RHA won't fund religious events

Members of the Residence Halls Association's General Assembly established a policy Wednesday not to fund events in which religious groups try to preach to MSU students. The bill that was introduced sought to amend RHA's bylaws to disallow funding to religious groups and religious events. RHA President Ernest Drake said the bill was aimed at avoiding the allocation of funds to events that preach to residents. "Basically, we would not fund events that would evangelize a specific faith," he said. Initially, however, the bill faced some trouble.

'U' international student population grows slightly

When Talha Baweja moved from Karachi, Pakistan, to East Lansing to start school at MSU, there was more than just a new culture to adjust to. "I liked snow the first winter," he said.

Memorial service to be held for slain prof

A memorial service has been planned for MSU Professor Ruth Simms Hamilton, who, at the age of 66, was found dead Nov.

'U' student shares story of assault during gay-rights rally

Kalamazoo - Everyone at the rally seemed anxious to converse since they had been wordless all day for the National Day of Silence. Participants had been silent to symbolize the silence the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community feel they must overcome in society. But the crowd at the Wesley Foundation building on Western Michigan University's campus Wednesday night remained quiet for MSU political theory and constitutional democracy junior Nathan Triplett.

Sparty' Spring Party to have b-ball, music

A three-on-three basketball tournament and concert performances all will be a part of Sparty's Spring Party on Saturday. Registration will be held in the Student Alumni Foundation office in the Union.

Horticulture Club to host 'extravaganza'

The MSU Horticulture Club will host the 16th annual Spring Show and Plant Sale "International Garden Extravaganza" on Saturday from 9 a.m.

ASMSU chooses leaders

Three new chairs for ASMSU's Academic Assembly took office Tuesday night, each pledging to fill the assembly's seats, address the provost's plan for liberal arts restructuring and go into the streets to connect with MSU students. Dan Weber defeated College of Natural Science representative Andy McCoy for assembly chairperson. Weber, a physiology senior who was external vice chair this session, said chairs need to encourage representatives to be excited about the power they have in academic governance. "In other years, it was like we were up in a tower," Weber said.

Melrose to combat identity theft with management changes

Melrose Apartments have undergone some management changes in response to allegations that an employee there used tenants' personal information to steal more than $100,000. Residents of the complex, 16789 Chandler Road, soon will be receiving a newsletter with tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft and the company no longer will accept credit cards as a form of payment, a Melrose spokesman said Wednesday. "The complex is no longer gathering that information so it couldn't be stolen," said Robert Kolt, spokesperson for Atlantis Campus Communities IV, the company that manages Melrose. Additionally, Kolt said, all the files with residents' personal information will be under lock and key.

Meeting focuses on budget

About 40 people attended an East Lansing City Council meeting and public hearing regarding the city budget Tuesday. Though the meeting was held on campus at the Union's Gold Rooms A and B and allowed for public discussion of the coming year's budget, no MSU students were on hand to address the council during the public comment time. During the meeting, the city's Human Relations Commission presented the council with recommendations for allotting the city's general fund money that comes from taxpayers. Although cuts in city projects were suggested in order to balance the city budget, the commission did not recommend an increase in property taxes. Due to an expected 2005 state budget deficit of $1.3 billion, local governments have received less funding.

Children, 'U' paint river trash cans

Undergraduate students, staff and children from the Lansing School District met Wednesday to discuss the importance of keeping Michigan water clean through artwork.

ASMSU officials attend House Appropriations meeting

Lansing - Rifling through a budget lit by sunlight from a side window in the state House Appropriations room, Andrew Bell checked line by line to make sure higher education appropriations hadn't changed. Wednesday morning, Bell, ASMSU's director of legislative affairs, attended the first of four state House higher education subcommittee meetings to determine next year's Michigan college and university funding. "We're going to make sure we're not left out of anything, that nothing slips by us," Bell said.

Students participate in silent protest

Kristin Dunn, dressed in black shorts and a black T-shirt, might have blended into the steady student foot traffic along Farm Lane on Wednesday - if it weren't for the giant silver strip of Duct tape plastered across her mouth. As a participant in MSU student groups' recognition of National Day of Silence, the communication sophomore stood on the sidewalk handing out fliers to passersby.

Business as usual for reopened pizza shop

Gumby's Pizza recently reopened after a four-month hiatus, and while its manager says business is better than ever, some former customers aren't returning. The pizza shop closed in December when a water pipe burst in its building, 311 W.

Police briefs 04/22/04

Class to guide future politicians

Some students have run for public office in the past, but little success has been claimed by the younger generation when it comes to winning elections. But the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research, a nonpartisan public policy network at MSU, is trying to help young politicians get elected.

Students gauge political views for class with online polling

Although Marley Groskind's ultimate goal is to get a job in advertising or public relations, she has spent the entire semester researching bills that are before the Michigan House. The advertising senior is enrolled in Arts & Letters 331: Writing in the Public Interest, a class that requires students to create online questionnaires aimed at ascertaining how their peers feel about the political issues facing them. "A lot of laws that would potentially be passed will affect college students," Groskind said.

Police briefs 04/21/04

Bill aims to teach abstinence

Some Michigan legislators are pushing to change the way sex education is taught in public schools, switching the focus of programs to abstinence, rather than safe sex. Sen.

Sexual assault survivors speak out against abuse

At the foot of Beaumont Tower on Tuesday, hundreds of brightly colored T-shirts on a clothesline flapped in the wind, each bearing the hand-written words of female sexual assault survivors.

Student charged with fraud, theft seeks bond reduction from judge

The MSU student accused of fraud and identity theft will be in court today for a second bond-reduction hearing.