MSU
MSU to host Lansing labor law conference
An "Emerging Issues in Labor and Employment Law" conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
MSU
Quit Tobacco class offered
Kicking the smoking habit is not easy, but Healthy U and Olin Health Center have teamed up to offer a free, monthly Quit Tobacco Workshop for the MSU community to help smokers take the first step to quitting. "It's a very user-friendly workshop," said Rebecca Allen, a spokeswoman for Olin Health Center. It's not only for people who have their heart set on quitting.
MSU
Former dean of MSU dies
Richard Sullivan, former MSU historian and administration member, who is remembered by friends and co-workers for his sense of humor and dedication to the university, died on Thursday.
MSU
Funding may face changes
Michigan House Republicans laid out a proposed formula for funding higher education on Wednesday that would reward universities for their contributions to the state's economy. The plan aims to invest in the state's future workforce by providing financial incentives for universities based on enrollment, the number and types of degrees and the amount of research at each institution. But local lawmakers worry MSU won't benefit as much as other schools because of the way the funds are divided. Under the new proposal for university operations, the schools combined could receive $1.65 billion - nearly $12 million more than under Gov.
MSU
U.S. House approves $10M RIA funding
Recent lobbying efforts and proposed legislation have revitalized interest in the $1 billion dollar proposed Rare Isotope Accelerator project that, only a month ago, was thought by some MSU officials to be a lost cause. MSU and the Argonne National Laboratory, located near Chicago, have each been vying for the project, or RIA, but a limited federal budget stalled plans for either location to build it. Physics and astronomy Professor Bradley Sherrill said RIA would make its host the most technologically advanced institution in nuclear physics.
MSU
Ad Council fights civil inactivity across campuses nationwide
According to the Ad Council, an organization that promotes public service campaigns, people who are not civically active run the risk of getting "mannequinism," a fictional disease that renders its victims plastic and immobile. The "disease" is being used as a metaphor in a national advertising campaign to get 18- to 24- year-olds to be more engaged in their communities.
MSU
Ash borer awareness week begins
Since the emerald ash borer is still a serious problem, this week kicked off the "Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week" in the states of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. The emerald ash borer is a beetle that attacks ash trees and eventually kills them.
MSU
Construction on campus forces alternate routes
A few large-scale construction projects being tackled this summer could make walking, driving and parking on campus a little tougher for the next few months. Even MSU's president said the construction can be frustrating at times. President Lou Anna K.
MSU
Computer science enrollment declining
The national trend of decreasing computer science majors is occurring at MSU, especially in the last four years, according to data supplied from the Office of the Registrar. The Computing Research Association conducts a Taulbee Survey each fall showing the number of college students attending computer science and computer engineering programs.
MSU
People with disabilities take part in sports
Like many other kids, 13-year-old Anthony Town enjoys playing table tennis and cycling. This weekend, he had an opportunity to do these events and more as he participated in the Michigan Sports Festival for Athletes with Physical Disabilities. Town was one of many people with cerebral palsy who competed in the festival on campus at IM Sports-West and Demonstration Hall, put on by the Michigan Disability Sports Alliance. The athletes are members of teams that compete in various events such as bocce ball, table tennis, cycling and swimming. "This event gives me a chance to play sports that I would not get to do in school," Town said. Town has a less severe case of the disorder, which disrupts the development of motor skills and can be a result of a brain injury. "I feel very fortunate that I can do most of the things that normal people do," said Town.
MSU
SmartZone aids local technology companies
MSU faculty members will benefit from the Ingham County regional SmartZone, which will help them research and start their own companies and support businesses in early stages. The regional SmartZone is a designated area in which developing, technology-based businesses are "incubated," or fostered, by established corporations.
MSU
Cartoonist uses life, people for inspiration
As a child, Mike Ramsey doodled caricatures of his teachers, friends and himself. These drawings became the inspiration for his cartoon, "Sidwood." "I've been drawing my whole life, specifically cartoons.
MSU
Eateries to move into campus food courts by mid-August
Two food courts on campus are in the midst of a makeover that will bring four new restaurants to MSU by fall. The Taco Bell and Wendy's located in the International Center announced in February that they would not rebid their contracts, which expired at the end of the semester.
MSU
Police impound unregistered bicycles
During finals week, nearly 1,500 campus bike riders discovered bright orange tags on their bikes, issued by the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety.
MSU
New fitness area opens at IM West
After about a year of construction, IM Sports-West opened the doors to a brand new fitness and exercise area on Monday and is offering free visits to MSU community members until Friday. The room is 12,000 square feet and features more than 180 new weight and cardiovascular machines for students, faculty, staff and alumni to use. Weight machines are positioned on the large first floor, and cardiovascular machines are on the second balcony level - a far cry from the small fitness room with dated machines IM Sports-West used to have. Most of the machines in the previous fitness room are from the 1970s, and there were few cardiovascular options, IM Sports-West intern and kinesiology senior Greg Haverlock said. Among the new equipment are 24 elliptical running machines and 24 treadmills, and each machine features a personal TV screen.
MSU
2005-06 tuition rates await state budget
MSU's budget and tuition rates for the 2005-06 school year are waiting on one thing - the state's long budgetary process in Lansing, university officials said. Next month, the university will set its tuition rates for the new school year, but MSU Board of Trustees member David Porteous said the board is at a standstill until the state determines its higher-education funding for its 15 public universities. At this point, Porteous said it would be "premature and impossible" to predict what is in store for MSU's tuition rates.
MSU
Dorm cleanup yields surprises
Sex toys and a gorilla-masked mannequin are a few of the stranger things manager Tim Knightfound while doing dorm room cleaning. "The mannequin scared the living daylights out of you because you thought something with a hairy face was behind you," he said. Many students could not fit everything they have acquired throughout the year into the bags and boxes Mom and Dad brought to them in the spring.
MSU
Low blood-drive donations prompt Red Cross campaign
The Michigan chapters of the American Red Cross have the lowest blood supply levels in a decade. MSU students leaving for the summer and high school classes coming to a close give the Red Cross fewer possible donors. A new campaign called "Strive for Five" started on Friday to help increase blood donations for the summer. It encourages sponsors to give five more pints of blood than their original goal, American Red Cross Marketing Manager Kelly Rogers said. The campaign began because this summer is projected to be the lowest blood-drive turnout in years, said Justin Looyenga, donor recruitment representative for the Mid-Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross. "We're really going to be struggling this summer," Looyenga said. The summer always is a problem for the organization, Rogers said.
MSU
RHA takes control of Channel 12, keeps it on air
Channel 12 is back on. The channel, which broadcasts free movies and student-produced programming to MSU's campus and surrounding cities, was scheduled to be taken off the air at the end of the school year due to declining viewership. But the Residence Halls Association announced this week that it will assume control of the channel after a division of Housing and Food Services gives up control of it next month. RHA President Kevin Newman, who during his campaign stressed improving amenities as the key to keeping students on campus, said keeping Channel 12 a part of residence hall living should be a priority. "This is another program that RHA can bring to the on-campus community that they can't get anywhere else," Newman said. The move became possible after Swank Motion Pictures Inc., the company from which RHA purchases the movies for Channel 12 and its Campus Center Cinemas, agreed to provide them with a digital media player system at no charge for at least a year. The system will substantially cut the channel's labor costs by enabling a month of its programming to be done in 30 minutes. "There's been some technical issues, but the new digital media player will alleviate that," RHA Director of Technology Tom Wolf said.
MSU
MSU a capella group to host show Sunday
MSU's co-ed a capella group Capital Green will host its annual spring show at 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 adults.