Owners say lakefront homes need rebuilding

Meridian Twp. - Old dilapidated homes sitting on valuable lakefront properties are in the midst of being torn down to build big modern homes on Lake Lansing. Other homeowners looking to stay on the block must adhere to regulations on lakefront housing that require trees and muted paint colors. With such changes in store, Haslett resident and lakefront homeowner Ivan Bartha says it’s impossible for new homeowners not to rebuild or refurbish the homes surrounding the lake.

WEB ONLY: MTV game singles out students on campus

A legion of students vying for the affection of four singles entered the ultimate compatibility contest Thursday night - hoping to get singled out.Case Hall Singled Out, sponsored by the Case Hall government, was based on the popular MTV 1990s game show, “Singled Out.”The price for the winners of the contest was an all-expenses-paid dinner to Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, 5015 Marsh Road in Okemos.About 30 men and 40 women were placed in the dating pool.

ASMSU wants student bus tax

In the near future, students might be able to hop on a bus and travel anywhere on campus they want - without worrying about paying. ASMSU’s Academic Assembly is working to develop a transportation tax that each student would pay to ride the Capitol Area Transportation Authority buses - much like the taxes students pay each semester for services provided by ASMSU, the Residence Halls Association and The State News. Adam Raezler, James Madison representative for the undergraduate student government’s Academic Assembly, said the tax won’t come easily, but he has hopes of it happening by the 2004-05 school year. “This is just a great service for students,” he said.

Students get chance at superstardom with Spartan Idol

The University Activities Board and Residence Halls Association are co-sponsoring auditions for “Spartan Idol: The Making of an MSU Superstar” today and Tuesday. RHA and the University Activities Board had been discussing the idea, said Derek Wallbank, external vice-president of RHA.

APASO conference brings awareness

Standing arm in arm, Jennifer Won and Ben Yu waited for Saturday night’s formal dinner to begin.The couple stood in the halls of the Kellogg Center before dinner - the last event of the annual Asian Pacific American Student Organization weekend conference.The tables were covered in white linen cloths and candles softly lit the room.All day Saturday, the organization conducted workshops on Asian Pacific Americans in the job market, media, sexuality, activism and other issues.Won, a merchandising management senior, wasn’t able to attend the workshops earlier in the day, but dressed up to attend the dinner with her boyfriend.Won said she was glad the conference was able to touch on Asian Pacific-American sexuality issues.“They rarely discuss those issues,” she said.

Spooky weekend

A tortured scream rang through the woods as a masked man stepped out of the fog and revved his chainsaw. Rebekah Lampart gasped.

Objecting to WAR

Grand River Avenue traffic was halted Saturday afternoon as MSU student groups and area residents took to East Lansing streets in protest of a U.S.-led preemptive strike on Iraq. Hoisting anti-war placards and chanting pro-peace slogans, the participants marched west on Grand River Avenue before turning at Michigan Avenue to march east.

Police briefs 10/28/02

Greeks hand out candy, cookies, pumpkins in carnival activities

Wendy Andersen held an umbrella over the head of a three-foot Harry Potter on Friday, shielding the boy and his freshly painted purple pumpkin from falling raindrops.While the downpour soaked the streets, it didn’t put a damper on the turnout of the greek community’s Safe Halloween carnival.East Lansing children dressed as monsters, princesses and superheroes searched through a pile of wet hay for candy, decorated cookies, painted pumpkins, played games and ate doughnuts at the event on M.A.C.

Teach-in educates about Iraqi relations

More than 300 people gathered at Wells Hall on Friday at a teach-in about the United States’ potential war in Iraq, organized by a coalition of faculty members and students protesting the war.From the start, English professor and speaker Ken Harrow said the teach-in was “not purely an educational function, but a political function as well.”Speakers later urged the audience to join Friday’s rally against war on Iraq in downtown East Lansing.Harrow, along with four other staff members and a representative from the Students for Peace and Justice, spoke during the two-hour seminar, sponsored by the Faculty, Staff, and Student Coalition Against the War in Iraq.Assistant English professor Salah Hassan said after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, most of the Middle East was split up and colonized by Great Britain and France.

Event attracts golfers despite weather

Rainy conditions and chilly temperatures could not deter about 20 devoted golfers from attending the first Happy Gilmore Golf Scramble at Forest Akers East Golf Course on Friday afternoon.The University Activities Board event was slated for two weeks ago, but because of inclement weather, it was called off and rescheduled.“I was really excited to play because I’m a big golfer,” Scott Wolfe said about the event that was canceled two weeks ago.

Greeks take over rock for tailgating

On football Saturdays when the sun comes out, so do the tailgaters.One of the largest tailgating spectacles on MSU’s campus is that of the greek organizations who take over the rock on Farm Lane.Waking up early on the weekend isn’t an issue, as fraternities and sororities begin taking over the area next to the Red Cedar River.“I’m out here at 8 o’clock every week,” said Nick Nykerk, a Sigma Pi member and civil engineering sophomore.

Sports events leave little space for fan parking

With multiple sporting events Saturday, parking and cleanup will be problematic on campus.With volleyball at 3 p.m., the men’s basketball team’s annual Green and White game at 4 p.m.

Secretary hopefuls face off on issues

On Nov. 5, Michigan voters will choose a new secretary of state for the first time in eight years. Two experienced election workers, Republican Terri Lynn Land and Democrat Melvin “Butch” Hollowell, are vying for voter attention.

Organizations leave RHA funds drained

The Residence Halls Association has reached into its pockets to help finance various student group events, but the organization’s generosity might lead to a shortage of funds.Although student groups appreciate RHA’s willingness to help, some members of RHA’s General Assembly aren’t happy the organization has almost spent its entire General Assembly fund so early into the semester.“The general assembly have put themselves in this position,” said Case Hall Rep.

Despite cost, acupuncture still popular

Okemos - Megan Long rested flat on her back as a series of small needles were placed into her feet, hands, head and ears.Acupuncture is a traditional Oriental medicine that dates back 4,000 years.

Free Internet entices java junkies to cafes

Business owner Young Oh connects with his customers by providing free Internet access at his local coffee shops. Oh recently added the amenity as a way to accommodate his customers at Caffe Latte, 130 Charles St., and attract new ones to Café Mania, 547 E.

Police briefs 10/25/02

Weekend paintball war to take place between MSU, U-M fans

Spartan football fans have the opportunity to shoot green and white paintballs at Wolverine fans for three hours Saturday in the first MSU vs.

Customers asked to donate cell phones for abuse victims

Body care products and cell phones go hand-in-hand at Meridian Mall this month to battle domestic violence. The Body Shop has partnered with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Wireless Foundation to sponsor a national cell phone collection for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Customers are asked to donate their old cell phones to the store so they can be sold, refurbished or recycled with proceeds going to the national coalition and the Wireless Foundation. The Body Shop in Meridian Mall, 1982 W.