Riding to raise awareness

Lansing — Family and friends waved signs and shouted outside the Capitol as the 21 cyclists from the Journey of Hope ride arrived on their bikes Sunday. The 19th annual ride — which travels from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., — is a part of Push America, a nonprofit organization of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, dedicated to serving people with disabilities through raising awareness and funding, according to the organization's Web site. Soaking wet from the continuous downpour, supporters and riders crowded into a small corridor at the entrance of the Capitol to listen to a letter from Gov.

Professors find ways to predict student success

Grade-point averages and SAT scores can only do so much to predict student success at college. That's why two MSU professors researched other ways to anticipate how student life beyond the books plays into college performance. After looking at students' interests, background experiences and motivational characteristics from 10 universities during a four-year period, psychology professors Neal Schmitt, Frederick Oswald and a team of undergraduate and graduate students found predictors for student potential, including their likeliness to cheat, drop out of school and attend classes regularly. The College Board approached Schmitt and Oswald about conducting the study, which it plans to use to enhance college admissions.

Police briefs 07/31/06

Police briefs 07/28/06

Court date set for alleged assailants

Two men charged with participating in an alleged Feb. 23 assault at Hubbard Hall are scheduled to continue their preliminary examinations in district court Friday afternoon, according to court records. MSU student Albert Reginald Robinson and nonstudent Joel Ross Hamlar began their preliminary examinations June 23 in the 54-B District Court in East Lansing, which lasted more than two hours before being adjourned. Robinson, 19, and Hamlar, 17, were arrested in connection with an alleged assault in Hubbard Hall, which involved three assailants — one with a handgun — threatening three occupants of a South Hubbard Hall room.

Nutty business

Lansing — After 10 years of selling nuts in East Lansing, the owner of Chester's Nuts will be moving the shop to a more noticeable location in Lansing. The nut shop is moving to the Eastwood Towne Center from its former location at 412 Albert Ave.

Memorial to be held for former teacher

East Lansing High School students and graduates will be holding a memorial concert for former teacher Juliet McQueen Dagbovie.

MSU to teach graphic media

After the planes crashed into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, a graphic appeared in the New York Times showing where they hit and which floors were damaged.

Wayne State to host event protesting MCRI

A group of MSU students will travel to Detroit Saturday to participate in the Community Action Day to Defeat MCRI. The MCRI, or Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, is a proposal that would end preferential treatment for minorities in government and university programs if it's passed in November. The event will be held at Wayne State University and is organized by University Students United, or USU, a group of college students throughout Michigan concerned about the initiative. Erik Green, an MSU graduate student and member of USU, said the event aims to inspire others to speak out against the MCRI. "Our goal is to defeat the MCRI this fall," Green said.

Alumnus faces riot, arson charges

A former MSU student living in Illinois will go to court for charges relating to the 2003 riots after he was informed of the three-year-old warrant out for his arrest earlier this month. Illinois police told Kyle Thomas Manning, 22, about the warrant and East Lansing police have tried since then to extradite his case back to East Lansing to undergo court proceedings, East Lansing police Lt.

Hundreds of students OK'd to receive aid via program

A new grant program through the MSU Office of Financial Aid is easing the burden for incoming freshmen who otherwise may be unable to attend MSU.

Police briefs 07/27/06

Insect introduction

Devon Dine's arm went stiff and his eyes widened as he watched the Vietnamese walkingstick wrap its six legs around his hand and crawl up his arm.

Having a ball

Clarkston High School sophomore Allie Brown dashed up the right side of Old College Field on Wednesday, yelling for her teammates' attention as she passed the ball to her fellow players on team Spain. Challenging team England for the MSU Spartan Soccer Camp's world cup playoffs, Brown and her team were wrapping up a three-day stay on campus — usually filled with drills, scrimmages and living like a college student in Wonders and Wilson halls. MSU women's soccer head coach Tom Saxton said the campus, which has welcomed about 980 girls and boys during four weeks of camp, is one of the things the camp-goers enjoy most. "We have really beautiful fields, and being on a college campus makes them feel like an adult," he said. Associate director of athletics Karen Langeland said Wednesday was the last day for any sports camp at MSU, which has held camps for 17 different sports — including soccer, cross country and diving — during a six-week period of time. This summer 8,654 kids, mostly between the ages 10 and 16, visited campus for various camps, a figure that is down a couple hundred from last year, she said.

University to dedicate collection to couple

The vibrant orange, yellow and red daylilies outside of the MSU Main Library represent more than just an addition to the Beal Botanical Garden. The Jean and Alfred Goldner Hybrid Daylily Collection is a small token of thanks for the $1 million-1.5 million endowment for the gardens. The final amount of the endowment depends on the sale of a plot of land from the Goldner family, said Frank Telewski, professor of plant biology and curator of the garden. Alfred Goldner, a 1941 MSU graduate, passed away in the fall of 2003, leaving one of his farms for the university to sell so that an endowment for the garden could be set up as he and his wife, Jean Goldner, had planned to do. Alfred Goldner's personal work has left a mark on horticulture, with the creation of more than 50 hybrid plants and the introduction of exotic plants to the landscape architecture field, Telewski said. Alfred Goldner took a special pleasure with the daylilies.

Efforts to oust MSU law dean continue

Debate as to whether MSU administrators can override strides by tenured faculty of the MSU College of Law to remove Dean Terence Blackburn continue, while some say the problem reveals a broader struggle about conflicting policies between the law college and the university. A majority of the tenured faculty members at the law college submitted a statement of objection in April to Provost Kim Wilcox saying Blackburn should be removed from his position as dean.

Police briefs 07/26/06

Self-defense Act approved, but worries legislators

Legislation that provides stronger guidelines and regulations for self-defense rights has some Democratic lawmakers concerned. The Self-Defense Act, which was made up of a package of bills, was signed by Gov.

Outside the box

Hickory Corners — The large manor overlooking Gull Lake appeared even more extravagant with the extensive gardens surrounding it in full bloom.

State ready to vote on '07 budget

The state Legislature is expected to vote on the state budget today, almost two months before the deadline for the next fiscal year. The 2007 fiscal year budget must be passed before the fiscal year begins on Oct.