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MSU

Group offers alternative events for homecoming

Black Student Alliance, or BSA, and African American Celebratory will be holding several events next week to coincide with MSU's homecoming. The alternate festivities, called the African-American Homecoming, will include events such as discussions and a screening of a film about a 1989 "study-in" protest by black students in front of the Administration Building for seven days, a jazz night and a semiformal dance. The theme for the week is "98/89," which represents the 98 years since Myrtle Craig became the first black female graduate of Michigan Agricultural College (MSU's former name) in 1907 and the year the study-in took place, history senior and BSA member Geneva Thomas said. Here's what is happening: Today: Film classics by playwright and actor Tyler Perry at 7 p.m.

MSU

World hunger focus of teleconference

Kristen Daum
October 14, 2005

In honor of World Food Day on Sunday, a teleconference addressing why hunger still exists despite 60 years of United Nations' efforts to combat it will be broadcast on campus today. The teleconference, which will be aired at noon in Room 303 of the International Center, will feature author Frances Moore Lappé as this year's keynote speaker, and her speech will be broadcast across the nation. MSU's Center for Advanced Study of International Development works with World Food Day programs on campus every year, said Pamela Galbraith, acting outreach coordinator for the teleconference. "We try to promote awareness of international issues, and this is certainly something that's worthwhile," Galbraith said. This year's theme, "Roads not Taken; Goals not Met; the Journey Ahead," also addresses how UN efforts can improve, Galbraith said. World Food Day signifies the founding of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945.

MSU

Web site gets Spartans moving

Jennifer Toland
October 14, 2005

As a collaboration between Olin Health Center, Healthy U and the IM Sports system, a new Web site has been launched to promote exercise and nutrition for members of the MSU community. The Web site offers links to physical activity programs and events that are occurring not only on MSU's campus, but also in the East Lansing community, said Healthy U coordinator Nancy Allen.

MSU

MSU orchestra to honor Mozart in Austria

Bob Darrow
October 14, 2005

Next year, the MSU Symphony Orchestra is planning to pay tribute to Mozart in the Austrian cities the world-famous composer called home. The orchestra will play concerts in Vienna and Salzburg in 2006 as part of the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birthday. MSU President Lou Anna K.

MSU

Police-student forum sees low attendance

Melissa Domsic
October 13, 2005

ASMSU member Melissa Horste said she plans to work with East Lansing and MSU police officers to reschedule a meeting for students to come and discuss issues with police after low publicity generated a weak turnout on Wednesday. Five officers from the East Lansing and MSU police departments went to the Communication Arts and Sciences Building on Wednesday night to hear students' concerns, but no students came to ask questions. The only students present were Horste, director of community affairs for ASMSU's Student Assembly — who helped coordinate the event — and journalism junior Kevin Lehman, who was covering the event for a class. Horste said she hoped the reason no one came was because there wasn't enough advertising for the meeting. East Lansing police Chief Tom Wibert and Horste discussed having a meeting in Wonders Hall and offering refreshments next time. "We'll learn from this," Horste said.

MSU

RHA speaks with provost, discuss academic issues

Kristen Daum
October 13, 2005

Members of the Residence Halls Association held a question-and-answer session with Provost Kim Wilcox and planned to elect a new vice president at its meeting Wednesday. It was the first time Wilcox was back in Holmes Hall, where the meeting was held, since he was a student at MSU in 1976. "(Wilcox) has not been a presenter before," RHA President Kevin Newman said.

MSU

La Casa offers bilingual living

When Kristina Leonardi hears commotion outside her third-floor door in West McDonel Hall on a Tuesday or Thursday evening, she knows it's dinnertime. The criminal justice and Spanish senior is a resident of the La Casa residential program — which means "the house" in Spanish.

MSU

MSU anniversary events receive mixed turnout

Bob Darrow
October 12, 2005

Turnout at last weekend's sesquicentennial events was mixed, and might have been limited by cold weather, organizers said. The weekend's events — which included the revival of former campus tradition Water Carnival, the sesquicentennial parade and a show by comedian Jay Leno — were held to commemorate MSU's 150th anniversary, which is beginning to wind down, sesquicentennial committee Chairwoman Sue Carter said. The weekend's celebration marked the last major push planned by the committee, Carter said. Organizers estimated about 3,500 people watched Water Carnival, which was held for the first time in 36 years.

