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MSU

MSU responds to group's criticism

Kristi Jourdan
March 20, 2007

Critics of an MSU's disciplinary program said they're confused by the university's response in reviewing the program. In February, MSU officials said the seminar was an optional punishment for students found violating a university regulation. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, or FIRE, said the Student Accountability in Community Seminar stifles students' constitutional rights and demanded the program's termination, prompting the university review. The accountability seminar was presented by officials from Student Life and MSU Safe Place at a 2002 Association of Student Judicial Affairs' International Conference, which FIRE's president, Greg Lukianoff, attended. "Every day they run the SAC (Student Accountability in Community) program, they're violating the Constitution of the United States," Lukianoff said. In a March 7 letter to the foundation, Lee June, MSU's vice president for Student Affairs and Services, responded to the criticism by saying "For those students who have been sanctioned through the judicial process, we see no problem in their participating in the SAC program." "Students will not be required to enter this program as the only sanction for a violation, but it will be offered as an option," he wrote. But Lukianoff said his organization is "trying to figure out what the letter actually meant." "It wasn't very clear," he said.

MSU

Hockey club wins national championship

Sean Ely
March 19, 2007

Not being recognized by the university doesn't keep the 25 players who make up the Spartans' club hockey team from playing with green-and- white pride. The MSU club hockey team beat Davenport University, 5-4, on March 11 after defenseman Jeff Marley's overtime goal to win its second American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II national championship in the last three years. After splitting with Davenport in the regular season, but losing 7-3 in the Great Midwest Hockey League final, the Spartans knew they would be playing the role of the underdog. "We knew we would have to jump on them early and quickly," said John Perkovich, food industry management junior and team captain.

MSU

ASMSU may film informative DVD

Joey Nowak
March 19, 2007

ASMSU representatives want to create a motion picture starring MSU's undergraduate student government. Student Assembly is trying to inform students of its purpose by creating a DVD that will include information on different groups within ASMSU's assemblies and the many functions of the organization, said Nigel Scarlett, ASMSU's Student Assembly vice chairperson for external affairs. "Each group can have their own little chapter that says a little bit about their history, goals and mission," Scarlett said.

MSU

Events planned for war's beginning

Brendan Bouffard
March 16, 2007

Tuesday marks the fourth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Several events will be held in the community to highlight the country's continued involvement in the conflict. • "Voices of Resistance — Poets Against the War," will feature poets from the Lansing area sounding off on peace and violence.

MSU

Jazz: It's not just a man's music genre

Michelle Ortlieb
March 16, 2007

Lulu Fall, who has been singing since she was 8 years old, decided to try drumming when she was in the eighth grade. "So many people told me that the drums weren't ladylike, so eventually, I quit," the jazz studies senior said. She said she wishes someone would have told her that instruments don't connect with a specific gender — music is about how passionate someone is about the instrument or songs. Fall is a vocalist for the Women in Jazz concert, which will promote women's involvement in the arts and music performance in celebration of Women's History Month. The show is at 8 p.m.

MSU

Bringing student voices to the table

Sarah Harbison
March 16, 2007

If it wasn't for his Palm Pilot, Peter Spadafore wouldn't be able to survive. His list of activities includes being the chairman of the James Madison College Student Senate, working in the college's admissions office and being a teaching assistant for an honors research seminar in public policy. And in February, the social relations and policy senior added to the list — becoming a student member of Academic Council. "I found it as a way to get involved and get my feet wet and explore university governance a little bit more than what I was doing from my college perspective," Spadafore said. Academic Council is the final step of approval for many university programs and policies before they appear in front of the MSU Board of Trustees.

MSU

Students welcome weather

John Hudson
March 15, 2007

With temperatures reaching highs of 73 degrees Tuesday and 59 degrees Wednesday, Spartans across campus took advantage of the spring weather. "Everybody's happier when it's warmer," child development senior Trista Tacey said.

MSU

Great Issues lands on ASMSU spring ballot

Joey Nowak
March 15, 2007

When students vote for their ASMSU representatives for next year, they also will have the opportunity to vote on two student referendums. Great Issues, a group recently removed from ASMSU's Programming Board, obtained the necessary 1,000 signatures to get on the ballot.

MSU

Students earn awards for artistic expression

Colleen Maxwell
March 15, 2007

Growing up in a multicultural family, Sierra López's ethnicity was never really something to be celebrated. Yesterday, on the other hand, she was one of three students who won an Excellence in Diversity Award for her entry in the "Students Making a Difference Through Artistic Expression" contest. López, whose father is Mexican, said her ethnicity has allowed her to have unique experiences, yet she still considers it a struggle. "It's hard to be accepted because it's difficult to recognize anything but the majority," she said.

MSU

Grade extensions may shorten

Sean Ely
March 15, 2007

Graduate students who push their classwork to the back of their minds until nearly the end of the term may need to break that habit. The University Graduate Council approved a revision to the DF-Deferred policy stating that graduate students may only be permitted the chance for two six-month extensions at the end of a course's term, instead of the possible two-year extension that currently exists. The revision is working its way through the Academic Governance system and is not yet a policy. "Everyone hopes this will help graduate students complete their programs faster," said Brad Love, president of MSU's Council of Graduate Students, or COGS.

MSU

Event to showcase Asian culture, dances

Michelle Ortlieb
March 15, 2007

To be an emcee for Cultural Vogue 2007 is an honor for Lemuel Goopio — as a graduating senior, he said this will complete his college career. The Asian Pacific American Student Organization, or APASO, sets up the biennial event with the help of some Asian-based campus groups.

MSU

Students compete for assembly seats

Joey Nowak
March 14, 2007

The ballot is set for ASMSU's spring election, with students vying for 32 open seats between the Academic and Student assemblies, which make up MSU's undergraduate student government. Of the 36 names on the ballot, 28 are for Student Assembly.

MSU

Hillel helps students keep faith

Tara Thoel
March 14, 2007

For many Jewish students, MSU's Hillel Jewish Student Center is a home away from home. It is a place where students can feel comfortable, meet and hang out with other students with common beliefs and heritage. Some go to become closer to their faith and others closer to their culture. "For me, getting involved was because my family is so involved in the religion," said Heather Kerwin, a reformed Jew and communicative sciences and disorders senior.

MSU

Speech to address indigenous issues

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies will host a presentation today titled "Indigenous Reporting in the Americas: The Need to Hear Native Voices." Leonardo Ferreira, associate dean and director of graduate studies at the University of Miami's School of Communication, will speak at 3 p.m.

MSU

Speaker to discuss Mexican conflict

Michelle Ortlieb
March 14, 2007

Onesimo Hidalgo will lead a discussion at 6 p.m. today in the Union's Multicultural Center about ongoing issues including indigenous armed resistance to free trade centered in southern Mexico. Hidalgo is the co-director of the Center for Economic and Political Research for Community Action in Chiapas, Mexico. "We wanted to get a speaker to come to campus and talk about immigration," said Rigo Lopez, a packaging senior who helped coordinate the event.