Lansing group offers help with job search

The Youth Development Corporation, 806 N. Capitol Ave., in Lansing is offering employment counseling for 16 to 21 year olds.

Students weigh outcome of alcohol ban

A week after the MSU Board of Trustees approved a ban on open alcohol on campus, some students say they are questioning how effective the ban will be. Landscape architecture sophomore Alex Kretschmer said he hadn't seen many people carrying open alcohol before the ban was implemented. "I don't really see a difference," Kretschmer said.

University discusses increasing staff input

The elimination of Faculty Council was one of the possible structural changes suggested by a committee that looked at ways to increase faculty participation in academic governance. "We sit here and listen to this - folks say it's almost a waste of time," said Michael Moch, a committee member and management professor.

Former Black Panther offers insight

David Hilliard, former chief of staff for the Black Panther Party spoke on campus Tuesday about the history of the group and the misconceptions surrounding it. Jeremy Nufer, the Black Caucus liaison to the Wilson Hall government, which helped bring Hilliard to campus, said it was important for people to learn more about the movement. "So many people see the Black Panthers as violent thugs," Nufer said.

Students compete for cultural heroes

A group of students will compete today to prove which famous hero is worthy of being inducted into the MSU Multicultural Heroes Hall of Fame. For the last month, five student teams, which are made of three members, have been gathering information about famous figures in history such as Nelson Mandela, Princess Diana and Rosa Parks.

Lansing events honor black history

The calendar is full of Black History Month events for the Lansing area. The Capital Area District Library brought The Storytellers to local libraries to share its diverse music with residents.

University officials discuss alcohol ban

Preliminary meetings began Tuesday among members of MSU's administration to create guidelines for exceptions to MSU's new open-alcohol ban. The process to establish discussion is still in its early stages, said Sue Carter, secretary to the MSU Board of Trustees. More information will be available next week, Carter said. A ban on open alcohol was approved by the board Thursday by a vote of 7-0.

Governor clarifies opinion of Ten Commandments' place in Capitol

Gov. Jennifer Granholm is saying 'no' to having a monument of the Ten Commandments in the rotunda of the state Capitol, days after saying she wouldn't mind having one. Granholm had said on the WKAR television show "Off the Record" that having a statue of the commandments in the Capitol wouldn't bother her. "I know that will make some people mad, but I think they are universal values," Granholm said.

Author to speak on the life of Malcolm X

Author and sociologist Useni Perkins will speak about the life of Malcolm X at 6:30 p.m. today at the Erickson Hall Kiva.

Word on the street: What are your health concerns during the winter season, and what are you doing about it?

"I worry about getting the flu, and the cold. The weather this year has been a lot different from previous years with the changes in temperature.

'MacGyver bombs' explode at E.L. duplex

Two "MacGyver bombs" exploded Tuesday on the back porch of a rental duplex on Burcham Drive, officials said.

Officials suggest use of new meningitis vaccine

Dorm-bound college freshmen are urged to receive a new meningitis vaccine that will be available within the next few months, a federal government committee said this month. Menactra, a longer-lasting vaccine, will be targeted toward at-risk groups such as children ages 11 to 12 years old, teens entering high school and college freshmen, said Bonnie Herbert, spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Food and Drug Administration approved the new vaccine, which is made by Sanofi Pasteur, in January. College students have the highest risk of contracting meningitis because of their close living quarters, Herbert said.

Dean's position brings praise from local Dems

Michigan Democrats have expressed happiness that former presidential candidate Howard Dean has been elected to the position of chairman of the Democratic National Committee, although others say it's just good politics to be pleased about his win. Randy Neice, former chairman of MSU Students for Dean and a political theory senior, said he's happy Dean was selected, adding he could be a balancing force if the Democratic presidential candidate in 2008 is more conservative. "It benefits us to have someone who's fiscally responsible and relatively socially liberal," said Niece, who also is on the executive board of the MSU College Democrats. Dean, who is also the former governor of Vermont, took the position over from Terry McAuliffe, who led party for four years.

More volunteers needed to patrol lots

Hunched down low in an undercover vehicle in any one of the parking lots on campus, a volunteer with MSU police department's Operation Lot Watch could be keeping watch - and a passerby might never know. Lot Watch is a program where student volunteers patrol major parking lots on campus at night and watch for crimes, including thefts and assaults.

2 MSU students sued by RIAA

Two MSU students are among the more than 700 illegal file sharers sued last month by the Recording Industry Association of America, or RIAA. MSU has yet to receive a subpoena, which forces university officials to turn over the names of the students who were logged onto the network using a computer Internet address suspected of illegally file sharing, said David Gift, vice provost for Libraries, Computing and Technology. This will be the third round of file sharing lawsuits filed against MSU students since May 2004, according to the MSU Office of the General Counsel. In the January lawsuits, 68 users of computer networks at 23 universities and colleges were sued.

Area group to offer safe driving course

The National Safety Council will offer a defensive driving course Thursday at the Lansing Area Safety Council, 3315 S.

Mason event to focus on corn, soybeans

Ingham County MSU Extension will host the 2005 Corn and Soybean Day from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Ingham County Fairgrounds Community Building, 700 E.

380 sworn in as U.S. citizens

With her grandson by her side to interpret, Saliha Azizi made her way into Wharton Center on Monday to take the oath to become a United States citizen. Originally from Afghanistan, Azizi joined about 380 people from Michigan at the Swearing-In Ceremony of New Citizens.

Police briefs 02/15/05

ASMSU discusses role of advisers

After a disagreement over the involvement of Student Life advisers in ASMSU business affairs, undergraduate representatives and advisers are working to redefine the advisers' role.