Local church to hold memorial for pontiff

A memorial Mass for Pope John Paul II will take place at 7 p.m. today at St. Mary Cathedral, 219 Seymour St.

Floormates testify in rape case

For 19-year-old marketing freshman Travis Eichten, the second day in court on Tuesday brought testimony from witnesses and cross-examination of the accuser. Eichten is accused of raping an Emmons Hall floormate and is facing 15 years in prison. About eight people took the stand Tuesday including friends, an Olin Health Center nurse, an MSU police officer and a detective. The woman, a 19-year-old general business administration and pre-law freshman, also was cross-examined for about an hour and 15 minutes Tuesday. The trial addresses a Sept.

ASMSU votes to fill chairperson positions

ASMSU held the first meeting of its new session of Academic Assembly on Tuesday night and voted for a new cabinet to chair its meetings. Members of MSU's undergraduate student government elected a new chairperson, internal vice chairperson and external vice chairperson. Only nine representatives were present at the meeting to decide on the chairpersons who will spend the next year handling affairs for the organization and acting as liaisons between the assembly and university officials.

Students raise LBGT awareness in Pride Week

MSU's Pride Week begins Thursday with a series of events that organizers say will celebrate and educate the campus community about lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender identities. The week-long event is put on each year by various student groups and university office staff, who organize the demonstrations and projects.

ASMSU seeks role in selection process

Students who want to be a part of any academic governance committee might have to go through ASMSU, if a proposal referred to the University Committee on Academic Governance is passed.

E.L. decreases budget for 2006

The city of East Lansing will operate with about $523,000 less than last year, according to the city's fiscal year 2006 budget and program of services. The city's total budget for 2006 is about $55 million, about 2.3 percent less than last year.

Food contaminated by gas should be tossed

Any food sitting out that might have been contaminated by tear gas on Saturday night should be thrown out, said Dean Sienko, medical director of the Ingham County Health Department. Thousands of students took to the streets of East Lansing after the men's basketball team's loss to the University of North Carolina on Saturday.

Library, stores offer special pope collections

Sitting on a shelf near the check-out corner of the East Lansing Public Library, a collection of books about the late Pope John Paul II are flying off the racks. From titles such as "In the Vatican" to "The private prayers of Pope John Paul II," the publications offer a wide variety of information to readers on the life of an influential public figure. "One of the services we offer to the community is to highlight current events and library materials that relate to those current events," said Laurie St.

Word on the street: The East Lansing city budget came out Tuesday; what do you think the city should spend money on?

"Improving parks and roads and try to bring more business to East Lansing." Sean Sullivan political science sophomore "Put a little bit more in education and improving the facilities for students in the area." John Ong general business administration and pre-law junior

NAISO remembers victims of Red Lake shooting

With drumming and traditional singing, the North American Indian Student Organization, or NAISO, honored Tuesday the victims of the recent shooting at the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota at the rock on Farm Lane. During the vigil, students offered their prayers and spoke about the issues facing Native American communities today.

Experts: Police used tear gas legally

East Lansing police officers were within their rights to fire tear gas into crowds of thousands of students as they filled the streets of East Lansing on Saturday after MSU's loss to the University of North Carolina, experts say. Police officers have said they used the gas to disperse large crowds of students who they felt they could not control.

Student activism groups remember past struggles

A coalition of student groups are at the beginning of a seven-day campaign to protest and call attention to social and environmental concerns at MSU. The campaign, called the 150 Hours of Struggle, is part of a larger initiative to highlight how student groups have contributed to the history of MSU through activism and struggle during the past 150 years, said Erik Green, director of Racial, Ethnic, and Progressive Affairs.

MSU Board of Trustees

Trustee Joel Ferguson "I don't find any excuse for any aggressive police behavior based on what kids did a long time ago.

Police briefs 04/05/05

ASMSU, trustees react to police actions

After the police made 43 arrests and teargassed thousands of people on Saturday, ASMSU leaders said the law enforcement's riot-prevention tactics were uncalled for. Student Assembly Chairperson Andrew Schepers said he was not in East Lansing at the time of the celebration uproar, but information provided to him by staff suggested that students were celebrating in a nonviolent manner. "From all the information given to me, it sounds like the police were setup to stir something up," he said.

Trial begins for student charged with rape

Seven months after 19-year-old Travis Eichten was accused of raping his Emmons Hall floormate, the marketing freshman appeared in court Monday to face charges that could earn him up to 15 years in prison. The trial addresses a Sept.

University apts., dorm rates could increase

Residence hall room and board rates and University Apartments rates could increase 5.25 percent next year. The rate increase will be up for approval Friday at the MSU Board of Trustees meeting and would raise rates by $286 per year in the residence halls and either $29 or $32 per month in University Apartments', depending on the number of bedrooms.

7-Eleven to close Mich. Avenue store

Students craving a Slurpee won't be able to fill up at the 7-Eleven on Michigan Avenue anymore. Store employees confirmed that the building will become a different store after closing today. "It's just not a profitable location for us anymore," Manager Martin Block said. The 7-Eleven, 210 Michigan Ave., is one of four in East Lansing.

Judo Club member wins championship

His face covered with blood, Nik Vuljaj struggled with his opponent for 20 seconds. Pinning his adversary to the ground, his eyes were full of tears, and the clock stopped.

Resources help first-time tax filers

This is the first year communication senior Kristi Buckham has filed her taxes on her own. As the April 15 tax filing deadline approaches, local tax preparers are getting the word out about the number of resources available to filers, including local tax-preparation services, resources and Web sites devoted to do-it-yourself filing. And, like Buckham, many college students will file as independents for the first time. Buckham said she used an online tax preparation site because it was simple to use and inexpensive.