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MSU

UAB event gives siblings, students time for bonding

Kristin Frey stood to the side, watching her younger sister display her moves in a big-screen version of the game Dance Dance Revolution. Frey, a predental sophomore, said she doesn't think she could play the video game, but enjoyed watching her sister dance to the music. "I have never tried it," she said.

MSU

Michigan Indian Day celebrates heritages

Sitting around a 3-foot-wide handmade drum covered in horse and buffalo hide, six American Indians drummed in unison while they sang in different notes as part of a victory song. The song, which represents the victories American Indians have had in the past as well as those to come, was the closing event for Michigan Indian Day at the Union on Friday. The drummers are members of Little Stone, a group of American Indians who play the drums and sing songs native to their culture.

MSU

Councilmember candidates will hold open forum

Members of the MSU and East Lansing communities will get an opportunity to meet the four candidates running for East Lansing City Council in an open discussion forum tonight. The Multi-Racial Unity Living Experience, or MRULE, is hosting the event, which will be held at 7 p.m.

MSU

Sports festival caters to disabled athletes

By Amy Oprean Special to The State News Susie D'Mello crouched in the center of the Demonstration Hall ballroom Saturday afternoon, listening for a ball that jingled as it rolled her way. Playing goal ball, a sport adapted for the visually impaired, the psychology sophomore dove like a volleyball player to block the ball before pushing it back across the small court. Goal ball was one of nine sports - including swimming, hand cycling and wheelchair basketball - that were part of the first MSU Adapted Sports Festival held by the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at Demonstration Hall and IM Sports-West on Saturday. In an attempt to block the goal, D'Mello's opponents sprawled horizontally to create a wall with their bodies, but missed the ball. "When I first started playing I was pretty bad at it," D'Mello said.

MSU

Students drill with MSU Drumline

By Katie Looby Special to The State News The deafening sound of the MSU fight song echoed throughout East Lansing this weekend - despite the fact that the Spartans football team was on the road. Members of the Spartan Marching Band's drum line kept the beat with members of high school drum lines from across the state.

MICHIGAN

Proposal could restrict raising gas prices

Gas stations could only raise prices one day a week if a Michigan group is successful in getting a gas control measure on the 2006 ballot and passed by voters. The People Against Uncontrolled Motor Vehicle Pricing, or PUMP, wants to restrict gas stations to raising prices only on Mondays.

MICHIGAN

City Council candidates prepare for upcoming polls, begin campaigning

With the East Lansing City Council election fewer than two months away, candidates have started campaigning and talking to the community about their platforms. Two of the five council seats are up for grabs as current Councilmembers Vic Loomis and Bill Sharp run for re-election in November. "The campaign trail has been going very well," Loomis said.

MSU

ASMSU, city officials convene to address relationship with students

At two large tables in the back of Lou & Harry's Grille Room, 20 East Lansing officials and student leaders met Wednesday evening to become acquainted and discuss issues in an attempt to improve city and student relations. Leaders of ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, contacted city officials about meeting for dinner at the restaurant, 235 Ann St., and the two groups were able to find some common ground, said Melissa Horste, director of community affairs for ASMSU's Student Assembly. "It humanized both groups, because there is this sort of tension ... there's some misunderstanding between the city and the university," Horste said.

MSU

Islam week to raise religion's awareness

As part of a national project through the Muslim Students' Association, Sept. 26-30 is Islam Awareness Week. At MSU, several activities are planned for each night of the week, and it ends Friday with a tour of the Islamic Center of East Lansing, 920 S.

MSU

History of MSU, state is conference topic

MSU and Michigan history will be the main topics of discussion at a conference being held Friday and Saturday by the Historical Society of Michigan. Speakers include Provost Kim Wilcox and former state Gov.

MSU

American Indians will be honored at event

Michigan Indian Day will be celebrated from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Union's Gold Rooms A & B. The free event will include speakers and cultural activities. An elder advocate of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Warren Petoskey, will provide the keynote address.

MICHIGAN

Greeks asked to help with drug-law reform

The Marijuana Policy Project Foundation, a group formed to fight marijuana laws, has asked more than 2,300 fraternities and sororities around the country to contribute money this week. The national organization is focused on reforming marijuana laws, said Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project. The group aimed its solicitation to fraternities and sororities because the effects of marijuana laws fall disproportionately on the college-age group and believes that marijuana should be taxed and regulated, similar to alcohol, he said. "If you are arrested for having a joint, you could lose your student aid," Mirken said. Members of the MSU greek system would not consider the cause if contacted by the foundation, said Cody Dawson, the vice president of external relations for the Interfraternity Council. Choosing to smoke marijuana is an individual choice and individual opinion, and not something the greek community as a whole would choose to represent in any way, Dawson said.

MSU

Student tells of life as 'Muslim'

Last spring, Eastern Michigan University student Zoe Piliafas spent an entire semester dressed as a Muslim woman. Piliafas, who is of Greek descent, went by the name Zhooda, adopted a Middle Eastern accent and wore a burqa - a dark shroud that covers everything except a woman's eyes.

MSU

Fair showcases study abroad tradition

For Michael Handley, taking quizzes during his summer zoology classes required him to get in a Jeep and drive to a field in search of the animals. The zoology junior was on a study abroad trip in Kenya for three weeks this summer and said the experience taught him more than he would have learned in a traditional classroom setting. "I am a hands-on learner and this helped," Handley said.