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MICHIGAN

Young voters could be key to caucus

Alessa Thomas
January 22, 2004

Dimity Palazzola can't wait for the Michigan Democratic caucus - it's the first time in a presidential race she will be old enough to have a say. "I've always been following politics and looking forward to when I could vote," she said. "I wished I could have voted in the last election.

MSU

'U' uses new, old strategies to keep energy costs down

Amy Bartner
January 22, 2004

A $4-million lighting renovation in several campus buildings will save energy and money in the long run, but university officials say most students won't even notice the change. However, some might notice another way MSU has been cutting back on energy - keeping the temperature in campus buildings at about 68 to 70 degrees. "Quite frankly, a lot of people are uncomfortable at 68," University Engineer Bob Nestle said. Nestle said MSU has been keeping building temperatures at about 68 degrees for more than 30 years. "Energy conservation has been a high priority at Michigan State University since the early '70s," he said.

MSU

Movie offices open on time

Joseph Clark
January 21, 2004

Though the Residence Halls Association Movie Offices have experienced difficulty in the past, this semester, they opened on time. The five offices, located in Brody, Phillips, Holden, Akers and Gilchrist halls, opened Tuesday for the semester.

MSU

'U' examines safe, recyclable packaging materials

Meghan Gilbert
January 21, 2004

Paul Singh keeps up to date on the popular peanuts and popcorn craved by the masses - for their mailing packages. Singh, a professor in the MSU School of Packaging, conducts research and testing of the best loose-fill materials stuffed in boxes to protect gifts and fragile items. "When companies want their products tested, they send them to Michigan State," said Singh, also director for the Consortium of Distribution Packaging Research. After the environmental movement in the late '80s, Singh performed a large-scale comparison research project among loose-fill packaging items ranging from starch- and paper-based packaging peanuts to expanded polystyrene, a Styrofoam-like material.

MICHIGAN

Online ballots continue to amplify voter participation

Although there are almost three weeks left until Michigan's Democratic caucus, officials already are predicting that voter participation might be the largest in recent years. As of Thursday, the Michigan Democratic Party had processed about 23,000 applications to vote by mail or online, according to Mark Brewer, executive chair of the party. Brewer said the number of applications already has exceeded the total amount of votes in three of the past five Democratic caucuses.

MSU

Forum to highlight ethics

Scandals in business, such as those involving Enron and WorldCom that took place in 2002 are nothing new, but emphasis in ethics education might help to make them less common in the future, officials say. Recently, the University of Virginia's Darden Graduate School of Business Administration began work on creating a new ethics institute, which also is sponsored by the Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers.

MSU

Human Spirit: Student belts praise, writes with heart

Tara May
January 20, 2004

Lateena Dinkins spends hours practicing her vocal performances. She stays in studios until 3 a.m. sometimes, writing music. She works on scales, she trains her voice and her career has been years of hard work in the making. But a gospel song comes from her heart. "I don't practice a gospel song at all," said Dinkins, a graduate student in music performance.

MSU

Future of liberal arts programs in jeopardy

Meghan Gilbert
January 20, 2004

Month-long focus group conversations concerning the future of the liberal arts and sciences programs at MSU have culminated into a 15-page summary proposal for Provost Lou Anna Simon's review. The report included recommendations to merge departments within colleges, use more electronic communications and evaluate broad cost-cutting ideas and course overlaps. Marcellette Williams, an MSU alumna and retired MSU English and comparative literature professor, submitted the summary Thursday and said participants were passionate during focus group conversations. "It was extraordinary faculty and toward the end, the provost will find extraordinary support," Williams said.