MSU

WEB ONLY: Conference to examine globalization, American foreign policy

Corinne Devries
October 12, 2005

It's time to take a look at the United States' effect on the rest of the world and the consequences of globalization, said Professor David Stowe, director of the American Studies Program. The program is hosting "America and the Problem of Empire," a four-day conference that begins today at Wells Hall with the presentation of the documentary film, "The Corporation," which focuses on the global effects of big business.

MSU

Task force awaiting nominees

Laura Collins
October 12, 2005

When nominations were collected last week for five task forces aimed to look at faculty's role in university decisions, Executive Committee of Academic Council Chairperson Jon Sticklen said he noticed a problem. At Tuesday's executive committee meeting, Sticklen informed the committee that there weren't enough nominees to fill the largest task force, which will be looking at restructuring the Academic Governance system. Last month, Faculty Council ruled that each task force requires a certain amount of nominees before they can be approved. These task forces are a result of last year's Faculty Voice report, compiled by faculty members who made recommendations that would give them more of a presence in administrative decisions. Other task forces will be looking at the process for reviewing administrators and academic programs, general communication procedures in Academic Governance and the role of fixed-term faculty. Judith Andre, philosophy professor and member of the Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences, said she was hesitant to postpone all work with the Academic Governance reorganization task force.

MSU

Views on fire safety differ for officials, students

Kristen Daum
October 11, 2005

Every month, an alarm blares throughout the residence halls - another fire drill. But following Friday's fire at Bryan Hall, several students said they first thought alarms were only signaling a fire drill, and the majority of the residents were in no hurry to exit the building. Many students only knew it was a real fire once they saw the smoke rising from a third-floor window. "They think they are invulnerable, and therefore 'It's not going to happen to me,' but it does happen," said Paul Goldblatt, director of Residence Life.

MSU

Filmmaker shares thoughts on culture

Bob Darrow
October 11, 2005

Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns said his films have a running subplot of race, but his main focus in creating them is to remind people of how history and culture unite us. Burns drew from his experiences making documentaries in two campus addresses on Monday. "We live in a society where everything is divided," he said.

MSU

Groups speak out against Columbus Day

Melissa Domsic
October 11, 2005

A group of about 25 MSU community members marched Monday evening to the rock on Farm Lane, some wearing T-shirts that accused Christopher Columbus of genocide, racism, rape and torture. Instead of celebrating the man recognized throughout history for discovering America, during Columbus Day on Monday members of several cultural student groups observed Indigenous People's Day - which honors those who lived in the Americas long before Columbus set foot on the continent. About 50 people in all attended Monday evening's events, which included a prayer, music and speeches from several group members at the rock. Those who participated in Indigenous People's Day events - including members of the North American Indigenous Student Organization and Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Aztlan - said they hold different views than those traditionally taught in U.S.

MSU

Group: Storm drains not for dumping

Jennifer Toland
October 10, 2005

While many students were still sleeping on Saturday morning, a group of students and faculty members met to mark storm drains in an outreach project aimed to raise awareness about water quality. The group of about 20 people met at Spartan Village and separated into different groups to go around the apartment complex and campus to put signs on storm drains that said "No Dumping.

MSU

Officials struggle to enforce candle rule

Kristen Daum
October 10, 2005

Scorch marks stain the outside edges of a Bryan Hall door, and the stench of smoke lingers in the hallway, after an entire room was destroyed by flame and smoke. An unattended candle was responsible. Candles in dorm rooms are not allowed, according to University Housing rules.

MSU

March, prayer part of indigenous people day

Melissa Domsic
October 10, 2005

Instead of observing Columbus Day, some American Indians on campus are honoring their ancestors through Indigenous People's Day today. There will be a march from South Complex to the rock on Farm Lane at 5:45 p.m., followed by a prayer and drum performance. More than 100 people showed up for the event last year, said Don Lyons, hospitality business senior and co-chairman of the North American Indigenous Student Organization.

MSU

Alumnus new director of experiment station

Laura Collins
October 10, 2005

The Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station recently named Steven Pueppke as its new director. Pueppke, who also will be MSU's assistant vice president for research and graduate studies, currently works at the University of Illinois, where he has been the associate dean for research in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences since 1998. His appointment will take effect on Jan.

MSU

Water Carnival's revival draws hundreds

Bob Darrow
October 10, 2005

MSU alumni crowded around the Red Cedar River on Friday evening to witness the return of Water Carnival after a 36-year absence. What they saw in a roughly hour-long procession of 18 floats was a departure from the extravagant tradition many of them remembered. The chilly October weather gusted wind and mists of rain on the hundreds who attended Friday's event.