Rally remembers Chavez

Lansing — Mayor Virg Bernero proclaimed March 31 Cesar Chavez Day as more than 150 people attended a rally Friday at the Capitol.

Law inequalities focus of forum

Issues such as how much negotiating power a person has when getting a warranty for a television and in contracts with insurance companies were addressed at a conference Friday at the MSU College of Law. Law students and professors listened to speakers at the conference, which was organized by the Michigan State Law Review and law Associate Professor Daniel Barnhizer.

Medical school exam to get face-lift

In three weeks, students will have their last opportunity to take the paper version of the Medical College Admission Test. Upcoming changes to the exam, commonly known as the MCAT, will transform it from a paper format into an electronic format — allowing more opportunities for students to take the exam each year, and faster turn-around time for students and universities to receive scores. But the transition won't have a large impact on MSU's medical schools, which use the exam during the admissions process, university officials said. The colleges of Human Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine require the MCAT for admission, and the College of Veterinary Medicine accepts both the MCAT and the Graduate Record Examination, or GRE. The College of Veterinary Medicine would be the least affected of the three colleges, because most of their applicants take the GRE, said Hilda Mejia Abreu, director of admissions for the college. "It doesn't impact us as much as it would the other medical schools," Abreu said. But Kathie Schafer, director of admissions for the College of Osteopathic Medicine, said the change in format would help in processing applications. "It'll be more efficient for us if the applicants get their results quickly, too," Schafer said.

Ballot initiative protested

Lansing — Beginning in front of the Central United Methodist Church, hundreds of students marched around the state Capitol building and past the Michigan Hall of Justice before returning to the steps of the Capitol. The demonstration was held to call attention to the group's claim that Michigan voters were deceived into signing the petition that will put the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or MCRI, on the ballot in the November election. The rally was organized by the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrant Rights And Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary, or BAMN. Jonvonte Porter, a junior at Holt High School, attended the rally and said most Michigan citizens are unaware of the issues surrounding the MCRI. Porter said he came to the rally because he was upset at the attack on affirmative action, and the state's refusal to address the alleged voter fraud in the petition process. "People don't understand the depths of this proposal," Porter said.

Recent break-ins prompt warnings

Residents in DTN Management Co.-owned apartments are being cautioned to lock their doors and windows because of numerous cases of intruders checking for unlocked doors and, in some cases, entering apartments. DTN has sent out a letter warning residents to be on the lookout and report any suspicious activity to the police. The suspect has generally been described as a male in his mid-20s, with a medium build, ranging in height from 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall, with brown hair and very intense blue eyes. Authorities say that the Cedar Village apartments and East Village area is a common thread in all of the cases, but incidents have been reported as far north as the Burcham and Abbott roads properties. "It usually occurs in the early morning hours, but we don't have a specific pattern as far as the days are concerned," East Lansing police Detective Steve Gonzalez said. East Lansing authorities have already made one arrest. Gonzalez said that although the arrest may have pertained to the case, there are still other suspects that haven't been caught. "A couple weekends ago, on Saturday morning, a suspect was identified and we're in the process of pressing charges against him," Gonzalez said.

MSU student to vie for prize

When Timothy Vitollo found out he won a drawing that would send him to a national rock, paper, scissors tournament, he first thought it was a scam. But Vitollo, a second-year law student, soon learned it was legitimate — complete with a trip to New York. "I didn't even remember entering my name in the drawing," Vitollo said.

Safeguarding seniors

Christy Curtis' voice tensed as she talked about her late mother and the care she received in her last years. Curtis' family decided to hire a home health care worker to take care of her mother after the family had difficulty providing the care themselves.

Big Ten Conference takes on local eatery

Everybody loves Big Ten Burrito, except for the Big Ten Conference. Or at least that's what the owners said.

Police briefs 03/31/06

Belt safety up since 2000

By Caitlin Scuderi For The State News More people are wearing seat belts, cutting down on traffic fatalities in Michigan, state police reported. Since the safety belt law was passed in Michigan in 2000, traffic fatalities have decreased progressively, said Lynn Suftin of the Office of Highway and Safety Planning. "Over the past three years, safety belt use has increased dramatically," Suftin said.

