MSU prof tackles stress

An MSU professor has been granted $1.8 million to spend researching stress stemming from work and family. One of Professor Ellen Kossek's projects looks into these stresses, and another focuses on flexibility policies for unionized employees. "What happens with grants is you don't expect two pretty big ones, because it's so hard to get one," said Kossek, a labor and industrial relations professor. Kossek works with Leslie Hammer, a psychology professor at Portland State University in Oregon, on a $1.4-million project to research how stress from balancing home life and work affects people. Oregon Health & Science University is also involved in the study. The two professors, who previously worked together at national conferences, are using their specializations to uncover relationships between work-family stress, safety and health. The project is based out of PSU's Center for Work-Family Stress, Safety and Health, but some of the research is being done at MSU. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is funding the three-year project. Work-family stress or conflicts occur when the strain of one role affects the other, Kossek said.

Senior awarded fellowship for kidney research

A microbiology and molecular genetics senior recently received a fellowship to continue her current research on kidney defects. Jennifer Edwards was awarded a 2005 Undergraduate Research Fellows Outstanding Local Students fellowship from the American Physiological Society. The 10-week fellowship will allow her to continue working in a lab and pay travel expenses to an experimental biology conference in San Francisco in April, where she will present her work — the relationship between kidneys and blood pressure. She has always known that she wants to go into medicine and do research, so she said this has been a good opportunity for her. "It's got to be something you have a true interest in and true passion for," Edwards said.

Police briefs 12/07/05

Women's programs exhibited in Lansing

TruWisdom is holding an event to showcase women's programs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 15 at the Holiday Inn West Lansing Conference Center, 7501 W.

Acceptance of campaign funds questionable

Since 2000, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., has been given $4,000 in contributions tied to Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a legislator from California who was charged with accepting political bribes. According to the Federal Election Commission's records, the Friends of Duke Cunningham gave Rogers $3,000 and the American Prosperity Political Action Committee gave him $1,000. Cunningham pleaded guilty to accepting nearly $2.4 million in bribes on Monday.

Ford pulls ads from gay media

Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday its luxury Jaguar and Land Rover brands will no longer advertise in gay publications, but the nation's second-largest automaker denied that it made the decision under pressure from conservative Christian groups. "The decision, with regard to advertising, was a business decision," Ford spokesman Mike Moran said.

Students awarded journalism prizes

Patrick Wellever said his desire to create global awareness is why he wants to be a journalist. A 2004 research trip to China with 10 other students and an adviser resulted in an article on the social impacts of environmental protection initiatives. "Part of my story was to show the side that isn't told," said Wellever, an anthropology and journalism junior.

MSU to fix traffic circle

A proposed intersection with traffic lights that would replace the traffic circle at Bogue Street and Wilson Road would better control the flow of pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles, administrators say. As part of the 2020 Vision plan, Wilson Road between Farm Lane and Conrad Hall and Bogue Street between Shaw Lane and the Veterinary Medical Center parking lot will be reconstructed, adding bicycle lanes and changing the intersection. The MSU Board of Trustees will vote on an architect and engineer for the project at its meeting Friday. The proposed reconstruction of the traffic circle to include a traffic light fits with the priorities for pedestrians first, bicycles second and vehicles third, said Jeff Kacos, director of Campus Planning and Administration and chairman of the Campus Infrastructure Planning Work Group. "While traffic circles are very efficient for moving vehicles, they're not pedestrian-friendly," Kacos said.

Steep fines given out for icy sidewalks

As soon as it snows outside, animal science and pre-veterinary medicine junior Michelle Gormley said she shovels the sidewalk in front of her house in order to keep walkers safe. "It only takes a couple of minutes to shovel your sidewalk," she said.

'Wonder Dog' recovers from hospital visit

Zeke the Wonder Dog was taken to the MSU Small Animal Clinic last Friday after he chewed some carpet in the home of his owners, Jim and Terri Foley. He was taken in for surgery after the carpet became stuck in his intestines, and he went home Monday evening. Zeke, whose real name is Dexter, is best known for catching flying discs during pregame and halftime events at Spartan football games and other locations. Terri Foley, Zeke's owner, said he might not have meant to eat the carpet. "We think he may have gotten sick from something else and tried to clean it up, but ended up eating the carpet, too," Terri Foley said.

Hannah Center to honor Pearl Harbor

The East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road, will host a remembrance of Pearl Harbor on Dec.

Bernero takes mayor course at Harvard

Lansing's mayor-elect Virg Bernero headed off to mayor school last week and learned the ABC's of city management. He joined 18 other newly-elected mayors from the nation to attend the Seminar on Transition and Leadership for Newly Elected Mayors at Harvard University.

Shelter worker reflects on helping homeless

Patrick Patterson occasionally cleans up sewage, takes care of bed lice problems and handles outbreaks of tuberculosis.

E.L. library will hold international film fest

The East Lansing Public Library will host an international film festival at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec.

MSU sponsors study of views about Mich.

In a season of low economic conditions in Michigan, 55 percent of Michiganians still say the state's cities generally are important to them. This data was part of a bigger State of the State Survey, which is conducted by MSU's Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. While the percentage of Michigan residents who value the state's cities is down from 71 percent in 2002, Doug Roberts, director of the institute, said the data is still positive for Michigan's cities. "When you look at the state with all the things that are going on, the economy is not particularly great," he said.

Defensive driving course offered today

The National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course is at 6 p.m. today at the Lansing Area Safety Council, 3315 S.

Commission's suggestions to be reviewed

A copy of the report created by the independent commission investigating the April 2-3 disturbances will be in the hands of the East Lansing City Council at today's meeting.

Experts: Plan for designated driver

Students need to prepare to designate a driver when drinking, especially as the holiday season approaches, said experts from local and national groups as they recognized December as National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. Planning ahead is one of the best ways to avoid drinking and driving, said Rebecca Allen, health educator at Olin Health Center. "Your safest bet is if you plan to drive, just don't drink," Allen said.

Police briefs 12/06/05

Winter festival features chili, chestnuts

Will Whelton was already deep into his research as the sound of holiday bells rang through the crowd of about 150 still entering the chili cook-off inside the Marriott at University Place on Sunday afternoon. He had finished nine of the 12 chili varieties, shuffling his judge's clipboard and chili bowls to grade each on a 10-point scale.