Firstborn children more likely to contract allergies

Recent research conducted by an MSU professor discovered that firstborn children are more likely to suffer from asthma and other allergies.Wilfried Karmaus, an associate professor of epidemiology, found that firstborns have higher levels of cord blood immunoglobulin, a protein determined to be a risk factor for asthma and other allergies, such as hay fever.Karmaus said changes in the mother’s womb after the birth of a first child are reasons for the difference.“The immune system is changed to a different state,” he said.

Blacks to discuss social roles after 9-11 attacks

A public forum designed to discuss the role of blacks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will be held from 7 p.m.

Interracial couples stay together despite others prejudice, criticism

For Shannon Mayer and James Hopson, dating has created a few obstacles other couples may not have had to deal with - they are an interracial couple.Mayer, a parks and recreation senior who is Native American and white, and Hopson, who graduated from MSU last year and is Filipino and black, have been together for two years.

Liquor sales up since Sept. 11 attacks

The war on terrorism hasn’t stopped some people from tapping the Rockies.The week ending Sept.

Organization plans to improve U bike, pedestrian traffic

The future of bicycle and pedestrian traffic on campus and throughout the city will be changing in the coming years. A project combining the efforts of MSU’s Department of Campus Park and Planning and the city of East Lansing will evaluate how to extend the Lansing River Trail through the MSU campus and connect it to Meridian Township and East Lansing’s bike and hike trail system. The group of MSU staff, faculty and students, East Lansing and Meridian Township officials, area residents, the Michigan Department of Transportation, Rail to Trails and Ingham County Parks representatives began working on the project in earnest in July and came up with two different possible master plans.

Women honored for Polar Trek

Six women from Michigan battled the arctic cold to make a 150-mile trek across the North Pole in April.On Tuesday, those same women were honored with a luncheon and a plaque in a place a little warmer - the state Capitol.

Nonprofit organization awards U grants

The holiday spirit of giving might have overtaken the Michigan Great Lakes Protection Fund.Gov.

Forum of experts will address local residents terrorism concerns

State Rep. Virg Bernero will host a town hall meeting in Lansing on Thursday to allow residents to talk with experts on terrorism and bioterrorism.Representatives from the military, U.S.

U tuition bill due sooner than most schools

For college students, it seems two things are inevitable in life - tuition and taxes. The tuition is due first.At MSU, students must make an initial payment for spring semester by Dec.

Annexation case raises concerns of invasiveness

In October, the East Lansing city limits grew and the Meridian Township boundary lines shrank, but one issue remains unsettled in some minds - whether proper treatment was given to the one resident of the newly annexed property.Gerry Mannausa, co-owner of the 66-acre parcel of land known as Four Winds Golf Course, 5800 Park Lake Road, said unfair tactics were used by the township toward his nephew, Robert Mannausa, to determine if he was a legal resident of the property.Meridian Township sued Robert Mannausa and subpoenaed for several documents that Gerry Mannausa, who also served as his nephew’s lawyer, feels were unnecessary in the case.Some of these items included his draft card, health insurance card and policy, certificate of car insurance, credit card statements and cell phone bills for the previous five months.“By naming him as a party for this lawsuit, they were trying to get an injuncture to the election in November,” Gerry Mannausa said.

Barrels of food needed for ongoing charity drive

As the holiday season begins, several MSU student organizations are sponsoring a canned food drive to help the Ingham County Food Bank provide emergency food for local

Overproduction drives low prices

State gas prices have reached a new two-year low Monday, said Jim Rink, AAA Michigan’s spokesman.The average statewide price for self-serve unleaded fuel is $1.14 per gallon.

Dorm residents include those with four legs

Although many college students love being away from home, there’s often some aspect of it they miss.Sometimes that aspect is four-legged and furry.University policy prohibits any pets, other than fish, to live in the residence halls - but not all students play by the rules.Stephanie, a West Circle Complex resident and studio art junior, has kept her hamster, Peanut, with her in the dorms since her freshman year at MSU.She said she ran into trouble at first, but the supervisor of her hall at the time said they couldn’t make her get rid of her pet.“I’m not sure if the RA this year knows, but if she does, she doesn‘t say anything about it,” she said.

Police briefs 11/27/01

Language training benefits international TAs

Arriving in a new country and learning a new language isn’t easy.And if you are expected to begin teaching a class within days of your arrival, the adjustment could be greater.This scenario is a familiar one to many international teaching assistants who arrive at MSU during the summer before they begin teaching courses.To help with their training process, several programs developed by MSU have been updated to accommodate growing numbers of TAs involved.“TAs have a really important responsibility, and when they get good training and good attention from the faculty, they can do a good job,” said William Rittenberg, coordinator of the International Teaching Assistant Program.All international TAs at MSU are required to attend a university-sponsored training workshop before classes start to learn rules and regulations on campus.While the length of this orientation was extended to three weeks two years ago, the Teaching Assistant Summer English Program was also added for more in-depth language training.

Peanut Barrel to host fund-raiser

The MSU Student Food Bank will hold a fund-raiser at The Peanut Barrel Restaurant, 521 E. Grand River Ave., all day Tuesday. The annual event will raise money toward the purchase of foods for the bank, which gives students without a residence hall meal plan access to free groceries. Fund-raising coordinator Minerva Gebara said she thinks the event will be successful. “All day, whatever they make for the day, they’ll give us a portion of the profits,” the business administration graduate student said.

E.L. revamps city Web site

Even the city of East Lansing needs a face lift every now and then.But unlike the heavy equipment working on the city center and fountain square projects, this face lift was virtual.The city unveiled its newest improvement, an upgraded Web site, last week.The old site had been in place since 1996 but, while it was comprehensive with more than 15,000 pages of information, the site was not interactive or easily upgraded.“It wasn’t long after (the original site’s) shortcomings began to show,” City Manager Ted Staton said.

Director asserts race is unimportant for position

Melanie Olmsted was hired as director of racial, ethnic and progressive student affairs two weeks ago.

ASMSU town hall meeting features area politicians

State reps. Gretchen Whitmer and Paul DeWeese will stop to chat with MSU students about fake identification and election reform tonight. Whitmer, D-East Lansing, and DeWeese, R-Williamston, will be the guests at an ASMSU-sponsored town hall meeting at 7:30 p.m.

State News elects new editor in chief

The new year will bring fresh leadership to MSU’s independent voice. The role of editor in chief for The State News will be filled by Jeremy W.