Internet connections

Kristin Horner, an anthropology graduate student, placed an ad on www.craigslist.org to find a roommate for next year, after a previously successfully attempt. Craigslist, the free online forum, is a listing of classified ads — a place to find a job, housing, buy a boat or find a date for Saturday night.

Global warming could affect cherry farmers

It only takes one night. Tart cherries, grown in the northwestern part of the state, can be destroyed within one night of frost, leaving a $60 to $80 million deficit for Michigan cherry farmers. "We live on pins and needles this time of the year," said Phil Corson, president of the Cherry Marketing Institute in Lansing.

Committee searches internally to fill senior associate provost spot

A search is underway to fill the position of senior associate provost, with plans to have a candidate selected by the end of this semester, university officials said. The senior associate provost will assist Provost Kim Wilcox in implementing university initiatives and managing academic colleges, departments and units. A committee, comprised of three deans, one school director, a faculty member and an administrator, already has met once to begin looking at about 12 possible candidates, said Donna Zischke, MSU's associate director for academic human resources. But rather than looking nationwide, the search is only open to faculty and administrators within the MSU community, Wilcox said. "I'm interested in someone who understands Michigan State — understands the campus, the organization and the goals," Wilcox said. Qualifications for the position include effective communication skills, the ability to work collaboratively and having tenured status, which is an indefinite faculty appointment with MSU. "The person in this role needs a very broad view of the university and a capacity to learn and address issues across a broad scope," said Bob Banks, assistant provost and assistant vice president for academic human resources. Banks added that the candidates come from several different areas within the university. The search committee will continue to meet over the next several weeks to review candidates' credentials, including their strengths and weaknesses for the position, before submitting a report to Wilcox by the end of this term, Wilcox said. He then will make a recommendation for the position to MSU President Lou Anna K.

Student cures summer subleaser woes with Web site

When Anja Puumala graduates in May, she will switch area codes and move to Ohio, but she fears she could get stuck paying her lease for a house in East Lansing. The audiology and speech sciences senior decided to look for a subleaser for her house on M.A.C.

Bill quells funeral protests

Protests around the country at the funerals of American soldiers have prompted a strong reaction from legislators at both the state and national level. A bill introduced Wednesday by U.S.

Police briefs 03/30/06

Group rallies against 1996 Mich. drug law

About 80 protesters marched in front of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday afternoon, calling it the chamber of corruption and demanding prescription drug reform. AFL-CIO members from around the state marched from the Michigan AFL-CIO office, 419 S.

WEB EXTRA: Women's career equality still lagging

Driving along Grand River Avenue the morning of March 22, MSU police Officer Lorrie Bates typed the license plate number of the car in front of her into a computer in her police SUV. The plate had expired in January. Bates pulled the motorist over and wrote him a ticket.

ASMSU tax hike to fund new positions

Now that an additional $237,000 will be made available because of a student tax increase, ASMSU officials plan to expand their organization to compensate workers for their efforts during the year and create new jobs to equalize the workload. The funding was made available to ASMSU officials after voters passed a $3 tax increase in last week's student government election, but now a new budget must be passed and finalized by ASMSU's Student Assembly before any extra funding goes into effect. The extra money gives student government officials a cushioned budget of about $1.1 million to work with for the year. The tax increase, which raises the current tax from $13.75 per semester to $16.75 per semester, will be effective during the summer and is necessary to "enhance the characteristics and qualities" of the organization, said Meg Wolocko, ASMSU's comptroller. "(We want) to be able to give back to students," Wolocko said.

Faculty strives to improve anti-cancer drug

MSU researchers are working to develop a more potent version of a powerful cancer-fighting drug, while making its production more environmentally friendly. MSU Assistant Professor Kevin Walker is heading up research to develop a biosynthetic way of producing the drug Taxol — a popular anti-cancer agent — and make stronger versions of the drug that would reduce treatment dosages. Taxol is known as a "spindle poison" that targets quickly dividing cancer cells and prevents them from dividing, according to a University of Bristol Web site.