UAB helps students 'just chill'

The smells of ocean rain and cactus flower and the sounds of a trickling forest stream drifted through the International Center on Saturday as students relieved the stress of finals preparation. Dozens of students braved the chill outside to attend the "Chill at the I.C." inside, a University Activities Board-sponsored event that featured free massages, yoga lessons, Pilates and other tension relievers. UAB communications officer and advertising sophomore Tiffany Weber said the event was part of the group's extended "Just Chill Weekend," which included a craft night, open-mic night and free ice skating at Munn Ice Arena. "It seemed appropriate with finals coming up to have just a whole week of relaxation," Weber said. At the event, students also could enjoy free ice cream cones, paint their nails, create their own massage oils or play a quiet game of Yahtzee or Guess Who. The featured speaker for the night was social work graduate student Beth Krenek, who discussed ways students could cope with the multitude of exams, term papers and lab reports. Krenek said the average person has more than 50,000 thoughts a day, which can often overwhelm and frustrate them to the point where they shut down and stop focusing on each individually. "A lot of times, when we have something to do, we waste time worrying about the thing instead of just doing it," Krenek said.

Abu Ghraib torture debated

After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, insurance lawyer Shereef Akeel said more Muslim clients from Iraq who were discriminated against came to him for legal help.

Police briefs 04/22/05

B.R.A.D. program observes 5th anniversary

After her son died on his 21st birthday in 1998 from alcohol poisoning, Cynthia McCue sent birthday cards to her son Bradley's friends as they turned 21. "It was very difficult for them," she said.

Awards reception to recognize students

Several scholarships will be awarded to students at the 21st annual Awards and Appreciation Reception today from 2 p.m.

Student guitarists play at Union

Guitarists of the world unite. Members of the MSU Guitar Club descended on the Union on Thursday as part of the University Activities Board's Noontimes performance. During the event, zoology senior and club member Ivan Orlic played some songs from his native Peru, as well as songs such as REM's "Losing My Religion." Orlic, who started playing classical guitar while growing up in Lima, Peru, said the instrument helped him make friends when he came to the United States to study at MSU. "I meet anyone who is playing a guitar," Orlic said.

New store keeps 7-Eleven layout

With the same frozen slush machines, store setup and paint scheme, the 24/7 convenience store, 210 Michigan Ave., remains very similar to 7-Eleven, the store it took over. Ami Bhatt, manager of the new store, said this is partly because it only has been open for a couple of weeks, since April 5.

Singh focuses on student-city relations

Editor's note: This is the fifth in a five-part series to reintroduce the people who run East Lansing.

Professor honored for teaching skills

Professor honored for teaching skills Richard Zinman, a university distinguished professor in James Madison College and the Department of Political Science, is this year's recipient of the seventh annual Honors College Award for Distinguished Contributions to Honors Students.

Open house for MSU Cyclotron Saturday

The National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory will host its first open house on Saturday. The event is from 1 p.m.

Campus groups work to expand MSU's recycling

With signs to reduce, reuse and recycle, members of campus environmental groups said they will try to remind students of some things they might have forgotten from elementary school. Both the Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment, or RISE, and Eco will join forces at the rock on Farm Lane today to celebrate Earth Day. "Every day is Earth Day, but it is important to have an Earth Day to remind people who might be too busy to think about it," said zoology senior Sowkya Rangarajan, who is a member of RISE and Eco. Members will collect petition signatures today for a comprehensive recycling program at MSU and inform students of ways they can be more Earth-friendly. Members also stood on campus Wednesday and Thursday and said they received a good response from many people who checked out their information. The campus needs a facility to sort and bail recycled material, rather than having to pay to send it off campus, Rangarajan said.

Provost forum notes Foster's prior experience

Brian Foster is a first-generation college student who believes education needs to be accessible, especially at a land-grant institution.

Center to recycle electronics Saturday

The Lansing Recycling Transfer Station, 530 E. South St., will accept computers and other electronics to recycle from 8 a.m.

World Year of Physics celebrates Einstein's scientific discoveries

A century ago, little was known about the world of physics. In 1905, Albert Einstein changed the way people viewed the science of matter and energy when he published five papers challenging previous scientific thought.

MSU recreates nickel isotope

MSU physicists recently completed an experiment that would enable scientists to learn more about the origins of chemical elements. Findings from the experiment, which recreated an isotope of nickel, were presented earlier this week at a meeting of the American Physical Society in Tampa, Fla. "A lot of people have tried to do this experiment, and we're the only ones who have finally succeeded," said Hendrik Schatz, an associate professor of physics.

Area museum hosts Earth Day activities

Saturday is Earth Super Saturday at the Impression 5 Science Center, 200 Museum Drive in Lansing. Projects developed by students at the Museum Studies Program will be delivered from 11 a.m.

Police briefs 04/21/05

Alumni discuss foreign policy

Current and former U.S. ambassadors brought an inside look at international politics to MSU students this week as a part of the sesquicentennial celebration. As part of MSU's 150th birthday celebration, four diplomatic experts were on hand for a discussion on Tuesday in the International Center and participated in a variety of classroom discussions across campus this week.

Loomis' life experiences lend to his work on E.L. council

Editor's note: This is the fourth in a five-part series to reintroduce the people who run East Lansing.

Students rally to improve U.S. health care

Every day, Max Baisel said he works with people who can't afford to pay for basic health and dental care. As a program counselor for the Ingham County Health Department mobile health unit, Baisel addressed a small crowd at the foot of the Capitol's steps on Wednesday during a rally to address disparities in the nation's health-care system. Medical students and health-care professionals spoke at the event, sponsored by the American Medical Student Association at the MSU College of Human Medicine.