Sexual assault task force continues to meet

A university community task force working toward reducing sexual assaults and relationship violence at MSU is closer to submitting its recommendations. The group, formed in November after 12 sexual assaults were reported on MSU's campus during the fall semester, is made up of more than 30 university community members, including faculty, staff and students. The task force met Monday to brainstorm and review findings since it first met in December. "We started to get the ball rolling," committee co-Chairperson Jayne Schuiteman said.

Police briefs 02/23/05

2 firefighters hurt in Lansing house fire

Two firefighters were injured in a Lansing house fire at 710 Clark St. on Monday, when the floor beneath them collapsed.

Nigerian artist to play at E.L. library event

East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbott Road, will hold a "Community Cultures: Africa" program from 2 p.m.

Surgeon general advises all home owners test for radon

Americans need to test their homes for radon, which is a significant health risk at elevated levels, said U.S.

Visit by former member of 1970s radical group causes stir

In 1970, Bill Ayers said "enough was enough" and joined 10 other people to declare war against the U.S.

Broadcasting expo to host management talk

Management guru Stephen M.R. Covey will give a presentation during the Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference & Expo at 8 a.m.

Consultant accepts position with U-Mass

An MSU consultant who worked on the initial stages of the proposed new residential college has accepted a job with the University of Massachusetts. Marcellette Williams, a consultant to Acting Provost John Hudzik, has accepted a job as senior vice president for academic and student affairs and international relations for the entire University of Massachusetts system, which includes five campuses. Williams will assume her position full time in July, following completion of an MSU study abroad program in South Africa this summer. "I had a wonderful experience here as a student, which was only topped by my experience as a faculty member and administrator," she said.

Bill might ban minors from buying violent games

Children younger than 17 could be banned from buying violent video games with the label of Mature or Adults Only if state Sen.

Population persistent issue for E.L., Lansing

Although Lansing and East Lansing populations dropped between the 1990 and 2000 censuses, both cities are now estimating a slight increase in their populations. A study recently released by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments reported the population of Detroit has fallen below 900,000 people for the first time since 1920. Delores Muller, a senior planning analyst for the council, said people might be moving out of the city to find a better quality of life, but it is hard to pinpoint one direct cause. Jim van Ravensway, East Lansing's planning and community development director, said the city's population dropped from about 50,700 people in 1990 to 46,500 in 2000. "Since then, we have climbed back up to 47,300," he said. Lansing's Senior Planner John Hodges said he doesn't have exact estimates for Lansing, but has observed several new housing units that led him to believe the city population has slightly increased. However, numbers have not reached the levels they were at in 1990, and Lansing and East Lansing officials say this is affecting polices being put in place.

Simons donate $300K for music

When he began at MSU, Roy J. Simon was a music major studying theory, conducting and composition. Even though he ended up changing his major during his college career, Simon, the director of Telecommunication Systems and Transportation Services and the husband of MSU President Lou Anna K.

Credit, spring break focus of programs

The Women's Resource Center is hosting two programs, one on credit reports and the other on spring break safety, today on campus.

ASMSU members aim to renovate offices

ASMSU members hope to give their offices a new "professional" look. Under the Student Assembly's push, ASMSU members will voluntarily paint the student government offices.

Police briefs 02/22/05

Artist conveys racial struggles in performance

A flashing sword blade split a single flower Friday as part of a performance by Los Angeles artist Dan Kwong. The event, which took place at the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road, was called "From Inner Worlds to Outer Space: An evening of performance with Dan Kwong." Kwong blended narrative monologues with projected images, music and physical action to tell his story of growing up as an Asian American. "I was always looking for a way to combine life and art," Kwong said.

Rodeo draws national crowd

MSU Rodeo Club member Curtis Wegner adjusted his black cowboy hat and tightened his grip on a rope around the bull he was sitting on.

WEB ONLY: Student group holds dinner, introduces scholarship

MSU students and faculty members dined and danced to the smooth sounds of jazz during the Black Student Alliance's 17th annual dinner at Kellogg Center on Friday night. The event connected students, faculty and staff members on a social level outside of the academic environment, said Tammye Coles, MSU's African American Student Affairs Coordinator. "Opportunities like this are rare and wonderful opportunities," Coles said.

Study discloses breast cancer, weight-gain link

The amount of weight a woman gains after age 18 is a strong indicator of whether she will develop breast cancer, according to American Cancer Society research. Some local health officials, however, question the findings. Women who gain between 20 and 30 pounds after age 18 are 40 percent more likely to get breast cancer after menopause than women who keep the weight off, said lead researcher of the study Heather Spencer Feigelson. Women who gained more than 70 pounds were twice as likely to get cancer than women who gained less than 20 pounds, the research showed. "It is a well-descripted finding in the scientific world, but it's not very well-known among women that weight gain is a high risk factor," Feigelson said. Feigelson said the best explanation is that estrogen stimulates breast cancer cells to grow and multiply and, throughout her life, a woman's estrogen is stored in fat tissue.

Muhn to retire as police chief

When East Lansing Police Chief Louis Muhn was a child, he was in a minor car accident and was given a ride home by a police officer, who let him turn on the siren in the cruiser. That experience stayed with Muhn and inspired him to become a police officer. After 32 years with the East Lansing Police Department, Muhn will retire April 30. "I want to retire when the department is in good shape and things are running smoothly," he said. Muhn's career in law enforcement started at the Michigan State Police, where he applied the first day he could, on his 21st birthday. When he wasn't accepted for a job, he went directly to the East Lansing Police Department. He was hired the same day as a dispatcher coordinating responses to emergency calls.

ASMSU gives $50K for exercise equipment

ASMSU members decided this week to put money from its $600,000 risk management account to use. The undergraduate student government passed a bill to give IM Sports-West up to $50,000 to help pay for new exercise equipment.