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MSU

MSU research builds tight relationships in search of Parkinson's cure

Josh Mansour
August 2, 2011

Caryl Sortwell didn’t have any first-hand experience with Parkinson’s disease when she began her research, but the relationships she’s made since then have kept her motivated to work toward a cure. Sortwell, an MSU professor in translational science and molecular medicine, is working with the school’s College of Human Medicine, Van Andel Research Institute and the Translational Genomics Research Institute to see if the drug Fasudil could not only deal with the symptoms of Parkinson’s, but treat the progression of the disease as well. The team’s work is being sponsored in-part by a $400,000 grant from the Michael J.

MSU

New engineering major set to take off in fall

Beau Hayhoe
August 2, 2011

The MSU College of Engineering is moving forward with its plans to launch a new environmental engineering major this fall. Students who previously only had the opportunity to take a concentration in the field now will have the chance to earn an undergraduate degree, with very little deviation from the previous specialization’s benchmarks. “The class requirements for the concentration as opposed to the degree are really pretty similar,” said Richard Lyles, a professor and the associate chairman for undergraduate studies in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The university had offered graduate programs in environmental engineering for more than four decades, but new demand from employers for environmental engineers pushed them to move the undergraduate degree program forward. Increased student interest also necessitated the creation of the program. “As the demand for graduates increases, there are employers interested in hiring these people,” said Tom Voice, a professor of civil and environmental engineering who spearheaded the undergraduate degree program’s creation.

MSU

Ramadan begins with new moon

Dena Elian
August 1, 2011

Monday, Muslims around the world exchanged the phrase “Ramadan mubarak,” meaning “blessed Ramadan” in Arabic. The new moon was sighted, which signals the start of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

MICHIGAN

Epilepsy Unit Localizes Care

Britteny Dee
August 1, 2011

Fisheries and wildlife associate professor Shawn Riley lost his son, Aaron Riley, earlier this summer in an accident believed to be caused by epilepsy — a neurological disorder characterized by seizures.

MSU

Music camp takes center stage

Jesse O'Brien
July 31, 2011

At 7 p.m. Friday, about 100 yellow-clad performers marched onto the stage at the MSU Community Music School auditorium and launched into a rendition of “Be Our Guest,” from Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”

MICHIGAN

Universities look to commercial sector to boost Internet speeds

Alyssa Zandi
July 31, 2011

In 2010, Google’s Fiber for Communities project aimed to provide ultra-fast Internet connectivity to communities across the nation but only chose one location. With commercial providers having no plans to provide ultra-fast Internet to communities, a new team of universities have come together to pick up where Google left off.­

MICHIGAN

Students deal with hotter than average July

Josh Mansour
July 28, 2011

Although the heat wave that has hit East Lansing this month resulted in an excessive heat warning, political science and pre-law junior Mark Hill said it’s been a nice change from the typically frigid Michigan winters. This July has been one of the hottest in Greater Lansing’s history and, with a few hot days expected to close out the month, could rank in the top ten hottest July’s in city history. Lansing’s hottest July occurred back in 1868 when the average high temperature was 90.6 degrees, National Weather Service meteorologist George Wetzel said. This month, the high temperature has averaged nearly 87 degrees, four degrees higher than normal, Wetzel said. The string of warm days has led to a major increase in profits for a number of local establishments. Lisa Foss is the owner of 7-Eleven, 918 E.

Beau Hayhoe ·
MSU

Research forum held in Bessey Hall

Beau Hayhoe
July 28, 2011

The normally quiet first floor corridor of Bessey Hall turned into a bustling exhibition Thursday, as more than 200 people packed the building for MSU’s first annual Summer University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum. More than 125 student research projects and poster boards lined the narrow hallway during the event’s two-hour walk-through session, many drawing large crowds.

MSU

Legislative intern gains valuable understanding

Marina Csomor
July 27, 2011

When considering applicants for the Victory Congressional Internship program — a new leadership program that gives lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender college students a chance at a Washington, D.C., internship — Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute, or GLLI, Program Director Samir Luther said he and his fellow reviewers did not limit their acceptance only to students with aspirations of working in public office. They looked for students with an appetite for leadership, he said, and MSU social relations and policy senior Mitchell Rivard demonstrated that hunger. “It’s rare to find young people who already have so much experience while they’re still in college,” Luther said.

MICHIGAN

Politicians learn to utilize Twitter

Marina Csomor
July 26, 2011

In this day and age, with so many people — especially young people — using social media, political theory and constitutional democracy senior Don Higgins said political candidates who choose not to utilize Twitter are making a big mistake. “We live in a very fast-moving technological stage, and if that’s going to be ignored, it’s downright stupid,” said Higgins, who is treasurer of the MSU College Republicans. But according to University of Michigan researchers, whose findings were presented on July 19 at the International Conference on Weblogs and Social Media in Barcelona, Spain, plenty of politicians are using this social medium as part of their campaign strategy. They studied the use of Twitter by U.S.