Mich. begins $5 million project
Michigan organizations are working on a $5 million grant project to increase the safety of elderly patients at long-term care facilities by improving background checks for employees. Michigan is one of seven states that received grant money from the U.S.
Committee discusses liberal arts college
The Executive Committee of Academic Council heard feedback from the standing committees on the final report of the Committee on College Reorganization. Only the University Committee on Faculty Affairs endorsed an option laid out in the final report - the recommendation that MSU improve liberal arts and sciences education, without significant college reorganization now. Investment in liberal arts and sciences must wait for new resources, rather than shifting funds from other programs, said Susan Melnick, co-chairwoman of the University Committee on Faculty Affairs. "We are arguing in favor of strengthening liberal arts, not diminishing it," Melnick said. The other option mentioned would establish a Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences institution that would include the Colleges of Arts & Letters and Social Science. Vinayak Prasad, chairman of the University Committee on Student Affairs, said his committee felt strong reservations about the option because it did not include the College of Natural Science. "We are hesitant to say reorganization is necessary to fix the problems," Prasad said.
Word on the street
"Bridge the gap between older residents and students. They need to make it easier for the two to work together and solve issues." Ryan Longoria | history senior "The stop lights get on my nerves - everything has a no turn on red.
Chinese New Year celebrations begin today
Groups on campus are getting ready to bring some of their culture to MSU students by throwing festivities for the Chinese New Year, which begins today. Historically, the event is marked with 15 days of celebration throughout Asia. "The first night is a lot like Thanksgiving in America," said Mark Wong, president of the Singapore Student Association.
Campus groups hold protest
Two student groups staged a sit-in protest Monday at the Administration Building in their latest attempt in a five-year campaign to encourage MSU to join a union for workers' rights. About 35 members from Students for Economic Justice, or SEJ, and Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Aztlan, or MEXA, sat in the lobby in front of administrators' offices and held signs that read "Justicia Ahora", or "Justice Now," and "No Justice, No Peace, Join the WRC!" "We want the university to take some responsibility for workers' rights," SEJ member and international relations sophomore Maggie Corser said as she made signs before the protest. "We want to send a clear message to the administration that there is a lot of student support for the (Worker Rights Consortium)." The WRC is a monitoring body that investigates the labor conditions under which university clothing is made.
Law journal hosts foreign policy forum
Focusing on the history of U.S. involvement in a global world, Richard J. Goldstone gave the keynote address during Monday's daylong international law symposium, "From Nuremberg to Abu Ghraib: The Relevance of International Criminal Law to the Global War on Terror." "The people in this country must realize that their best interest is in international relations," Goldstone said to a full crowd in the Castle Board room of the MSU College of Law. The conference, hosted by the Journal of International Law, featured speakers from around the world, including 2005 Nobel Peace Prize nominee Michael Scharf. Scharf, who was selected by the Bush Administration to train the judges for the trial of Saddam Hussein, told the group how he came to be chosen. "I wrote a paper about how the Iraqi tribunal would be criticized because it looked like a puppet court of the U.S.," Scharf said.
Officials: Marijuana becoming socially accepted locally
Last month, seven people on campus were arrested in one night for using marijuana, and campus, city and county officials say they worry the drug is becoming socially accepted among young people. "I have no problem with it," said microbiology junior Valerie Keefe.
Dorms switch to wireless Internet
With funding from the Residence Halls Association and some technical know-how from MSU computer support staff, Case Hall is the first dorm on campus with a wireless Internet access point. Last year, RHA budgeted $5,000 toward the installation of wireless access points in five residential areas on campus, including Case.
Preserving treasures focus of lunch event
The MSU Women's Resource Center will present "My Collection of ___ Needs Help: Safeguarding Your Family Treasures" from 12-1 p.m.
Health center offers services for charity
The staff of the Chiro-Technology Spinal Health Center, 4064 E. Holt Road in Holt will donate a day of services to patients and the community from 10 a.m.
Students travel to D.C., focus on activism in Sudan
A group of 12 MSU students traveled to Washington on Friday to learn how to turn their concern about the current conditions in Darfur, Sudan, into activism. The students attended the conference "A Call to Action for Darfur, Sudan," sponsored by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Diabetes group, Izzo hold event for illness
The American Diabetes Association will be holding the Fast Break for Diabetes event on Feb. 17 at the Shaheen Chevrolet, 632 American Road, in Lansing. The event will feature a silent auction with items such as MSU basketball tickets, Lansing Lugnuts tickets and fitness gift certificates.
Holiday to boost local business
Love is in the air, and various local businesses are catering to the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday. For candy stores, florists and restaurants, major holidays bring in a lot of business, said Steve Blair, an owner of Fabiano's Homemade Candies, 1427 E.
East Village residents concerned, optimistic about area's future
As East Lansing officials work to reform the East Village, some students living in the area are wary of the city's motives and the consequences of such a large project. According to city documents, plans for the area include creating buildings to house businesses, permanent residents and renters in addition to demolishing structures in place, including the Cedar Village apartment complex. "I don't know if it goes with MSU's campus," said Heather Kerver, a zoology senior and East Village resident.
Women business owners network at expo
Hundreds of local female business owners came together to exhibit their services for thousands of women at the Mid-Michigan Women's Expo, Friday through Sunday at the Lansing Center. While women shopped from booth to booth, listened to demonstrations and learned about health issues, business owner Diane Boulet said times have changed for women in business. "It's a lot easier now for women to own businesses," Boulet said.
Team grows, gains experience
In the six years since it was established, the MSU Polo Club has grown from a few players using a wooden horse for practice to almost 30 members with a stable of 15 horses at its disposal. Coach Tom Wisehart said the team began when the Detroit Polo Club approached the MSU Horsemen's Association and offered to help them form a team. "We focused on starting from the fundamentals and going from there," said Wisehart, who played polo as an undergraduate at the University of Connecticut.
State senator speaks with fired employees
Sen. Virg Bernero, D-Lansing, will appear today on the NBC's Today Show, ABC's Good Morning America and CBS's The Early Show with employees from Okemos-based Weyco Inc. The workers were fired for refusing to take a test that would have determined if they smoked outside of work. Bernero said he plans to introduce legislation that would prevent companies from firing employees who choose to smoke or engage in other legal activities on their own time.