They came in costume, ready to race. Dogs dressed as flower pots, hot dogs and royalty lined up on the field next to the College of Veterinary Medicine on Sunday, as part of a costume contest prior to the fourth annual Canine Cruise 5K Run/Walk. The event, held to benefit MSU's Sponsor-A-Dog program, featured the pets' owners racing with their dogs.
Before the MSU football team ran onto the field Saturday, students and supporters walked outside Spartan Stadium to raise awareness and money for earthquake victims in Pakistan and India. The group of about 50 walkers marched through campus with signs and donation boxes for the South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund, which helps assist the areas that were struck by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake on Oct.
Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Wayne, Pa., will open its doors to women for the first time in fall 2006, becoming the last all-male military academy to do so. Many in the MSU community say the move is evidence of the increasing roles women are being offered in society. History Professor Lisa Fine said women have proven to be capable of military service, and their acceptance at Valley Forge reflects this. "In the aftermath of the Gulf War and the most recent Iraq war, women have performed well and provided crucial contributions," Fine said.
As the acting chair of the Department of Family Practice, Linda French works in the clinic three to four days a week and spends other time teaching or in administrative meetings leading the department. But when French, a fixed-term faculty member in the College of Human Medicine, came to MSU six years ago, she tried to become involved in university decisions but could only participate in committees that dealt with naming buildings, not any council in the Academic Governance system. "To me, it didn't seem to be things of importance," French said.
A number of student groups will participate in the Relief Walk for the victims of the South Asia Earthquake. The walk will begin at 10:30 a.m.
MSU College of Law President Clifton Haley and his wife Carolyn are committed to donating $4 million to the law college to fund full scholarships for students and to establish two endowed chairs. Haley, a 1961 graduate of the college, formerly known as the Detroit College of Law, has served as president of the law college since 2001. "I felt it was necessary to give back and show leadership," Haley said.
Students at several Michigan colleges participated in National Take Affirmative Action Day on Thursday to raise awareness about affirmative action issues. At MSU, several students dressed in black, showing solidarity with affirmative action supporters, and handed out information at six locations on campus.
As of next fall, students will have the opportunity to explore and study regional cultures and current issues weighing heavily on the globe as part of a new major offered at MSU. Global and area studies, a new undergraduate degree, was approved at Tuesday's Academic Council meeting as part of a report from the University Committee on Curriculum. James Madison College offers a major in international relations, and the interdisciplinary studies in social science major provides an international focus.
Top female executives in Michigan consistently earn less than their male counterparts — an average of 49 cents to the dollar — even though female representation on top companies' boards of directors has risen slightly since 2003. A study released Monday by the MSU Institute for Public Policy and Social Research shows women's hold on the top 100 largest publicly held corporations in the state is slipping. The Women's Leadership Index was the second study conducted by the group concerning women in top business positions, said Nat Ehrlich, a survey specialist. "It was started in 2003 to look at how women are doing in leadership roles," he said.
More than 500 people visited the Union on Wednesday to find out how they can intern with the U.S. Department of State, volunteer at a local refugee center and set up sport and recreational programs in economically disadvantaged areas of the world. There were about 40 other programs included at the annual MSU International Opportunities Fair. The fair began two years ago after members of MSU's Office of Study Abroad organized it with the help of faculty at the University of Michigan, said Cindy Chalou, assistant director of the Office of Study Abroad. "By doing that collaborative effort, we've been able to draw in people from as far away as the (United Kingdom)," Chalou said. Last year's event featured more exhibitors because it included graduate schools with an international focus, but Chalou said this year's is more directed toward undergraduates. Yvonne Wood and Andrew Hewitt said they went to the fair to find something to do in their time between graduating from MSU and starting graduate school. "You don't have to rush into a cubicle job," said Hewitt, an international relations senior.
The third national Campus Sustainability Day was celebrated at MSU on Wednesday with a variety of events, including an information fair and a transportation study. Volunteers for the transportation study either drove a car, walked or rode a bicycle starting from five different locations on campus, said Terry Link, director of the Office of Campus Sustainability. The study was conducted to test how long it takes walkers, drivers and bikers to travel. At least one walker, one bike rider and one driver left from such campus buildings as the Clinical Center, the Nisbet Building, the Communication Arts and Sciences Building and the Student Services Building, before arriving at the Administration Building. "We operate under different concepts of getting from Point A to Point B on this campus in terms of time," Link said. Although the official results of the study won't be available until later in the week, Link said different modes of transportation proved faster depending on the starting point. But, he said, people might be surprised with how little the differences between the three modes turned out to be.
As of fall 2006, the university will offer a bachelor's degree in Global and Area Studies, a new major in the College of Social Science. The news of this major was part of the University Committee on Curriculum's short report presented and approved at Tuesday's Academic Council meeting. James Madison College Professor Michael Schechter presented the short report at the meeting. Retailing is another new major at MSU, which will be a doctorate program and become effective in spring 2006.
Starting on Thursday, a three-week self-enrichment seminar will begin to teach personal leadership, management and motivation. Motivational speaker Keturah Jones will teach the seminar. "It will give tools to work with for reaching your goals," Jones said. The seminar is from 7-9 p.m.
Following a bill from ASMSU's Student Assembly that looked into lowering parking meter rates on campus, representatives are still working to get support from the university. The initial bill was approved Sept.
Members of Students for Economic Justice, or SEJ, held a fashion show featuring MSU apparel Tuesday in front of the Administration Building. The event was meant to show students and staff that merchandise bearing the MSU name and logo might possibly still be made in sweatshops. The group also wanted to push university officials to strengthen their role in the Worker Rights Consortium, or WRC, said Courtney Couvreur, a mathematics junior and SEJ member.
Although Rosa Lee Parks made history after refusing to forfeit her seat on a bus in 1955, many in the MSU community view her recent death as equally notable. Parks died of natural causes in her home Monday at the age of 92. History professor Maureen Flanagan said Parks' long life shows what advances have been made and where society is in terms of civil rights. "It reminds us how long the civil rights struggle has been since the '50s," she said.
When David Stepien converted to Islam in September, he knew it would raise a few eyebrows in his hometown of Pinckney, Mich. "I can tell you the number of Muslims there and it's zero," he said.
As part of Wednesday's Campus Sustainability Day, a hybrid car display will be held from 11 a.m.
Kenneth West, senior consultant for corporate governance for the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association - College Retirement Equities Fund, or TIAA-CREF, will speak at 4:30 p.m.
The International Opportunities Fair will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday on the second floor of the Union. Students can receive information about volunteering, teaching and internships in other countries.