Council to debate Burcham construction plans today
Education senior Joseph Becker likes the idea of building new rentals - as a renter on the 700 block of Burcham Drive, he supports the development of new housing targeted at students in the area. If a plan to construct five new apartment buildings on his block is approved by the East Lansing City Council tonight, Becker's wish might become a reality. But before plans to redevelop the area can move forward, the home where Becker resides, along with another rental home and a parking lot, would have to be demolished to make room for the new structures. "Everyone has the choice to live in the dorms, but most students after their freshman or sophomore years don't want to do that," Becker said.
U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments on commandments
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear two cases this week examining whether the Ten Command-ments should be allowed on government property. The issue of whether the commandments violate the principles of separation of church and state also is a divided issue in Michigan, where both sides of the argument said they hope the court rules in their favor.
New exhibit reflects on 150 years of MSU history
When East Lansing residents Patricia and David Brogan were MSU undergraduates in the 1950s, they experienced events firsthand that are now history. They remember the annual "Water Carnival" on the Red Cedar River and David Brogan's attendance at the 1954 Rose Bowl as a sophomore, during which MSU defeated the University of California, Los Angeles. Photographs of these events are part of "Memories of MSU," an exhibit that opened Sunday at the MSU Museum and will continue through December. The exhibit is a look back at the last 150 years of MSU through photographs, artifacts and timelines from students' perspectives. "It's fun to see it," Patricia Brogan said.
E.L. house 'totaled' after fire
Four MSU students lost their home, at least temporarily, on Monday after a fire broke out in the third-floor crawl space of their Grove Street rental house. All the tenants left the house safely, although three were sleeping as the fire filled the top floor and broke through the roof.
MSU students win photography awards
State News photographers swept the category for the Michigan Press Photographers Association's College Photographer of the Year award at the organization's annual conference last weekend. The category contains first, second and third ranking and two honorable mentions. The MPPA honors professional and student photographers from across the state for submissions in categories ranging from feature photos to sports photos.
Buffalo part of 'bold new design' on nickel
Bison soon will be showing up in wallets and cash registers across the country as the U.S. Mint's new American bison nickel, released Monday, makes its way into circulation. The coin is the first buffalo nickel released since 1938 and features a new obverse, otherwise known as "heads," design of former President Thomas Jefferson. "It's a bold new design of Jefferson," said Joyce Harris, deputy director of the U.S.
Conference unites Filipino Americans
About 250 students attended the Midwest Association of Filipino Americans, or MAFA, conference this weekend. The annual assembly, which is held at a different school every year, brings together students from a variety of Midwestern colleges and universities to promote unity and educate them about Filipino American history and culture. "The Filipino American population in the Midwest is very small," said MAFA co-coordinator R.J.
Students adopt ruined school
On the two-month anniversary of the Dec. 26 tsunami, MSU students launched an effort to rebuild a school in Aceh, Indonesia.
Academic Senate fails to gather quorum at 2nd meeting in 8 years
Out of the nearly 2,000 faculty members invited, 100 showed up to the Academic Senate meeting on Friday.
Exhibit chronicles immigrant history
By Corinne Devries Special for The State News Lansing - Okemos residents Allison Wheat, 14, and Tiffany Wheat, 12, stared wide-eyed at an aging, wooden trunk on Saturday afternoon at the Michigan Historical Museum. Nearby, their mother, Lori Wheat, watched and asked them to imagine they were immigrating to Michigan. "If you could only take one thing with you in this trunk, what would it be?" Lori Wheat said.
Chocolates raise museum money
A 2-foot-tall, milk-chocolate giraffe and an edible African tribal mask were put on display for chocolate lovers to admire and drool over at the MSU Museum's 16th annual Chocolate Party Benefit on Sunday at the Kellogg Center. The sweet sculptures and molds were part of a chocolatier competition for chefs and culinary students from across the state to portray the party's "Out of Africa" theme.
Study: Depo-Provera bone loss reversible
Although the makers of the contraceptive Depo-Provera were required in November to post additional health warnings about possible permanent bone density loss, a new study suggests those effects might be reversible. The U.S.
Conference addresses urban water planning
MSU ecologist Erin Dreelin has only lived in Michigan for a few months, but she said she's ready to make her mark in the state. She is part of a growing community of people who attended the Smart Growth for Clean Water Conference 2005 on Thursday at the Kellogg Center and are trying to change the ecology of cities, she said. "Coming from the ecological point of view, I've been seeing the effects of urbanization on streams and aquatic systems," Dreelin said.
E.L. officials, greeks discuss city policies
Almost a hundred members from the greek, East Lansing and university communities brought together their ideas on the city's noise ordinance, redevelopment plans, tailgating and other topics at the "Building Bridges" dinner on Wednesday. The event, which takes place annually, was organized by the MSU Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils and held at the FarmHouse fraternity, 151 Bogue St. Attendees included the presidents of roughly 30 MSU fraternities and sororities, representatives from the East Lansing police and fire departments, city planning commission members and Mayor Mark Meadows. City officials spent some of the time clarifying possible misconceptions about various housing issues. Lynsey Little, a member of the East Lansing Planning Commission, said a lot of the backlash against new development projects, such as the Northern Tier, stems from miscommunication between students and the city. Located about three miles north of campus on Abbott Road, the Northern Tier properties include The Village at Chandler Crossing apartments and Capstone Commons apartments. "One of the biggest misunderstandings about the Northern Tier is that the city wanted students out there," Little said.
Taking a stand
As the first notes of the "Selena" soundtrack began, a group of about 25 students began cutting loose on the first floor of the Administration Building on Thursday.
Faculty meet in Academic Senate today
To bring faculty members up to speed on important university issues from last spring, MSU is convening a session of Academic Senate today. Last April, about 700 faculty convened for the first time in eight years to address faculty members' concerns that their input was not being received by MSU administrators on major issues. Today, faculty will be updated on issues pertaining to MSU President Lou Anna K.
Lansing man robbed, assaulted Thursday
A 27-year-old Lansing resident was sprayed with mace and his backpack was stolen about noon Thursday in the 1100 block of East Grand River Avenue, East Lansing police Capt.