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MSU

'U' freshman wins dorm room makeover

Education freshman Amy Birkmeier will be the tenant of MSU's coolest campus crib next fall. Birkmeier beat out 240 applicants to win "Room 4U," MSU's Division of Housing & Food Services' dorm room makeover contest, a part of its new Spartan Makeovers initiative. Journalism junior Kristen Waltman and interior design senior Laura Bonucchi will transform Birkmeier's Akers Hall room using materials selected from Meridian Mall in Okemos. Based on popular decorating TV shows such as "While You Were Out" and "Trading Spaces," the makeover process will be presented on the campus UTube network and East Lansing Comcast channel 29 in October. Future Spartan Makeover projects will include roommate, boyfriend and family makeovers.

MSU

Week celebrates identity

MSU's Pride Week kicks off Friday with a series of events to celebrate and educate the campus community about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender identities. "We take time to recognize LGBT identities and the courage it takes to be out in a society that still is ridiculously homophobic," said Jon Hoadley, a social relations and women's studies junior.

MSU

ASMSU funds Indian show

In a move applauded by some representatives and deemed "shady" by others, ASMSU's Student Assembly passed a bill giving $9,000 to support the Indian culture show Satrang. In a lengthy debate Thursday night, some representatives were concerned that Satrang, which is produced by an affiliate of the Asian Pacific American Student Organization, should have gone through ASMSU's Programming Board for the money. "APASO was not willing to represent its own members," said Rob Huber, Student Assembly representative for the group.

MICHIGAN

Judge's decision causes confusion

Officials from the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative have conflicting information relating to the future of its petition drive after an Ingham County Circuit Court judge ruled against the petition's language last month.The organization is petitioning to outlaw race and gender preference practices at state public institutions through a state constitutional amendment.Leonard Schwartz, treasurer for the organization, announced yesterday in the Libertarian Party of Michigan's online newsletter that the petition drive would be suspended indefinitely."After careful consideration of the situation, MCRI decided that continuing the petition drive now would be a waste of time and money," Schwartz said in the statement.

MICHIGAN

Kerry: Bush tax cuts hurt students

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says the results of the 2004 election will rest heavily on the shoulders of young people.During a brief campus tour, Kerry participated in a 20-minute conference call Tuesday with about 130 student reporters from across the country.Kerry began the call with a few comments about college affordability, stating that over the past three years, college tuition has steadily increased, and more than 220,000 young people have been "priced out of college" this year."As everyone knows, the current administration has made its own fundamental choice, which has been to cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans," he said.

MSU

Diversity report released

A report released by the university shows fluctuations in ethnic minority representation during a decline of MSU's overall student population during the 2002-03 school year.

MICHIGAN

WEB ONLY: E.L. library hosts same-sex marriage discussion

On Tuesday evening at the East Lansing Public Library, accounting sophomore Cass Hausserman saved a seat for her aunt as she anxiously waited for a discussion on same-sex marriage to begin. "My aunt gave me a flier about the meeting," she said as more people streamed into the room for the discussion.

MSU

Series explores transgender health

When Rachel Crandall came out as a woman after living in the body of a man for 35 years, she lost everything. She said she lost her job because the hospital "wasn't too thrilled about having a transsexual" on staff.

MSU

'U' discusses benefits of Rice coming to campus

One day after MSU officials announced National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice as this semester's commencement speaker, Democratic officials say her appearance will benefit the university. "We should always have a welcome mat for whoever comes to speak, whether we agree or don't agree," said Trustee Dorothy Gonzales, a Democrat.

MICHIGAN

Job expo attracts crowd

Lansing - As Duane Farris filled out an employment application for Sparrow Health System on Tuesday, he wasn't sure he'd land the job. "Employers have been telling me I might have a hard time because I've already got experience," said Farris, a Lansing resident who recently left his job in the health care industry.

MICHIGAN

City council to discuss new budget, Patriot Act

Members of the East Lansing City Council will get their first opportunity to discuss next year's city budget Tuesday night at their work session. The first draft of the budget, which was delivered to city staff and elected officials at the end of March, estimates a more than 2-percent decrease from last fiscal year's amount. "I think it's going to be just as difficult as it was last year," East Lansing Mayor Pro Tem Sam Singh said.