National day honors troops; license plates could raise funds for soldiers

March 26 officially became National Support Our Troops Day after a Waterford Township high school student started a grassroots campaign to recognize the troops. While watching the news late last year, 16-year-old Alexandra McGregor said she recognized the strength of the soldiers fighting in Iraq. During winter break, McGregor began writing letters to state and U.S.

More than 4K students given new SAT results

A scoring error in SAT exams administered in October has granted new scores to more than 4,400 high school students nationwide, including about 50 students who applied to MSU. After two high school students requested their exams be rescored by hand in December, the College Board, a New York-based organization that administers the test, stumbled upon a larger problem — student scores were both underscored and overscored, said Brian O'Reilly, executive director of SAT information services at the board. All 495,000 exams taken on Oct.

Innovations: Protein pressures

Name: Professor Donna Wang Department: Medicine Type of research: Studying a protein that could regulate blood pressure and heart disease Date of research: Wang has been studying this protein since 1998, and the project is ongoing. Basics of the project: The specific protein Wang is researching is present in sensory nerves, which allow people to feel pain, heat or cold. "What we are trying to define is (how) to assign a new role for this protein," Wang said. "We believe this protein plays a role in cardiovascular regulation or the control of blood pressure." Wang and six other MSU researchers from several fields of study across campus, including engineering, biochemistry and pharmacology, is developing molecular and animal models to research the protein, she said. With these models, the researchers can see the protein's effect at the cellular, tissue and organ levels of animals and humans, and they eventually will be able to study the effect on the entire body, Wang said. "Once we know more about the molecular structure of this protein, it might help the future design of a novel drug," she said. Social impact of research: Wang's research could lead to the development of a medicine that uses the protein to treat heart-related problems, Wang said. "It will certainly be conceivable that those drugs may be used for the treatment of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases," she said. Grants and funding: The project receives funding from MSU, the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, the Michigan Life Sciences Corridor and various pharmaceutical companies.

Police briefs 03/29/06

Lively lifestyles

After losing 47 pounds while participating in the NBC weight-loss show "The Biggest Loser," Amelia Stephens said she hopes to inspire people to make their own lifestyle changes. "If I can inspire one person to change their life, to exercise and eat better, then it was all worth it," said Stephens, a communication senior. Stephens participated with her family on the show, which she said was scheduled to air this month but was postponed until summer. She said women tend to neglect themselves and are usually the ones taking care of others. "We can't take care of anyone else if we can't take care of ourselves," she said. Stephens attended the Women's Health Fair on Tuesday afternoon at the Union. The fair was organized by the MSU Women's Resource Center in honor of Women's History Month. Jodi Roberto Hancock, educational program coordinator at the Women's Resource Center, said the fair is a way to raise awareness about physical health, relationship health, stress management and balancing work and family. "This fair is a way to show the resources that are available to women," Roberto Hancock said. She said women's health is important because women often are the main source of health information for their families. Roberto Hancock added that women also have often been left out of major medical research. "I just recently heard there was a 20- or 30-year study just following women and really trying to realize that women's bodies are different," Roberto Hancock said.

Study: College faculty values own spirituality

Nurses work with people who are within inches of their lives on a day-to-day basis. That's why Mary Jo Arndt, an associate professor and director of undergraduate programs in the College of Nursing, said her students will encounter many instances that involve someone's spirituality. "People are very vulnerable when (nurses) work with them.

U-M professor, author will debate initiative

The Residence Halls Association, with help from other campus organizations, is sponsoring a debate on campus today about the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative. The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, or MCRI, is a proposal to amend the state constitution to ban affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment to groups or individuals based on their race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin for public employment, education or contracting purposes. Speakers will include activist and author Tim Wise and University of Michigan philosophy Professor Carl Cohen. The Residence Halls Association, or RHA, and ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, decided to take a stance against MCRI in December. Vic Maurer, director of Racial, Ethnic and Progressive Affairs for RHA, said he started to consider holding the event in November. "(RHA) represents student concerns, and this is obviously an issue students are concerned about," Maurer said, adding that the initiative clearly affects the campus and state. The event will cost close to $9,000, with speakers costing $4,000 each.

Congress could cut local grants

It's basic economics — the trickle-down theory. Congress is forced to make budget cuts.

Student bicyclist hit

Usually, you can't miss him. Erik Green rides a double-decker bike — a dark blue frame stacked on top of a copper-colored one.

Police briefs 03/28/06

Law course readies students for technology in courtroom

Many professionals in the law field, including lawyers and paralegals, are switching over to electronic evidence programs as courtrooms become more high tech. And MSU College of Law students are following suit. A new course, called the Courtroom Technology and Electronic Evidence Lab, is open to law students and practicing attorneys. This semester, two sessions of the course were offered to students, including one that is currently in session. The lab teaches students how to use a program called TrialDirector Suite, which is the most-used trial presentation software. Bonnie Dabb, a judicial assistant for Judge David McKeague of the U.S.

Mich. battles tree-slaying insect

Known as the "unwanted hitchhiker," emerald ash borer is emerging from its winter slumber to attack and kill millions of unsuspecting Michigan ash trees this year, unless proper funding is provided, MSU researchers said. "The outreach efforts are not funded at the level they need to be," said Deb McCullough, MSU forest entomology professor.

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.

ASMSU survey opens online

Beginning today, students can fill out an online survey created by ASMSU officials to determine student demand for additional recreational space on campus. The survey will be available to fill out for a week and a half, student government officials said. ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, allocated $7,000 in January to fund a survey of student opinions on the project, which calls for the construction of a combined IM facility and student events center. The project is meant to compete with facilities at other universities and would lower expenses for registered student organizations planning to host events such as concerts, speaker series and other larger events, ASMSU officials said. Additional financial resources are needed to pursue this project, said Rick McNeil, assistant director of Intramural Sports and Recreative Services, adding that students would have to be willing to pay fees incorporated into tuition. "There are two parts," said Harry Wang, a finance sophomore and Eli Broad College of Business representative for ASMSU's Student Assembly.

Deficit may affect zoo, Lansing jobs

The future of Potter Park Zoo and the regional make-up of Ingham County's fire department dispatch response could be in limbo with Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero's budget plan. Bernero will present those ideas and a list of 40 budget proposals to quell Lansing's $11 million deficit at 7 p.m.

MRULE 2-day AIDS event draws 600

By Jason Chapman For The State News Audience members viewing an AIDS awareness movie called "A Closer Walk" began to shed tears as soon as the film began in the crowded Union on Saturday. The movie, which depicted dismal scenes of AIDS throughout the world, was the centerpiece and inspiration of a two-day event called "No Place to Hide: Student Activism and the Fight Against the Global AIDS Pandemic," according to students of the Multi-Racial Unity Living Experience, or MRULE. "We want students to find their place in the great struggle to fight this pandemic," MRULE Director Jeanne Gazel said.

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.

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.

Police briefs 03/27/06

International graduate school admission rises

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.