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MSU

GEU protests TA treatment, demands better health care

In the quest for more clout while bargaining for a new contract, the Graduate Employees Union protested outside the Union and on the bridge between Wells Hall and the Administration Building on Thursday. "The more voices we can get and the more support from the MSU community we have, the more power we have at the bargaining table," GEU member Mat Bartkowiak said. Bartkowiak shouted, "MSU is losing in the Big Ten," to draw attention to scoreboards.

MICHIGAN

Lotto to update notification of award money

The Michigan Lottery plans to improve its system of notifying players of remaining prize money after media attention revealed people are purchasing tickets when the top prize is no longer available. Five of the 38 instant games in Michigan no longer had top prizes as of Wednesday but instant tickets advertising the already claimed prize were still being sold. Gary Peters, commissioner for the Michigan Lottery, said newsletters detailing the remaining prize money for instant tickets will now be sent to retailers weekly, instead of monthly. Lottery officials said the additional newsletters will improve timeliness of the information and reach people who do not have access to the Internet. Information on remaining prizes also is updated on the Internet, which gets 4 million hits a month, Peters said. "We're going to make it as easy as we possibly can for people to get that information," he said. But some feel the lottery should pull the tickets from the market once the top prize is claimed, because customers expect a chance at the big prize. Chris Perryman, a cashier at 7-Eleven, 210 Michigan Ave., said some people who purchase the tickets are happy winning $5, but most are hoping for the jackpot. "Once the grand prize is won, they should stop running the ticket," Perryman said.

MSU

Area gyms: IM revamp won't hurt profits

Local gym managers said renovations being made to the IM Sports-West are long overdue, but they're not worried about the competition. "It's great the school has put money back into the university," said Powerhouse Gym manager Kellee Ostrander.

MSU

1,000 expected at Chicana, Latina event this weekend

An estimated 1,000 women will come together Saturday to address the needs and concerns of the Chicano and Latino community for the 12th annual Día de la Mujer, or Day of the Woman, conference at Kellogg Center. The theme for the event, "Comadres Developing a Plan of Action," was created to empower, motivate and inspire Latinas in their quest for advancement, and help bring the community into a new area of advancement, said conference coordinator Mar'a Zavala. The event focuses on women because women are traditionally leaders in Chicano and Latino families because they raise the children, Zavala said. Comadres, Zavala said, is a Chicano and Latino word that signifies a time that brings women of all generations together to push a child forward into adulthood. "In this instance, it's a push to get the conference into maturity to develop issues and a plan for action," she said. The conference's 25 workshops will focus on issues that impact women in the Chicano and Latino community.

MSU

Adrian College names alumnus president

Jeffrey Docking, an East Lansing native and MSU alumnus who has spent the last eight years at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pa., is returning to Michigan in July when he becomes Adrian College's 17th president.

MICHIGAN

Veterans honored for service in WWII

Lansing - Joseph Kurta said he could peel enough potatoes in 20 minutes for 130 men during World War II at the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. He did this as men were dying around him, tanks crushed bodies and the snow made fighting difficult and dangerous. Now 84 years old, the Lansing resident was honored with several medals for his work as a cook during the war.

MSU

Tax clinic assists foreign students

Although many students are scrambling to meet the April 15 tax deadline, the process of filing can be even more complicated for international students, said officials at the MSU tax clinic. The Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, doesn't allow the electronic filling of the 10-40NR, which is what a non-U.S.

MSU

Jewish students use food to create map of Israel

Using frosting, licorice, chocolate chips and sprinkles, international relations sophomore Lindsay Miller constructed an edible map of Israel. Miller and two other students constructed their sweet geographical creations Tuesday night at the Hillel Jewish Student Center, 360 Charles St.

MSU

MSU officials offer tips for a safe vacation

Giant foam dice bounced across a board symbolizing the United States as part of the "Play Hard, Play Safe and Play Again" game Tuesday in Shaw Hall's cafeteria. The game was part of the annual Spring Break Safety Fair coordinated by the Women's Resource Center, or WRC, with the help of Olin Health Center, which runs the game. "I think the most important thing is just a reminder you need to protect yourself on spring break," said Olin health educator Jon Kermiet.

MICHIGAN

Word on the street

"Maybe a couple nicer restaurants. You could go out and have a nice dinner." Bryon Botorowicz, psychology and sociology senior "Different types of cultural restaurants.

MICHIGAN

Judge: Fine increase will curb speeding

Drivers who speed along portions of Grand River Avenue and Saginaw Highway will face a $40 increase in speeding ticket fines as of midnight on Thursday. Originally $135, tickets were raised to keep vehicles from traveling faster than a 10 mph speed hike made by the Michigan Department of Transportation, or MDOT, last week.

MSU

Faculty skip council's meeting on Tuesday

Possibly deterred by the snow, not enough professors and student representatives attended the Academic Council meeting on Tuesday to be able to vote on issues. There must be 61 voting members in attendance to convene a meeting, but by 4 p.m., 45 minutes after the meeting was scheduled to begin, only 59 of those members had appeared. Acting Provost John Hudzik ended the meeting, urging those in attendance to encourage missing members to come to the next meeting, scheduled for March 22. "You're all great folks for being here - stay great and get your colleagues to show up," Hudzik said. The weather is sometimes a factor in keeping people from venturing out to the meetings, said Jon Sticklen, chairman of the Executive Committee of Academic Council and an associate professor of computer science. "This doesn't happen too frequently, but when it does, it's usually in winter when there is a blizzard," Sticklen said.