MSU

Wine event offers MSU Museum sip of support

By Tara Thoel For The State News Steve Szilvagyi makes wine, cooks with wine and wants to keep up on the latest varieties of the drink. That's why a wine-tasting benefit at the Kellogg Center on Friday was perfect for the East Lansing resident. Tables were lined with more than 100 different kinds of wine, as volunteers poured many glasses and wine distributors answered questions about the different selections to support ongoing programs at the MSU Museum.

MSU

Cancer event hits home for student

A moment of silence fell upon the MSU greek community in remembrance of cancer patients Saturday night. As I looked around the room in Demonstration Hall, I could see the passion and commitment to the fight against cancer in the eyes of the about 3,000 people participating in the annual Relay For Life event. This moment led me to realize how cancer has touched my personal life and the ones I love.

MSU

International graduate school admission rises

Kristen Daum

March 27, 2006

Following a two-year decline, the number of MSU's international graduate student applications is up about 19 percent from fall 2005 — numbers that are in step with an annual nationwide survey. According to the survey from the Council of Graduate Schools, nationwide applications for international graduate students have increased 11 percent for fall 2006 over last fall. Following the Sept.

MSU

Casting a legacy

When Elias Lopez received a handmade gray scarf in 2001, the Weslaco, Texas, native didn't even know how to wear it. The scarf came as a gift from Patricia Patrick, who worked in the MSU Office of Supportive Services.

MSU

6 new trucks purchased for parking enforcement

Holly Klaft

March 24, 2006

MSU police replaced the old green 2002 Dodge Dakotas used for parking enforcement with six new silver 2006 Dodge Dakotas this semester. The change has angered some students, who say they don't understand why replacing the trucks was necessary. "It seems that for as much as every student spends on parking tickets, I'd hope the department would spend the money better than on replacing trucks that were only 5 years old," animal science senior Faye Vanderhoff said. Vanderhoff said she questions why MSU police even use trucks, rather than other means of transportation, for parking enforcement. "All they do is hop in and out of them and write tickets," Vanderhoff said.

MSU

Student activists to raise AIDS awareness at conference

Melanie Thomas

March 24, 2006

After reports predicted that by 2020, 100 million deaths will be caused by AIDS, some MSU students want to bring the issue closer to home. The Multi-Racial Unity Living Experience, a student program contributing to positive race relations through discussions and activities, will be hosting No Place to Hide: Student Activism and the Fight Against the Global Aids Pandemic at the Union on Friday and Saturday. The conference, which focuses on raising awareness about current and future issues, will feature local, national and international HIV and AIDS activists, authors and speakers. Keynote speakers will include Pat Naidoo, the associate director of Health Equity of the Rockefeller Foundation, author Greg Behrman and Anne-Christine D'Adesky, co-producer of the documentary "Pills, Profits and Protest." In March 2005, the Multi-Racial Unity Living Experience, viewed the AIDS documentary "A Closer Walk" and was motivated to bring the HIV and AIDS issue to MSU's campus, education senior Amy Yousif said. "It's not just in Africa; it's not just a gay disease — it's an everyone disease," Yousif said.

MSU

MSU to study online safety

By Caitlin Scuderi For The State News Internet buyers beware: Someone might be phishing for your information. Phishing, or sending an e-mail falsely claiming to be an establishment in order to obtain personal information to be used for identity theft, is happening more frequently, MSU police Sgt.

MSU

President's plan focus of meeting

Kristen Daum

March 23, 2006

The goals of the College of Social Science are in step with the university's goals, officials said Wednesday at the college's annual informational forum. The forum focused on the status of the college, its place in the university and ways to collaborate on universitywide initiatives, such as MSU President Lou Anna K.

MSU

Experts: Be aware of bird flu abroad

By Natalie Giannosa For The State News A face mask, Tamiflu and bird repellent aren't on Robert Besaw's travel list as he prepares to go to Costa Rica this summer on a study abroad trip.

MSU

Council endorses conflict of interest policy

Kristen Daum

March 22, 2006

A new faculty conflict of interest policy — which would establish a new staff position and implement policies specific to individual colleges — was approved by Academic Council on Tuesday. According to the policy, a conflict of interest exists when opportunities for personal benefit might compromise the judgment a faculty member needs to perform his or her responsibilities at MSU. Current practices for conflicts of interest require faculty to sign an annual statement, and this practice would be removed under the new policy.

MSU

Innovations: Cystic cells

Kristen Daum

March 22, 2006

Name: Associate Professor Douglas Luckie Department: Physiology and the Lyman Briggs School Type of research: Acidity of cystic fibrosis cells Date of research: Luckie began this field of research about 15 years ago. Basics of the project: In his research at the MSU Cystic Fibrosis Lab, Luckie compares model cells that line both healthy and cystic fibrosis-infected lungs.

