MSU officials offer tips for a safe vacation

Giant foam dice bounced across a board symbolizing the United States as part of the "Play Hard, Play Safe and Play Again" game Tuesday in Shaw Hall's cafeteria. The game was part of the annual Spring Break Safety Fair coordinated by the Women's Resource Center, or WRC, with the help of Olin Health Center, which runs the game. "I think the most important thing is just a reminder you need to protect yourself on spring break," said Olin health educator Jon Kermiet.

Word on the street

"Maybe a couple nicer restaurants. You could go out and have a nice dinner." Bryon Botorowicz, psychology and sociology senior "Different types of cultural restaurants.

Male assaulted at Sparty's Night Club

An unidentified man was assaulted and wounded early Sunday morning outside Sparty's Night Club, 410 S.

Judge: Fine increase will curb speeding

Drivers who speed along portions of Grand River Avenue and Saginaw Highway will face a $40 increase in speeding ticket fines as of midnight on Thursday. Originally $135, tickets were raised to keep vehicles from traveling faster than a 10 mph speed hike made by the Michigan Department of Transportation, or MDOT, last week.

Mich. college students meet lawmakers, voice concerns

About 10 MSU students joined a group of 13 Michigan colleges to meet with state government officials on Tuesday to express their concerns and learn about the legislative process. The Michigan Campus Compact hosted the second annual "Day at the State Capitol," along with Sen.

Faculty skip council's meeting on Tuesday

Possibly deterred by the snow, not enough professors and student representatives attended the Academic Council meeting on Tuesday to be able to vote on issues. There must be 61 voting members in attendance to convene a meeting, but by 4 p.m., 45 minutes after the meeting was scheduled to begin, only 59 of those members had appeared. Acting Provost John Hudzik ended the meeting, urging those in attendance to encourage missing members to come to the next meeting, scheduled for March 22. "You're all great folks for being here - stay great and get your colleagues to show up," Hudzik said. The weather is sometimes a factor in keeping people from venturing out to the meetings, said Jon Sticklen, chairman of the Executive Committee of Academic Council and an associate professor of computer science. "This doesn't happen too frequently, but when it does, it's usually in winter when there is a blizzard," Sticklen said.

Sexual assault task force continues to meet

A university community task force working toward reducing sexual assaults and relationship violence at MSU is closer to submitting its recommendations. The group, formed in November after 12 sexual assaults were reported on MSU's campus during the fall semester, is made up of more than 30 university community members, including faculty, staff and students. The task force met Monday to brainstorm and review findings since it first met in December. "We started to get the ball rolling," committee co-Chairperson Jayne Schuiteman said.

Police briefs 02/23/05

2 firefighters hurt in Lansing house fire

Two firefighters were injured in a Lansing house fire at 710 Clark St. on Monday, when the floor beneath them collapsed.

Nigerian artist to play at E.L. library event

East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbott Road, will hold a "Community Cultures: Africa" program from 2 p.m.

Surgeon general advises all home owners test for radon

Americans need to test their homes for radon, which is a significant health risk at elevated levels, said U.S.

Visit by former member of 1970s radical group causes stir

In 1970, Bill Ayers said "enough was enough" and joined 10 other people to declare war against the U.S.

Broadcasting expo to host management talk

Management guru Stephen M.R. Covey will give a presentation during the Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference & Expo at 8 a.m.

Consultant accepts position with U-Mass

An MSU consultant who worked on the initial stages of the proposed new residential college has accepted a job with the University of Massachusetts. Marcellette Williams, a consultant to Acting Provost John Hudzik, has accepted a job as senior vice president for academic and student affairs and international relations for the entire University of Massachusetts system, which includes five campuses. Williams will assume her position full time in July, following completion of an MSU study abroad program in South Africa this summer. "I had a wonderful experience here as a student, which was only topped by my experience as a faculty member and administrator," she said.

Bill might ban minors from buying violent games

Children younger than 17 could be banned from buying violent video games with the label of Mature or Adults Only if state Sen.

Population persistent issue for E.L., Lansing

Although Lansing and East Lansing populations dropped between the 1990 and 2000 censuses, both cities are now estimating a slight increase in their populations. A study recently released by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments reported the population of Detroit has fallen below 900,000 people for the first time since 1920. Delores Muller, a senior planning analyst for the council, said people might be moving out of the city to find a better quality of life, but it is hard to pinpoint one direct cause. Jim van Ravensway, East Lansing's planning and community development director, said the city's population dropped from about 50,700 people in 1990 to 46,500 in 2000. "Since then, we have climbed back up to 47,300," he said. Lansing's Senior Planner John Hodges said he doesn't have exact estimates for Lansing, but has observed several new housing units that led him to believe the city population has slightly increased. However, numbers have not reached the levels they were at in 1990, and Lansing and East Lansing officials say this is affecting polices being put in place.

Simons donate $300K for music

When he began at MSU, Roy J. Simon was a music major studying theory, conducting and composition. Even though he ended up changing his major during his college career, Simon, the director of Telecommunication Systems and Transportation Services and the husband of MSU President Lou Anna K.

Credit, spring break focus of programs

The Women's Resource Center is hosting two programs, one on credit reports and the other on spring break safety, today on campus.

ASMSU members aim to renovate offices

ASMSU members hope to give their offices a new "professional" look. Under the Student Assembly's push, ASMSU members will voluntarily paint the student government offices.

Police briefs 02/22/05