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MICHIGAN

Students join in E.L. for Seder meal away from home

To mark the beginning of the Jewish holiday Passover, students and community members gathered at MSU Hillel, 360 Charles St., to eat a special Seder meal. In Jewish culture, the Seder meal traditionally kicks off Passover celebrations, which began Friday and will continue until April 14, said Audrey Bloomberg, director of Jewish student life at MSU Hillel.

MSU

Renovations to Bailey, Rather halls on track for June completion

Construction on two of Brody Complex Neighborhood’s residence halls is close to wrapping up, but two others will be out of commission for similar renovations starting in May. The current renovations to Bailey and Rather halls both are on budget and on schedule to be completed by the middle of June, said Jeff Bonk, assistant director of design and construction management for Residential and Hospitality Services.

MSU

Diversity dinner urges understanding

On Saturday night, as many students were heading home for the Easter holiday, another celebration of community was taking place at East Lansing High School, 509 Burcham Drive. About 100 East Lansing residents, MSU faculty and students gathered for food and festivities at the sixth annual Muslim Students’ Association, or MSA, Diversity Dinner.

MICHIGAN

Library hosts fundraiser to increase materials fund

As the East Lansing Public Library prepares to deal with the effects of a potential budget crunch, library officials are gearing up to raise funds and awareness for the facility. The library, 950 Abbot Road, is planning a series of events to celebrate National Library Week, culminating in its Books, Bites and Bids fundraiser Friday evening.

Samantha Radecki ·
MICHIGAN

A different look at life

Accompanied by a burly German shepherd named Harper, East Lansing resident Cheryl Wade enters the Women’s Center of Greater Lansing, 1710 E. Michigan Ave., in Lansing, each Tuesday with a smile.

Rebecca Ryan ·
MSU

Sigma Chi makes a splash hosting Derby Days

Determined to win, even after being hit in the face with a water balloon, Brieanna Finn tossed one back to her partner on Thursday at the Sigma Chi fraternity house, 729 E. Grand River Ave. “I don’t care if I’m soaking wet,” Finn said, her hair dripping. “It’s all for a good cause.”

MICHIGAN

New smoothie restaurant to open

East Lansing soon will get a taste of the tropics with the opening of a new Tropical Smoothie Café. The restaurant will open at 1201 E. Grand River Ave., on April 16, said the store’s co-owner, Ruth Buko, an MSU alumna.

MICHIGAN

Genetski’s position questioned after drunken driving incident

Democratic lawmakers and ethics experts are questioning whether State Rep. Bob Genetski, R-Saugatuck, can legitimately play a role shaping MSU’s budget while he is facing criminal charges stemming from his drunken driving arrest on campus. While Democratic leaders have opposed some of the strings attached to university funding proposed by Genetski’s committee, which would require MSU to remove its health care mandate to retain state funding, they now are arguing Genetski has a conflict of interest in deciding MSU’s budget altogether.

MSU

2012-13 rates might increase for housing, dining

Students might pay about $300 more for on-campus housing next academic year if the Board of Trustees approves a 4 percent increase in housing and dining rates next Friday. The Division of Residential and Hospitality Services, or RHS, presented the proposed increase, which would raise housing rates from $8,154 to $8,476 for the 2012-13 academic year, during a Residence Halls Association, or RHA, meeting on Wednesday.

MSU

Twins experience MSU together

Erica and Jessica Cutler are roommates, competitors, best friends and twins. “Usually we have a basic understanding between the two of us,” elementary education sophomore Jessica Cutler said, who is a member of the women’s swim team with her sister Erica. “It’s not like twin telepathy, it’s just from being around each other so much.”

MICHIGAN

Westboro Baptist Church to rally at Union

Westboro Baptist Church announced plans to rally at the Union from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m. on April 23. The church, which caused national controversy in recent years for protesting fallen soldiers’ funerals, said on its website the rally will be focused on university curriculum, where “degrees of rebellion are passed out like candy.”

Katie Harrington, Alex McClung ·
MSU

Life after assault

Last fall, Monica, a Lansing Community College sophomore, was invited to her friend’s East Lansing home to tour his place. The evening started off as a casual hangout, but it ended in a way she didn’t see coming. Her friend was showing her around just like he said, but when they got to his room, he turned off the lights and locked the door, forcing her onto his bed.

NEWS

Police Brief 04/05/12

A 19-year-old male student reported a ball was thrown through his dorm room window between 9:01-9:30 p.m. April 2 in West Akers Hall, MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said.