MSU

1 day left to vote on RHA tax increase

Fredricka Paul

March 22, 2006

With one day down and one day to go for student government elections, Residence Halls Association officials hope students will pass their request for a $3 tax increase. Students who live on campus pay $22 a semester to the Residence Halls Association, or RHA. If students vote in favor of the increase, on-campus residents will pay $25. Only students who live in the residence halls can vote on RHA's tax increase. The election will be held until 8 p.m.

MSU

MSU fills vacant funding position

Josh Jarman

March 22, 2006

Mark Burnham switched teams mid-season when he accepted the position of MSU's associate vice president of governmental affairs Tuesday. Burnham, who holds a similar position with the University of Michigan, will start work in Washington, D.C., on April 1. "He's awesome," said Steve Webster, MSU's vice president for governmental affairs, of Burnham.

MSU

Postcard campaign aims for awareness of genocide in Sudan

A green refugee tent flapped in a frigid March breeze Monday afternoon outside the Auditorium. The tent was constructed by members of Spartans Taking Action Now: Darfur, or STAND, to illustrate the home of one of the 2.5 million displaced Sudanese refugees. About five members of STAND gathered near the tent to spread awareness of genocide in Darfur, Sudan, through a postcard-writing campaign. The campaign, Million Voices for Darfur, is a national movement organized by The Save Darfur Coalition, a Washington, D.C.-based alliance that aims to raise awareness about the Darfur situation. The coalition's goal is to deliver 1 million postcards to President Bush urging him to push for a larger movement to protect the people of Darfur. "A lot of people stop and talk," STAND President Lindsey Hutchison said.

MSU

Impact wins state's highest student broadcast award

By Jessica Sipperley For The State News The students who work at WDBM (88.9-FM), also known as the Impact, are seeing gold — for the sixth time. For the sixth time in seven years, the station was named the college radio station of the year by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and Broadcast Music Inc. The award was presented March 14 at the Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference at the Lansing Center. General manager Gary Reid said the award, which is presented as a gold record, is a product of collaboration among staff members who submit the radio station's best work for judging. "Because we've won for so many years, it's become something every staff strives for," Reid said.

MSU

Society earns national honors

Holly Klaft

March 21, 2006

The MSU chapter of the Phi Beta Delta honorary society was recently awarded both outstanding Midwest chapter and outstanding national chapter for its achievements and efforts in programming, chapter growth and community outreach. The honorary society is composed of students, faculty and staff who have academic experience abroad and is dedicated to promoting international education on campus. "When you look in terms of what's happening, you would be alienated in terms of your own existence if you're not aware of what's happening globally," said Charles Gliozzo, an MSU professor and member of the MSU chapter of Phi Beta Delta. Representatives from the chapter will accept the awards at the Phi Beta Delta national conference in San Diego on Thursday. "Since (members) are so dedicated, it's a testimonial to the work they've been doing for many years," Gliozzo said.

MSU

Student charged with sexual assault

Melissa Domsic

March 21, 2006

A 19-year-old MSU student was charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct on Friday. Mark Miller faces 15 years in prison if convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, which involves penetration with force or coercion. He is scheduled for a preliminary exam on March 31 at East Lansing's 54-B District Court.

MSU

Cultural ceremony

For Crystal Recollet, powwows are a family affair. The 24-year-old said she's danced in powwows for as long as she can remember, but this is her first year at MSU's Pow-Wow of Love. Recollet crafted a yellow-beaded headband for her friend's son as she explained her family's involvement with powwows. "My sister's here, my cousin's here, my nephew's here," she said.

MSU

Campus talent show highlights tradition of Latinos, Chicanos

By Toshira Johnson For The State News A hushed "awww" escaped the lips of the crowd as nearly a dozen dancers, ranging in age from 9 to 60, took the stage, the subtle tapping of their handcrafted white-leather metallic boots filling the Auditorium. Claps of approval rang throughout the Auditorium as they performed the quick steps and fancy footwork of a traditional dance of Guerrero, Mexico.

MSU

Ex-political prisoner shares experiences

Josh Jarman

March 20, 2006

After more than 25 years in prison, including time spent with Nelson Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada emerged to become a beloved political figure in post-apartheid South Africa. On Sunday, he came to MSU to talk about his experiences as a political prisoner and to sign copies of his latest book, "Memoirs." His first work, "Letters from Robben Island," was published by MSU Press in 1999. Speaking about the almost total isolation in which the prisoners were kept, Kathrada shared the story of the night he and his fellow prisoners were informed of their imminent release in October 1989. "That Saturday night, they came to our cell and said they had just received a fax from prison headquarters saying we were going to go free," Kathrada said.