Video game educates 'U' on alcohol

A video game featuring a virtual bar and blood alcohol content meter will inform MSU students about the consequences of abusing alcohol this fall. The program is an update of Alcohol 101, a CD-ROM used in Olin Health Center, residence halls, sororities and fraternities. The new interactive program, called Alcohol 101 Plus, allows users to make decisions for virtual characters in video scenarios involving alcohol consumption. Participants can pick from a variety of characters including a basketball player in a bar the night before a game or a freshman in a dorm room. If students choose to drink, a message appears on the screen detailing the consequences of their decision. Jasmine Greenamyer, a health educator at Olin, said the program always has been well received by students. "We're excited for the update," she said.

Police briefs 03/14/03

Nightclub blaze sparks sprinkler debate

As Rhode Island and Pennsylvania lawmakers have proposed a tax-incentive plan to encourage businesses to install fire sprinklers in more buildings, local officials say the move for Michigan may be too costly in the midst of a budget crisis. Bob Cushman, a survivor from the Feb.

Students fried over food item

Some students were sizzling mad over french fries Wednesday after a Shaw Hall cafeteria worker gave them a new name - "freedom fries." The name mimics a move by cafeteria workers at the U.S.

Police briefs 03/13/03

E-mail system debuts, will replace Pilot

For a few hours, users of MSU's Pilot e-mail system had a new option for checking their messages. A new Web site that will replace the 10-year-old Pilot system was unofficially launched Wednesday afternoon.

Amtrak looks to swell funding with talks

Negotiations between Amtrak officials and Michigan Department of Transportation representatives remain at a standstill after nearly a month, but renewed discussions continue today, officials announced Wednesday.Amtrak officials will meet with transportation officials and representatives from Gov.

'U' program makes roads safer

Rusty Haight has been in more than 700 car wrecks.On Wednesday, the crash test driver prepared a Pontiac Aztek for one more."I would be lying to you if I said I didn't get nervous," he said, as he helped remove the driver's side door from the Aztek.The car crash - No.

Program to discuss farming concerns

The Great Lakes water usage controversy will continue to be an issue for Michigan farmers as they enter the 2003 growing season.

Disaster preparation Web site launched by University Relations

MSU launched a Web site to help people prepare for terrorism, natural disasters or other emergencies Wednesday. "With the general increasing concern of terrorism post 9-11, we started looking at ways we could consolidate safety information in one Web site," MSU police Chief Jim Dunlap said. The site, http://beprepared.msu.edu, shows the current national terror threat level, as decided by the Homeland Security Advisory System and explains what each degree of threat means. As of Wednesday, the nation is at level yellow - which means a significant risk of terrorist attacks. Dunlap said the site, which is run by University Relations, is an effort to consolidate safety information from different organizations on and off campus into one comprehensive resource. "It really was an effort to try to bring in all the places at the university that had a different piece of the puzzle," he said.

Police briefs 03/12/03

Student Life pamphlet to educate activists

With the possibility of war and recent racially motivated incidents on campus, some students are taking an active approach to get their voices heard - and the Department of Student Life wants to help."What Every Activist Should Know" is a new pamphlet created by the department in February to educate people who choose to voice their opinions.

Speaker to visit during history series

MSU's Department of History is presenting its 2003 Lecture Series, "September 11 Historical Frameworks: Secularism, Nationalism, Islamism." Political science Professor Mark Tessler and Samuel J.

Event to showcase diverse talent

To kick-off Asian Pacific American heritage month, the Asian Pacific American Student Organization will host a talent show, "Cultural Vogue," displaying some of the innovative waves of talent on campus and to educate students."Cultural Vogue," which includes about 150 performers, is held bi-annually, and about 500 people attended when it was held in the Auditorium's Fairchild Theatre in 2001.Bindi Patel, co-coordinator for the event, said the idea began 11 years ago in the McDonel Hall Kiva to allow Asian-American students to display themselves in a nonacademic venue."Since then, it's continued and gotten bigger to educate the masses at Michigan State," she said.The theme of this year's show, "The Best of Both Worlds," blends the traditional aspects of Asian cultures with the modern angles of Asian-American cultures."If you grow up in Asia, there is a different culture there than in America, and we want to show the difference between Asian and Asian-American cultures," co-coordinator for "Cultural Vogue" Ryan Abenes said.

Students hold clothing drive

Dewitt - When a Lansing youth group dropped its donation off at the Child and Family Services of Lansing, it immediately decided it wanted to do more. When the members of the Youth Action Committee of the Capital Region Community Foundation brought a money donation to the center, 4287 Five Oaks Drive in Lansing, they noticed the organization had a sparse amount of donated clothing. "I made up a video, posted posters for the schools and got our junior high school involved," said Hillary Pasch, action committee co-chair and a DeWitt High School senior.

Gas prices unlikely to raise CATA rates

Capital Area Transportation Authority officials say though they are keeping watch over rising gas prices, they don't anticipate increased costs for their riders. "We are keeping a close eye on gas prices since it's such a big part of our budget," said Pat Gilbert, CATA director of marketing. Although CATA ridership has been "booming," there has never been a "proven correlation between high gas prices and increased bus riders," Gilbert said. "It's amazing what people will pay to stay in their cars," she said. She said there are no plans to raise prices or change routes in the area. But despite consistent prices, English junior Emily Laskowsky said she is hoping the spring weather will soon bloom in East Lansing, so she can toss aside her car keys and avoid budget-busting gas prices. "I'm definitely looking forward to the warm weather," she said.

Roly Poly opens its doors, pulls in student business

Roly Poly, the Georgia-based sandwich shop specializing in rolled sandwiches, opened its doors in East Lansing on Tuesday. Yonni Hanson, the store's general manager, said the grand opening yielded a steady crowd and hopes it is a sign of more to come. "We're excited to see students and faculty," he said.

Local business man dies at 58

After more than 25 years of business in East Lansing, Wazoo Records closed on a sad note. Owner James Patrick Lindsey, 58, died Thursday after suffering a heart attack in his home. Rebecca Lindsey-Kennedy, who was once married to Lindsey, said the fate of the music store doesn't look good after the death of its founder. "There is no one to really run it now," she said.

Big Boy on 'cursed corner' says farewell

The storefront located at 101 E. Grand River Ave. at the corner of Abbott Road is once again vacant.Movers carried out furniture and equipment from the East Lansing Big Boy on Saturday because the restaurant didn't make enough money.

'U' to host forum discussing legal aspects of U-M case

Less than one month before the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on the University of Michigan's admissions policy, representatives from both sides of the debate will argue their points at MSU.The MSU-Detroit College of Law and the office of MSU President M.