During the last three years, Professor Dan Clay, director of the Institute of International Agriculture, has helped triple the price Rwandans receive for coffee, one of the country's main exports. Clay's Project PEARL (Partnerships to Enhance Agriculture in Rwanda through Linkages) was launched in 2001 "Coffee has been grown there for generations," Clay said.
For his work at Sparty's Convenience Stores, advertising senior Justin Best has been named MSU's Student Employee of the Year. "It's quite an honor.
With ASMSU elections a day away, the student government is once again having trouble finding enough people to fill its open seats. And ASMSU members said their election code could be the cause of the problem. History shows that not many students apply for student government seats, and candidates running have no problem getting elected because of the lack of competition. This year, the Academic Assembly has 13 seats still open, and the Student Assembly, which has two more seats than 2003, has 17 open. Last year, of 26 seats open on the Academic Assembly, nine were filled.
In hopes of giving student parents time to study, a new addition has been made to MSU's Main Library - a children's nook. The nook opened during spring break and was created when students from the Student Parents on a Mission, or SPOM, brought up the idea to library administrators. "We were approached by a student group, and they made the argument that there was no place for students who have small children to study," said Jim Hensley, an administrative assistant for MSU Libraries and coordinator of the project. The project was funded by donations from Lori Strom, coordinator of the Family Resource Center, the library and students from SPOM. Hensley said there is a sampling of books for children as young as toddlers to as old as early teens.
ASMSU officials recently released revisions to their tax-hike scholarship proposal - an issue that is up for decision in Wednesday's student government elections. ASMSU members voted about two months ago to increase undergraduate ASMSU taxes by $3 per semester to fund a scholarship.
Steve Pomerantz knows how America fights terrorism. Pomerantz, a former assistant director of the FBI, spoke to students about his experience Monday in the Union. Spartans for Israel, or SFI, and Hillel Jewish Student Center sponsored Pomerantz's visit as part of a series called "Conversations on U.S.-Israel Relations." SFI president Jennifer Bloom said the event was a chance for students to hear how the U.S.
Students danced, jumped, sang and spoke out at the bi-annual "Cultural Vogue" event sponsored by the Asian Pacific American Student Organization, or APASO, on Saturday in the Auditorium. About 1,200 people attended this year's event, which was titled "Tridentity" and focused on the diverse cultures represented in the organization.
The Muslim Students' Association will conduct a "Teach-In" at 7:30 p.m. today in the Wonders Hall Kiva to discuss the recent campus visit of author Salman Rushdie.
Holding signs, chanting and participating in a satirical version of a children's game, about 100 students rallied in front of the Administration Building on Friday afternoon in the final stages of a five-year effort for MSU to join the Worker Rights Consortium. The consortium, or WRC, is a group of students and university administrators who work to make sure no university clothing is produced by companies that have violated human rights. During the rally, students chanted about fair labor, read poems about sweatshops, waved signs and banners and played a brief game of Simon Says, referring to WRC negotiations with MSU's president. The rally was organized by students from Students for Economic Justice, or SEJ, the Coalition of Racial Ethnic Students, the Council of Progressive Students and Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Aztlan. Zoology senior Dianna Miller held a sign that read "Justice Now!
ASMSU elections are Wednesday, and undergraduates will have the ability to determine if their student government tax will be increased. More than a month ago, Academic and Student assemblies members voted to increase student taxes by $3 per semester to fund a scholarship account.
The Spartans for Israel and the Hillel Jewish Student Center will host a presentation called "How Israel Helps to Keep the U.S.
Elicia Robertson almost didn't attend the University Activities Board's adaptation of the television game show "The Price is Right" on Saturday night at the Business College Complex. "I decided to come at the last minute," the English sophomore said. But at the end of the night, it ended up being a good decision. Robertson had the closest bid in the event's Showcase Showdown and walked away with an $1,860 prize package that included a plane ticket to Europe and a 15-day Eurorail pass. Altogether, about $6,000 in prizes were given away, most of which were donated by local businesses, said Rachel Bomeli, officer of UAB's special events committee.
Eleven local bands with sounds ranging from ska to electronica took the stage and battled for prizes Friday night during the University Activities Board's 3rd annual Battle of the Bands competition.
Nearly 200 student group representatives and community members are expected to rally at 2 p.m. today in front of the Administration Building in the final stages of a five-year effort for MSU to join the Worker Rights Consortium, or WRC. "It's to show that we have a lot of support from campus and community members for joining the WRC," said Maggie Ryan, member of Students for Economic Justice, or SEJ. The WRC is a group of students and university administrators who work to make sure no university clothing is produced by companies that have violated human rights. Student groups met with MSU President Lou Anna K.
Student groups will showcase their talents in the bi-annual "Cultural Vogue" event sponsored by the Asian Pacific American Student Organization, or APASO, at 6:30 p.m.
With representation from every college, along with booths from Study Abroad, the Air Force ROTC, the Learning Resource Center and other groups, the Marathon of Majors offered advice and counseling for students confused about their majors. "Many students question their major," said Ron Gibbs, an academic adviser in Student Academic Affairs.
The Association of Big Ten Schools operated for several months without a leader, but Vinay Prasad, ASMSU's Academic Assembly external vice chairperson, will head the group through the summer. ASMSU officials said Prasad is the first delegate elected from MSU to lead the association, and this position will help bring MSU issues to the board's attention. "I was really thrilled I got it," Prasad said.
The latest in computer technology was on display in the Union ballroom Wednesday at the 2005 Microfest Technology Fair.
Controversial author Salman Rushdie will speak at 7:30 p.m. today in the Wharton Center. Rushdie first gained fame after the publication of his novel "The Satanic Verses" in 1988.
Students looking for help pinpointing a major, clearing up graduation requirements or locating job opportunities can find assistance at the Marathon of Majors today from 5 p.m.