MSU

MSU selling cows to reduce costs

Meagan Choi

July 14, 2010

Driven by the absence of future research projects and budgetary pressure, MSU will sell one of its three dairy cow herds from the Upper Peninsula Experiment Station, or UPES, this fall. The UPES — located in Chatham, Mich. — is one of 15 field stations in the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, or MAES, which is restructuring after $400,000 was cut by MSU’s Board of Trustees last month and state appropriations still are uncertain.

MICHIGAN

Potter Park Zoo to honor zookeepers

Pat Evans

July 14, 2010

Zookeepers in Lansing and across the country will be honored with their own week next week. Potter Park Zoo, 1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave., in Lansing, will join the American Association of Zoo Keepers, or AAZK, and zoos and aquariums across the country in celebrating National Zoo Keeper Week July 18-24.

MICHIGAN

E.L. mayor backs Bernero for governor

Pat Evans

July 14, 2010

Mayors from across the state declared their support of Lansing Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Virg Bernero on Wednesday. Supporting mayors come from many cities, from Flint to Sault Ste. Marie, and included East Lansing Mayor Vic Loomis.

MSU

Student garden between Kedzie halls grows unrestricted

Aseel Machi

July 14, 2010

Plant growth in a student-maintained garden in the middle of North and South Kedzie halls has grown uncontrolled since the students who started the garden have gone home for the summer. Signs have been broken, garbage has not been removed and the plant life has grown without maintenance.

MICHIGAN

Businesses donate shoes to local domestic abuse shelters

Ashley Brown

July 13, 2010

Starting over might be unimaginable for survivors of domestic abuse, but Naot footwear and Playmakers Athletic Footwear, 2299 W. Grand River Ave., in Okemos, are trying to make the transition a bit easier with the donation of 120 brand new shoes to MSU Safe Place and Eve’s House in Lansing. For a second year, Naot, an Israeli footwear company that has been donating shoes since 1991, will donate shoes and sandals to the victims of domestic violence who need assistance.

MSU

MSU sustainability program given 'outstanding' approval

Ashley Brown

July 12, 2010

Planting trees across the world, MSU’s Carbon2Markets, or C2M, program has gained praise from the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research for attempting to raise the standard of living in developing countries, while slowing down global warming. C2M was unanimously deemed “outstanding” by the organization’s board in recognition of the program’s five years of efforts in sustainability and third-world economics.

MICHIGAN

E.L. resident declares for U.S. Congress seat as write-in candidate

Pat Evans

July 12, 2010

More than a month after the Democratic candidate for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District ended his campaign for the seat, an East Lansing resident is attempting to take his place as a write-in candidate for the Aug. 3 primaries. With Kande Ngalamulume bowing out of the race June 2, Lance Enderle hopes to vault past Ngalamulume in the Aug. 3 primary and challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, for the legislative seat.

MSU

MSU professor finds sustainability lacks ethics

Anthony Odoardi

July 12, 2010

Ethical issues are being neglected when researching and teaching sustainability, according to a research paper co-authored by an MSU professor, published in this month’s journal, “Bioscience” and entitled “Sustainability: Virtuous or Vulgar?” Michael Nelson, an MSU associate professor of environmental ethics and John Vucetich, an assistant professor of wildlife biology at Michigan Technological University, collaborated to create the argument and asked what the authors call a vitally important question regarding ethics in sustainability.

MSU

MSU Community Music School hosts rock camp

Aseel Machi

July 12, 2010

Banging a variety of drums and singing a range of notes, participants at the MSU Community Music School’s, or CMS, Rock Camp rocked out Monday afternoon at the beginning of the week-long camp that will conclude with performances at Common Ground Music Festival. The camp features workshops for musically experienced participants ages 12-18, where participants learn how to perform in front of groups, how to form a band, how to market and promote a band and how to work together to form a final project.

MICHIGAN

Organ donation might be option on 2010 tax form

Alanna Thiede

July 12, 2010

Michigan residents might be able to become tissue and organ donors by checking a box on their state income tax forms next year, if a plan proposed by Michigan’s Secretary of State is implemented. Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land recently proposed adding the option as a way to make registering for the Michigan Organ Donor Registry easier for residents. Currently, residents can sign up online or by asking at any Secretary of State office.

