Lansing man killed in highway car accident

A 27-year-old Lansing man was killed early Tuesday morning when he lost control of his sport utility vehicle on southbound U.S.

Counterfeit money exchanged in dorms

Desk receptionists across campus reported two suspects trying to pass counterfeit $20 bills Monday, MSU police Sgt.

Police briefs 10/27/04

'U' sells flu shots to county

The MSU University Physician's Office sold flu vaccines to the Ingham County Health Department, but there are still vaccines available at Olin Health Center. The Ingham County Health Department received almost 45 percent of the expected vaccine supply due to the suspended licenses of Chiron Corp., an influenza vaccine provider.

Unopposed Lansing-area judges prepare for next term

Judges James Giddings and Richard Ball are running unopposed for their circuit and district court seats, but both say they haven't lost their vigor for their jobs or their outside lives. "I'm brilliant, stunningly well-educated and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound," joked Giddings, 64, who has been a 30th Judicial Circuit Court judge since 1978.

E.L. Council to discuss downtown housing diversity

With each new development presented to East Lansing City Council, the debate deepens over the desired mix of downtown residents, city officials said.

'U' collaborates on water research

By partnering with a national environmental organization, MSU will assist in researching how harmful contaminants found in the Great Lakes will affect human health. The Center of Excellence for Great Lakes and Human Health, based in Ann Arbor, was formed in collaboration with MSU and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, said Joan Rose, a professor of fisheries and wildlife and crop and soil sciences who works with the center. "One of the goals of the center is the communication of this science so it can be useful to communities and other decision makers," Rose said. A team of scientists from multiple fields and different institutions will research three main areas of how the Great Lakes impact human health - through drinking water, recreational water use and the development and spread of toxic algae, Rose said. Congress allocated funds for research of oceans and their impact on human health, and legislators felt that a body of freshwater needed to be included, Rose said, adding that a grant proposal was written to compete for that federal funding. Nearly $10 million was awarded to NOAA, and funding was officially received six to eight weeks ago.

Group discusses role females play in crime

A group of women met Monday to discuss how females have been historically ignored and misrepresented in criminal research. Merry Morash, an MSU criminal justice professor, recently completed a textbook entitled "Gender, Crime, and Justice: Advances in Understanding." Morash said she wanted to create the book to provide a more accurate depiction of women in relation to criminal activity. She said many of the past crimes committed by females have either been ignored or blamed on the fact that they were acting outside what was socially acceptable behavior for a woman. "One of the most important findings very early on was that adolescent girls who are sexually abused frequently run away," she said. Morash added when the women run away their coping mechanism is to prostitute, steal and take drugs to survive on the streets and to dull the pain. "In essence, what happens to those girls is they are taken to court and then sent back home, or sent to an institution and then sent home.

Police briefs 10/26/04

Candid commentary on recent assaults results in radio staff termination, apology

Comments made on a local radio station morning show about recent on-campus sexual assault cases brought to light issues on how sexual assaults are viewed by the public. The radio station, WVIC (94.1-FM) in Lansing, aired comments made by two part-time substitute morning hosts on Oct.

ASMSU begins push for degree program minors

ASMSU is discussing bringing undergraduate minors to MSU to diversify the rigid course work and degree requirements in some professional majors, such as business and engineering. "In other universities, all of the students have the inclination to take classes outside of their major," said Dan Weber, Academic Assembly chairperson.

Smith accepts invitation to speak at fraternity

Between practice sessions on Sunday, head football coach John L. Smith discussed his leadership philosophy and the current state of the team with students and alumni at the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity house. Since taking the helm of a wavering Spartans program in 2003, he said his biggest challenge has been altering the players' dispositions. "We're in the process of changing attitudes by changing expectations that we have for our guys," Smith said, adding that the "no class, no play" standard has been new concept for some players. "We are a very blue-collar program," he said.

Dogs invade woods during night walk

Okemos - About six times a year, the nature center's senior park naturalist, Kit Rich, leads the evening tour through the woods.

Event examines Latino identity

Criticism about the rate of Chicano and Latino assimilation was one of the main focuses of a regional Chicano conference held at the Union this weekend. The event was held by the Midwest FOCO chapter of the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies.

Do you know what Proposal 1 and 2 are? Are they important to the election?

"Proposal 1, I know. Proposal 2, I have no idea. Proposal 1 is about the schools and the lottery.

Usability conference to be held on campus

MSU will host the second annual Usability and Accessibility Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday at Kellogg Center. The two-day event will feature industry and academic leaders discussing usability and accessibility principles, research findings, policy, design, methods and tools in relation to human-computer interaction. Conference attendees are invited to celebrate the grand opening of the MSU Usability and Accessibility Center, which will be open for tours and information-sharing. The facility will be used for conducting research and usability testing, as well as for education and consulting services on accessibility.

Police briefs 10/25/04

E.L. parking ticket effects still unclear

A month after East Lansing parking fines were increased, city officials say it is too early to tell if the change is paying off. East Lansing officials increased the rates in September to free meter spaces and cover parking department costs. The increases range from $5 to $25, depending on the violation.

Students help 'ReStore' site

By Lydia Weiss Special for The State News Explosions of laughter and the smell of paint seeped from the doorway of Habitat ReStore on Saturday as racial ethnic student aides from East Complex armed with paintbrushes added a coat of paint to bookshelves.

Olin Health Center offers suicide-prevention program as alternative

Suicide can be prevented through discussion between friends, family members and university officials, MSU health officials say. And Olin Health Center, the MSU Counseling Center and the Department of Residence Life will use this idea to try to deter suicide with the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program. "We're living in times with a lot of fear and we want to start a dialogue about that fear," said Dennis Martell, Olin Health Education Services coordinator. Martell said suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 15-24, after accidental injury and before homicide. The campus organizations will distribute display placards with information about obtaining help. MSU's Yellow Ribbon project began a month ago when Martell was approached by Shelley Wieting, president elect of the auxiliary to the American Osteopathic Association. The Michigan branch of the Osteopathic Association is funding the MSU Yellow Ribbon project. "People who are considering suicide, they don't necessarily want to kill themselves; they want whatever pain is causing suicidal thoughts to stop," Wieting said.