Educators press student government to set healthy example for MSU population

Olin Health Center health educators are challenging ASMSU members to improve their diets and get in shape. After approaching Olin about stress relief programs, health educators Dennis Martell and Jonathan Kermiet challenged ASMSU chairperson Andrew Schepers and other student government officials to use the Lifestyle Inventory and Fitness Evaluation: Prescription Program, or LIFE: Rx, an Olin program that assesses a client's lifestyle for an individualized fitness and eating plan. Martell said he wants ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, to lead other students back to the gym. "Half of campus wouldn't be able to pass an aerobic test," said Martell, who is a State News columnist.

Defendant says he could have killed prof in sleep

In convoluted audio- and videotaped interviews, Claude McCollum described how he could have killed and raped Lansing Community College Professor Carolyn Kronenberg. McCollum, 28, a former LCC student, said he could have done it unconsciously while sleepwalking.

WEB EXTRA: Harvard lecturer discusses Condoleezza Rice's role in politics, history

A Harvard University professor and historian explored the role U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice played in the United States after the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, and described her as "detached from the black community" during a lecture Thursday night. Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham was the second of four speakers for MSU's College of Osteopathic Medicine's sixth-annual lecture series, "Slavery to Freedom: An American Odyssey." Higginbotham, whose lecture was titled "An Open Letter to Condoleezza Rice," is an author, Harvard professor and renowned historian. "Dear Condoleezza Rice, Miss Secretary of State, you are the most important woman in the United States, some might even say the world," Higginbotham began her lecture at the Kellogg Center. With a calm expression and exquisite posture, Higginbotham explained a conversation she had with students at Harvard about the Civil Rights Movement.

Police briefs 02/10/06

Turin bound

Most MSU students can only watch the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin from the comfort of their nearest TV set.

WEB EXTRA: Murder suspect gives conflicting responses during police interview

Claude McCollum was questioned two days after Lansing Community College professor Carolyn Kronenberg was murdered in her classroom Jan.

WEB EXTRA: Banquet gives students taste of world hunger, class differences

All some students had to eat for dinner Wednesday night was rice and water from a spot on the floor — while another group of students feasted on a four-course meal right next to them at elegantly set dining tables. These MSU students learned about the disparity between the wealthy and the poor at a hunger banquet put on by the North Campus Black Caucus in the Snyder Hall cafeteria.

ASMSU passes bill recommending state tax exemption on textbooks

Student government officials are working on a plan that could lower textbook costs by refunding students a portion of their total purchase for the school year. A bill recommending Gov.

Police briefs 02/09/06

Bernero asks city for budget tips

By Amy Oprean For The State News Lansing — Mayor Virg Bernero is asking the public for help with next year's budget. As part of a four-stop tour of Lansing, Bernero met with residents at Letts Community Center, 1220 W.

Peace Corps draws MSU grads

Yvonne Wood traveled to her mother's native Colombia when she was about 5 years old. But it's not her own memories that stayed with her through the years — it was the stories her mother told her about her own childhood. Wood, an environmental studies and applications senior wants to travel back to Latin America by serving in the Peace Corps. "My life is completely different than any of my (Colombian) relatives," she said.

ASMSU looks into plagiarism site

ASMSU officials are investigating a plagiarism-prevention Web site used by MSU's Lyman Briggs School to determine if the site is academically ethical. ASMSU is MSU's undergraduate student government. Turnitin.com, a prewriting tool designed to catch plagiarism errors in papers, is used by some instructors in the Lyman Briggs School. Robert Murphy, ASMSU's Academic Assembly chairperson, said he learned of the Web site at a conference he attended in December. "It was brought to my attention by Saginaw Valley State University," he said.

State budget will focus on education

Gov. Jennifer Granholm's proposed budget for the next fiscal year will emphasize education, families and growing Michigan's economy, among other points. The proposed budget will be released today at noon by Mary Lannoye, director for the Office of the State Budget. "The budget the governor will present will continue to live within our means," said Greg Bird, spokesman for the budget office.

Library in limbo

A proposed building move has the Urban and Regional Planning Program concerned about the fate of its in-house library, which harbors more than 35,000 planning reports from around the globe. The Office of Planning and Budgets is discussing a plan to move the four units of the MSU School of Planning, Design and Construction into the Human Ecology Building, said Eric Strauss, director of the school's Urban and Regional Planning Program.

Simon to address university community today

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon will deliver her second Founders' Day speech at 3 p.m. today in the Pasant Theatre of the Wharton Center.

Session to aid understanding of city policy

Find out more about the legal rights and responsibilities of the city's landlords and get tips on understanding city ordinances better at the "East Lansing Landlords and the Law" session Monday. The East Lansing Community Relations Coalition and the MSU College of Law Rental Housing Clinic will host the informational meeting at 6:30 p.m.

WEB EXTRA: More than 400 people fall ill after eating at Lansing restaurant

More than 430 people reported getting sick after eating at Carrabba's Italian Grill, 6540 W.

WEB EXTRA: Public hearing for MCRI set for tonight in Flint

The Michigan Civil Rights Commission will hear from the public about actions of the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative at 6 p.m.

Cultural connections

Crinkled foreheads and questioning looks adorned the faces of students in MSU's Italian Club as a Scopa tournament developed. A corner of the Multicultural Center in the Union overflowed with chatter as students sought information from others on how to accurately play the Italian card game. "So, can I pick it up?" "Yeah, it's a Scopa, I think." Club president Achille DiNello said the group focuses more on social activities than cultural ones, but he's trying to change that.

Innovations: Skeletal studies

Name: Professor Norman Sauer and Assistant Professor Todd Fenton Department: Forensic anthropology Type of research: Identifying human remains Date of research: Sauer has been researching forensic anthropology for about 30 years, and Fenton began when he joined the department in 1998. Basics of the project: "We aid in the investigation of deaths," Fenton said.