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MICHIGAN

Whitmer hopes to piggyback House work by winning Senate seat

Ken Osborne
February 20, 2006

State Rep. Gretchen Whitmer said she believes her experience as a lawmaker will be an asset for voters as she has represented the East Lansing area in the House since 2000. "This being the middle of the term, it's going to be critical that we have someone that can hit the ground running," Whitmer said.

MICHIGAN

Olin offers massage for healthy sex week

Melanie Thomas
February 20, 2006

Olin Health Center will teach massage tonight to kick off Healthy Sexuality Week 2006. Healthy Sexuality Week, themed "Stimulate Your Senses," is attempting to raise awareness of sexually transmitted infections, contraception and sexuality.

MSU

Transportation transformation

Nicholas Richer
February 17, 2006

Major road reconstruction is in the works for MSU's campus throughout the next several years. The removal of angled parking from West Circle Drive and the elimination of two traffic circles are among plans university officials are considering to help improve pedestrian safety and reduce accidents on campus beginning this summer. "A lot of the layout hasn't been touched since the '60s," MSU police Deputy Chief Mike Rice said. "It isn't fit for today's demands." Tentative plans for West Circle Drive and finalized plans for Wilson Road were revealed Monday at a public feedback session held by the All-University Traffic and Transportation Committee, an advisory committee to Fred Poston, MSU's vice president for finance and operations. But committee members and representatives were the only ones who attended the session. "We would certainly like to hear more from the community," said Paul Mantica, the committee's chairman.

MSU

Transgender MSU student talks on "Larry King Live"

T.J. Jourian, known on campus as an advocate for transgender issues, appeared on CNN's "Larry King Live" on Wednesday evening. Jourian, a third-year graduate student, spoke via satellite with King, along with race car driver Terri O'Connell, country singer Dolly Parton and actress Felicity Huffman — who was nominated for an Oscar for the movie "Transamerica" — to discuss transgender individuals. Three other transgender individuals and a doctor were also on the program. "(The interview) was more about unknown personal experiences, surgery and understanding who transgender individuals are," Jourian said. Mara Keisling, executive director for the National Center for Transgender Equality, based in Washington, said transgender awareness is growing, but misunderstandings about transgender individuals remain an issue. "It's growing tremendously," Keisling said.

MICHIGAN

Bank to open in Northern Tier

Corinne Devries
February 17, 2006

Michigan State University Federal Credit Union plans to build a new office park to relocate their headquarters to, on 140 acres of undeveloped land in the Northern Tier. Groundbreaking will take place in late 2007. The institution, known as MSUFCU, needs the space since doubling in size in the last five years, the local credit union's spokeswoman, Joyce Banish, said. Most people choose a financial institution near to where they live, Banish said. "Hopefully, we'll get more members because the North end is growing fast," she said. MSUFCU was started in 1937 by "a handful of professors" and was run out of a single desk, Banish said. "The whole idea of the credit union wanted to make sure young professors had access to get loans," Banish said.

MICHIGAN

Resale shop offers cash upfront

Corinne Devries
February 16, 2006

Alexis Best cleaned out her closet and got $60 cash for her old clothes Tuesday night. The advertising junior brought a laundry basket full of summer clothes, shoes and purses to Plato's Closet, 2843 E.

MSU

MSU to totally change takeout

Fredricka Paul
February 16, 2006

Totally Takeout will continue to be an option for students this fall, but officials are looking to give the program a makeover by fall 2007. University officials aren't happy with students using Totally Takeout to stock their refrigerators. Instead they want to help students who need a quick meal on the fly. The program could be tweaked to include more meals instead of separate food items. The meal option will be used as a replacement option for students on the go, said MSU Food Services Coordinator Bruce Haskell.

MICHIGAN

Word on the street

What do you think of the East Village Master Plan? Do you think Cedar Village needs to be revamped? "I wouldn't have a problem with it.

MSU

4 colleges look to fill dean vacancies

Kristen Daum
February 16, 2006

With two acting deanships ending and two deans retiring this year, four colleges are searching to fill these positions. Lonnie King, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, and Marilyn Rothert, dean of the College of Nursing, plan to retire at the end of June, but could stay longer depending on when the new deans take office. Rothert has served a total of 13 years as dean, including two years as acting dean. "It's been a terrific journey, with times that are challenging, but overall an excellent experience," Rothert said. The top four College of Nursing candidates will visit campus starting next week, said Barbara Given, a nursing professor and the chairperson of the college's search committee. "We really tried to look at whether or not they could be a strong leader, but specifically whether they could have the ability to lead the College of Nursing into the next decade — given the complexity of the university ? and the multiple education and research programs we have," she said. The committee hopes to make its recommendations to Provost Kim Wilcox by the beginning of March, Given said. King has served as dean for 10 years in the College of Veterinary Medicine and plans to pursue other interests upon his retirement, he said. The search for the college's new dean is still in its early stages, said Willie Reed, chairman of the Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation and chairman of the college's search committee. The committee is still contacting potential candidates and will eventually invite them to campus for an interview, he said. "We would like to have a candidate identified by the end of the semester," Reed said. Satish Udpa, of the College of Engineering, and Patrick McConeghy, of the College of Arts & Letters, will conclude their acting deanships once permanent deans are selected and take office. The search committee for the College of Engineering is reviewing applications, and candidates should be interviewed on campus in late April, said Percy Pierre, professor of electrical and computer engineering and the search committee's chairman. "We'll be able to better evaluate them as candidates after we visit with them," Pierre said. Udpa was out of town and could not be reached for comment Wednesday. After about two years as acting dean in Arts & Letters, McConeghy said he plans to return to teaching German full-time in the college. "Administrative positions are usually quite rewarding — primarily, being able to work toward helping students get a better education at MSU and helping faculty with their teaching (and) research projects," McConeghy said. The college's committee also is in the process of gathering applicants and hopes to conduct interviews on campus later this semester, said Ellen Pollak, professor of English and co-chairwoman of the search committee. "We would be happy if someone could begin next fall, but we'll work with whoever the candidate is to make that possible," Pollak said. Once each committee decides on a candidate, they will make a recommendation to Wilcox, who makes the final decision, said Bob Banks, assistant provost and vice president for academic human resources. Wilcox will negotiate with each of the candidates as to their specific starting date, but MSU officials would like the new deans to take office by the fall semester, he said. "We've been successful so far, and I have every sense that we'll be successful in the rest of the positions," Banks said.