Outdoor Circus brings sense of nostalgia to Lansing

Before Tetyana Synovyat launched herself 100 feet into the air at the Cole Bros. Circus on Tuesday, she stiffened her muscles and pressed her legs flat against the cannon's floor. The petite projectile's legs were locked, arms were tight and mind was focused. After a deafening boom from the human cannonball launcher, she detangled herself from the safety net and was again backstage, prepping for a motorcycle tightrope stunt later in the show. "You feel like you fly," the 9-year Cole Bros.

ASMSU positions remain unfilled

ASMSU's Academic Assembly has grown sizably in the last two weeks - 10 out of 11 student group spots have been filled and the total number of college representatives has doubled. Although the group had to add more tables to fit all the new members during its Tuesday meeting, about half of its college representative seats remain empty. Despite the open seats, Academic Assembly Chairperson Robert Murphy said he is happy with the group's progress. "I'm really pleased with what we've done so far," Murphy said.

Informational meeting held for teacher group

Interested students are invited to a Teach For America information session, to be held at 7 p.m. today and Thursday in Room 101 of North Kedzie Hall.

Two Lansing mayoral candidates to speak

The League of Women Voters of the Lansing area is holding a forum for the two candidates for Lansing mayor.

Garden club chapter to hear golf speaker

Golf course designer Jerry Matthews will speak about environmentally friendly designs at the next meeting of the Red Cedar Chapter of Wild Ones Native Gardeners. The meeting is at 7 p.m.

Briggs speaker series will continue Friday

University of Memphis philosophy Professor Bill Lawson will speak at 11:30 a.m. Friday in Room C-106 of Holmes Hall. The presentation is part of a Lyman Briggs School speaker series about environmental inequity.

Transgender student featured in new Sundance Channel series

On Tuesday, MSU's campus was the backdrop for a Sundance Channel series featuring the life of an MSU student. T.J.

Gas leak forces road closure

Construction workers drilling on Dormitory Road near Snyder and Phillips halls hit a gas line at about noon on Tuesday, causing a gas leak that kept running for roughly five hours. "It just shoots out because it's forced gas," said Lt.

Jokesters prepare for UAB comedy weekend

Aspiring MSU comedians gathered in the Union's Ohio State Room on Tuesday night, hoping to extract a chorus of belly laughs from a University Activities Board judging panel. The comedians were auditioning for a slot in the upcoming "Last Spartan Standing" competition, the MSU version of the "Last Comic Standing" NBC television series.

Professor to lead ID theft workshop today

An identity theft workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today in the third-floor conference room at the Nisbet Building, 1407 S.

MSU conservatives urged to 'come out' at campus event

On Wednesday, several MSU conservative political groups will have a chance to make an announcement - they are proud of their political affiliation. The opportunity is part of the first-ever National Conservative Coming Out Day, an event aimed at raising awareness about the conservative presence on college campuses. At MSU, informational tables and a mock closet for participants to come out of will be set up at the Brody Complex and Bessey Hall, as well as a possible location on East campus, political science and pre-law senior Luke Pelican said. "The purpose of this day isn't to go after anyone or have an aggressive agenda," Pelican said.

ASMSU: Sale of alcohol in suites biased

Members of ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, feel that selling alcohol in the suite area of Spartan Stadium is unfair to students and gives more privilege to those who pay extra for season tickets. "It's ridiculous.

Traffic system aims to accelerate rescues

With the push of a button, Lansing-area emergency vehicles can clear traffic by switching a stoplight from red to green. The Lansing Regional Emergency Vehicle Pre-emption System Project, which will be finished next year, works by sending a signal from a strobe light mounted on an emergency vehicle to a sensor placed on a traffic light.

Possibility of new cell phone towers spurs debate in E.L.

Cingular Wireless and T-Mobile customers could notice an increase in their wireless signal if the East Lansing City Council votes Tuesday evening to construct cell phone towers on East Grand River Avenue and Trowbridge Road.

Local speaks about gender on 'Oprah'

A Lansing woman who has run for several political offices was featured on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" last week because of her gender experiences. Melissa Sue Robinson, who is transgender and was born male, said she was asked to take part in a special segment on identical twins who have sex changes by a producer of the show. "Somehow they found out about me," she said.

Police briefs 09/20/05

Club targets women in computer sciences

It is not uncommon for Niharika Joglekar to be the only female in her classes. It's this observation - among others - that has led the computer science and engineering senior to start a new group on campus called MSU Women in Computing. "Women don't feel as comfortable as they should in this male-dominated major," Joglekar said.

Academy demos sword fighting on campus

By Erica Richards Special to The State News The peaceful lawn of the Administration Building turned into a medieval battlefield Saturday afternoon - but fighters wore T-shirts and used weapons made of wood, leather and duct tape. A small group of students and instructors from the Aegis Sword Academy in Pinckney took turns fighting within a ring of green rope as part of a swordsmanship demonstration.

Update: E.L. firefighters help with relief

As East Lansing Fire Marshal Bob Pratt drove on Sunday down a residential street in Bogalusa, La., a city that Hurricane Katrina devastated with high winds, he tallied the damaged houses. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight; eight out of 10 houses on a random block have tarps on roofs," Pratt said on his cell phone, as he sat by his partner, East Lansing Firefighter-Paramedic Dawn Carson.

Group holds welcome for student parents

Student Parents on a Mission will have a welcome meeting from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Spartan Child Development Center, located at 1730 Crescent Road. Free dinner and child care will be provided, and a children's craft activity will start at 7 p.m. The organization was founded in 1995 with the Family Resource Center to provide an environment for student parents to come together and learn about resources MSU provides for them, such as assistance in finding employment and financial aid.