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.

Police briefs 02/28/05

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.

Students hold charity event at local center

The Indonesian Student Association will be launching their "Adopt-A-School" program, to aid areas affected by the Dec.

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.

Police briefs 02/24/05

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.

Group to hold charity walk for local elderly

Capital Area Community Services Inc. of Ingham County will host the Walk for Warmth on Saturday to raise awareness and money for low-income, elderly people with disabilities in the county.

Gov. orders flags at half-staff for soldier

Gov. Jennifer Granholm ordered all U.S. flags in Michigan to be lowered to half-staff on Friday in honor of 1st Lt.

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.

Precinct-specific election results available online

The November 2004 general election results, down to how each precinct voted, are now available online, the Michigan Secretary of State office reported.

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.