergy between engineering and medicine is enormous," Rappley said.

Police briefs 09/20/06

E.L. business celebrates 80 years

It wasn't just any suit that an East Lansing dry cleaning company pressed years ago. Then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton handed off his dark-colored, two-piece suit to be cleaned at Twichell's Dry Cleaners and Tailors before he wore it in a 1992 presidential debate on MSU's campus. Mesung and Sangwon Lee, the third owners of the dry cleaner, watched the debate on television and admired their work. "I thought he looked good," Sangwon said. The former president is an example of and glimpse into the success of the dry cleaning business' history as it celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. Since 1926, the dry cleaning business has stood on M.A.C.

Innovations: Tomatoes

Name: Robert Last, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, and other researchers from MSU, the University of Michigan and the University of Arizona Department: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Date of research: Last has been working with tomatoes for about six months. Type of research: Plant biology and genetics Basics of research: "We are interested in finding the genes that are involved in making trichomes, the little hairs on plants, and the chemicals involved in making the chemicals in the little hairs," Last said.

Comforting cotton

Victims of Hurricane Katrina will be warmer this winter as a result of a clothing drive that collected denim for insulation on Tuesday in front of Shaw Hall. Cotton Inc. and the MSU Public Relations Student Society of America, or PRSSA, hosted Cotton's Dirty Laundry Tour, which is a 14-stop nationwide event to educate students about cotton clothing. MSU is the second stop of the tour. The event served as an outlet for the "Cotton.

Simon visits Capitol to discuss economy

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon will meet with industry and university leaders from the U.S. and Mexico for a conference in Washington, D.C., today. The conference will be held by the Council on Competitiveness and the Mexican Institute of Competitiveness to talk about obstacles both countries face in a global economy. The groups will discuss forming strong links between higher-education institutions in the countries and workforce training.

Priest: Church OKs stem cell research

The Roman Catholic Church isn't against stem cell research as long as the research has nothing to do with embryos, a nationally renowned priest and bioethicist said. The Catholic Church agrees with only three sources for stem cells: stem cells culled from miscarriages, umbilical cords and adult stem cells, said Father Tad Pacholczyk, who spoke in East Lansing last week on embryonic stem cell research. Pacholczyk said it is possible to conduct stem cell research morally if scientists use adult stem cells, which are stem cells already existing in humans. Bone marrow has its own stem cells, for example, but it is designed to make only bone marrow cells, thus making embryonic stem cells a preferred method of research by scientists because they can be used in any part of the body.

Peace wheels roll into MSU

Kathy Kelly opened the Wheels of Justice Tour in South Kedzie Hall with a display of passion as she spoke of the young Lebanese woman whose pants fell off because she hadn't had food in days. The passion surfaced again when she spoke of the young man who drove her through bombed areas and found three cluster bombs in his Lebanese garden. Kelly and other presenters on the Wheels of Justice Tour seek to address environmental degradation, foreign policy and humanitarian issues in Iraq, Palestine and Israel, said Kelly, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee. About 25 people from the Lansing area came to hear the three speakers on MSU's campus Monday. Before the event, Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstien said she just wants to change the world. With the Wheels of Justice Tour, she hopes she can do just that. Epstien was born in Germany before World War II.

Police briefs 09/19/06

Free poetry event to be held on campus

The University Activities Board will be hosting an MSU Def Poetry Jam at 9 p.m. on Friday in the International Center.

U-M president faces MCRI

Lansing — As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to allow the consideration of race when admitting students, University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman visited Lansing yesterday, encouraging high school students to apply for colleges within the state. Since lawsuits were filed against U-M because of the possible use of race as a factor to determine admission, the university has experienced a decline in applicants, particularly minorities. "We experienced a significant drop around 2002-03 as the case became more visible and national," said Veronica Johnson, director of the University of Michigan-Lansing Service Center.

Virginia Avenue project cost rises

The city of East Lansing will shell out an additional $300,000 to fund the Virginia Avenue project. Originally projected to cost about $3.3 million, the project calls for the demolition of all the homes along the avenue's 600 block.

Drug tests may be required to receive welfare

Welfare recipients would need to undergo drug testing before they could receive benefits if legislation introduced in the House Monday by state Rep.

Pro-life rally features speakers, musicians

College students from across the state gathered on MSU's campus Saturday afternoon for an annual pro-life rally. The event was sponsored by MSU Students for Life, a pro-life group that educates the MSU community about abortion.