Impact No. 1 Mich. college station

MSU's campus radio station is staying at the top of the charts. For the fifth time in six years, WDBM (88.9-FM), also known as the Impact, was named the college radio station of the year by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and Broadcast Music Inc. The station beat out about 350 other high school and college stations across the state for the award. Students on staff said they were excited to be recognized. "It feels good to know that you're working with the best in college radio - hands down," said John Fournier, the channel's information director.

Police briefs 03/16/05

Club hockey team wins championship

For the first time in its history, the MSU Club Hockey team won the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II Championships held on March 5.

Credit card numbers exposed

Customers of the DSW Shoe Warehouse in Eastwood Towne Center in Lansing Township should be watchful of their credit card activity after the company's recent security breech. Last Tuesday, the company announced that personal information, including credit card numbers, was stolen from its database during the past three months.

E.L. organizations learn about orderly meetings

The East Lansing City Council has a set order. ASMSU's Academic Assembly follows a set philosophy.

Word on the street: What are you thoughts about public safety in East Lansing?

"I always see cop cars and fire trucks around, so it's obvious they're out working. There needs to be better security at night though, better lighting and more patrols maybe." Sarah Slama no-preference freshman "I'm a mentor on 6 East Akers and every time I've had to call the police, they've been really helpful - their response time has been really fast. Clark Llanzmzon political science senior "I was here for a few of the riots in the past, and then it seemed to me like the cops were pushing the students to do something.

Author to speak about lesbian, Jewish issues

Lesléa Newman, author of more than 40 books for children and adults about the intersection and collision of the lesbian and Jewish identities, will speak at 7:30 p.m.

Council to decide fate of E.L. rental properties

The debate about limiting rental housing will deepen today when a request to eliminate new rentals in the Bailey neighborhood goes before the East Lansing City Council. Under an ordinance passed last April, permanent residents have the power to petition the City Council to limit or completely restrict rentals in a designated area. Although this process, and the restrictions it dictates, is nothing new, some are concerned about how the council is using its power to add or remove properties from neighborhoods' rental restriction districts. "When the city created the overlay zones, the expressed intent was to create solidified single family neighborhoods," said Jeff Hudgins, co-owner of Hudgins Realty.

University stalled on plans for new parking

Construction of a new parking ramp near Morrill Hall has been delayed about a month to complete a traffic study, university engineer Bob Nestle said. The study of Grand River Avenue, required by the Michigan Department of Transportation, couldn't be completed because of a recent snowstorm, Nestle said. The parking lot can't close and construction can't begin until the study is completed. The new $19.5 million ramp was approved by the MSU Board of Trustees on Feb.

Exhibit provides continuing tsunami education

MSU is trying to create new ways to keep students informed about the Dec. 26 tsunami. At the "Tsunami: Wave of Destruction" exhibit at the Main Library, social work junior Dekayla Carr said she learned new things about the tsunami that took place in Southeast Asia.

Mich. journalists to be honored at Kellogg

Four journalists will be inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Kellogg Center on April 16.

Prof presents Indonesian music

A visiting professor from the University of Michigan brought the sounds of Javanese music to campus on Monday.

ASMSU to sponsor pre-election party, give out free gifts

In an effort to inform students about ASMSU services and increase voter turnout in the March ASMSU elections, MSU's student government will host a pre-election pizza party for current representatives, potential candidates and the undergraduate student body. After last year's low voter turnout of about 5 percent, student government members decided further steps needed to be taken to get students to vote.

Greeks gather charitable donations

Several MSU fraternities and sororities will soon have some charitable landscaping done to their front yards. Within the next several weeks, at least 17 greek houses will have drop boxes for Volunteers of America, a Christian nonprofit community-service organization, installed on their properties.

MSU official receives Child Advocate Award

Assistant provost for university outreach and engagement, Hiram Fitzgerald, received the 2005 Child Advocate Award from the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition at the annual conference for the Michigan Head Start Association Inc. After studying fathers' roles for the past eight years, as part of a national research consortium evaluating Early Head Start programs, Fitzgerald was recognized for his work to raise awareness of the roles fathers play in their children's lives.

Circuit court reverses E.L. speed limit change

The city of East Lansing was successful last week in pressuring state officials to return speed limits along Grand River Avenue and Saginaw Highway to their original speeds. The Michigan Department of Transportation, or MDOT, along with the Michigan State Police and State Transportation Commission raised area speed limits by 10 mph nearly a month ago after conducting traffic studies for about a year. East Lansing officials, angered by the state's decision, took the three agencies to court.

Horse exhibition ropes 'em in

Horse owners and enthusiasts packed MSU's campus this weekend to see the largest equine show in the state. The 22nd annual International Stallion Exhibition and Trade Show, sponsored by the Michigan Horse Council, was held Friday through Sunday at the Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education. "People who are coming through a long winter before riding season starts know they can come here to get the things they need," said Marilyn Graff, spokeswoman for the exhibition and trade show and member of the Michigan Horse Council.

Shamrocks on sale for muscular dystrophy

Sparty's Convenience Stores' 11th annual campaign to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, or MDA, will end March 18.

Campus construction to resume

The last time Service Road closed for construction, civil engineering senior Sean Fitzgerel said it was a hassle for those who parked in Lot 83 behind Holden Hall, commonly known as F Lot. People who didn't know the road had closed to through traffic in summer 2003 got to where it was blocked and had to turn around, Fitzgerel said.

Senate passes bills to reduce spyware

The Michigan Senate took steps last week to prevent people from illegally installing spyware on people's computers without their knowledge. The legislation, which passed unanimously on Wednesday, would make it a crime to install spyware software on a person's computer and punishable with up to four years in prison and a fine of $10,000 for violations. The bills now move to the House of Representatives for consideration. Richard Wiggins, senior information technologist for MSU's Academic Computing & Network Services, said spyware software is common and can have several effects on a person's computer, depending on what the creator of the spyware wants to find out about a computer user. "There's tracing to see what Web sites you like to visit, and in other cases, it may take over parts of the browser and throws things up on your screen," Wiggins said.