MICHIGAN

Democrats compete for endorsements

Andrew Krietz

July 12, 2010

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero and state House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford, received formal endorsements for their Democratic gubernatorial campaigns throughout the weekend and Monday. Officials from Michigan’s 13th and 14th congressional districts chose Bernero over Dillon during a press conference Saturday, citing a recent interview with Fox News Channel during which Bernero defended the area’s automobile workers and those without jobs. The Dillon campaign received an endorsement from former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer on Monday.

MICHIGAN

Walking event promotes healthy living

Alanna Thiede

July 11, 2010

Mid-Michigan residents walked Saturday at the Stroll East Lansing event of the Walking in Our Community series. The series is aimed at promoting walking as a form of exercise and getting to know local communities. There were one-, three- and five-mile trails that started at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road, and led participants through East Lansing’s downtown and residential areas, as well as MSU’s campus.

MICHIGAN

Lansing hosts Taste of Downtown

Anthony Odoardi

July 11, 2010

Residents of the Lansing area sorted through more than 100 varieties of wine and food samples from 15 different local vendors Saturday at Lansing’s Taste of Downtown. The inaugural event kicked off at 3 p.m. on South Washington Square in Lansing, and was hosted by the Lansing Principal Shopping District, or LPSD, with wine and food served buffet style accompanied by music from live local bands Third Coast Steel and Soulstice.

MSU

Whooping cough exposure reported during MSU event

Emily Wilkins

July 11, 2010

An undiagnosed case of pertussis, or whooping cough, might have been exposed to the 900 people who attended Grandparents University at MSU from June 29 to July 1. The Michigan Department of Community Health, or MDCH, identified 20 individuals Friday who attended the event who are at a high risk for contracting pertussis.

MSU

4-H Discovery Camp introduces teens to green careers

Meagan Choi

July 11, 2010

Nine students attended the first Michigan 4-H Discovery Camp last week, which offered Michigan students ages 15-19 opportunities to learn about bioenergy and green solutions. At the camp, students visited MSU faculty member’s labs and took interactive field trips across the state while experiencing dorm living in Shaw Hall.

MSU

MSU professor named national Cherry Industry Person of the Year

Meagan Choi

July 8, 2010

MSU horticulture professor and researcher Amy Iezzoni was honored as the 2010 Cherry Industry Person of the Year by the Cherry Marketing Institute on Wednesday at MSU’s Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station in Traverse City. Iezzoni was chosen for the award because of her commitment to cherry growers through her research.

MICHIGAN

Jeanologie boutique to offer designer duds

Ashley Brown

July 8, 2010

Transforming the former dance studio of Pin-Up Pole Dancing into a unisex boutique, store owner and MSU alumna Michelle Gross is attempting to bring New York street fashion to the city of East Lansing with Jeanologie XX/XY Boutique, 303 M.A.C. Ave., which opened last week. Jeanologie offers labels including Betsey Johnson, BCBG, Lacoste and Lucky Brand, but also features local designers, such as Niki Biki, a designer from Central Michigan University that has a line of one-size-fits-all camisoles. Gross plans to invite pieces from MSU’s apparel and textile design students into her boutique as well.

MICHIGAN

Heat wave to end this weekend, precautions still necessary

Although local residents will get a break from the 90-degree heat this weekend, this summer promises to be warmer than average. Saturday will bring highs in the low 80s under sunny skies. Sunday will be mostly sunny with highs in the mid 80s. Although temperatures will be five to 10 degrees lower than the past few days, people still should be cautious and monitor their hydration.

MICHIGAN

Neighborhood holds 36th annual ice cream social

Alanna Thiede

July 7, 2010

Hand-churned ice cream, music, sunshine and residents from across East Lansing were abundant Wednesday evening at the 36th annual Bailey Neighborhood Ice Cream Social. The event, which is sponsored by the Bailey Neighborhood Association and the Orchard Street Pump House committee, welcomed East Lansing residents to the Orchard Street Pump House, 368 Orchard St., to make ice cream and socialize with community members they otherwise might not have had a chance to meet.

MSU

MSU analysis could be helpful in rape cases

Andrew Krietz

July 7, 2010

An MSU-assisted analysis of 10,500 sexual assault evidence kits from the city of Detroit might be used to prosecute hundreds of alleged rapists if results prove conclusive to investigators. The MSU Center for Statistical Training and Consulting, or CSTAT, the Michigan State Police, the Detroit Police Department and others are coordinating the effort to process the kits in an attempt to understand how a rape happened and who committed it. A $600,000 allocation by the Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board was given to the various agencies to begin the study to assist the defunct Detroit Police Crime Laboratory, said John Collins, the forensic science division director for the Michigan State Police.