TAs rally to save jobs

Cloudy skies and chilly winds did not prevent teaching assistants from spending the day outside the Administration Building and the evening in Linton Hall rallying for their jobs. Based on preliminary budget numbers crunched by individual colleges, a smaller number of teaching-assistant positions was offered by the Graduate Employees Union's March 31 deadline. Many teaching assistants consider the Department of Spanish and Portuguese to be the hardest-hit.

Assault victim sent home from hospital

The Beta Theta Pi fraternity member injured in an assault Sunday has been released from the hospital, East Lansing police Capt.

Lansing airport to add $4.6M runway extension

Lansing - Capital City Aiport will add 750 feet to its runway by 2005, a move that might help attract more long-distance flights to the Lansing airport.

Local floral shop celebrates 25 years

While the rest of East Lansing brooded under dreary skies Thursday, the corner of Grand River Avenue and Hagadorn Road was a floral paradise. Roses, daisies, tulips and lilies abound every day inside B-A Florist and Plant House, 1424 E.

Men charged with 'U' break-in sentenced

The two men charged with breaking into the Kresge Art Center in October were sentenced on Wednesday in Ingham County Circuit Court. Verdine Josey and Larry Shirley pleaded guilty to breaking and entering with intent to commit larceny, said Joyce Draganchuk, Ingham County chief assistant prosecutor.

Association gives last-minute funding

With the end of the semester nearing, a number of student organizations are approaching governing groups that allocate money, hoping to get one last piece of the pie. Three such requests were presented to the Residence Halls Association General Assembly at its Wednesday meeting, but only two of the bills made it to a vote. The African Student Union put in a request for $100 to the assembly.

Church recreates 'Last Supper'

Members from the University United Methodist Church came together Thursday night to portray the Last Supper as seen in Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting. Starting 16 years ago, the church, located at 1120 S.

GOP, Dem. parties work to recruit new voters

As the presidential race draws closer to its finale, both parties are working nonstop to prepare for the November election. The Democratic and Republican parties are using new strategies this year, some of which are borrowed from each other. Jeff Stormo, director of communications for the Michigan Republican Party, said this year, for the first time, they are focusing a lot of attention on registering voters. "We have been going to immigration naturalization ceremonies throughout the state, these are people who are just now American citizens," he said.

Police briefs 04/08/04

'U' cafeterias see increase in customer satisfaction

The MSU community is increasingly satisfied with the cafeteria system, a national survey reports. The National Association of College and University Food Services annually conducts a Customer Satisfaction Benchmarking Survey.

Higher costs come with companies' new birth control options

The recent price jumps in birth control products for women are probably due to a new wave of those products hitting pharmacy shelves, experts say. "The company that develops those products is trying to recoup their costs for research and development," said Lori Lamerand, vice president of the Planned Parenthood Mid-Michigan Alliance.

Credit cards accepted at local fast food restaurants

A credit card might seem like an odd way to pay for fast food, but more fast food restaurants in the Lansing area now are accepting plastic.

Freshman Class Council chair resigns after concerns arise

After repeated warnings to improve his performance as chair of the Freshman Class Council, Brandon Gualdoni resigned Monday evening. The computer science freshman, who also is an Eagle Scout and member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, was replaced by James Madison freshman Karissa Chabot. Freshman Class Council is a part of ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government. "Some members of the council brought forward their concerns about Brandon's participation in events this year and his leadership position," Chabot said.

Mich. bill, businesses aim to ban camera phones

Camera phones have emerged lately as both a vehicle to commit crime as well as a valuable tool for solving crime. The phones, which give their owners the ability to take snapshots and even shoot video with the touch of a button, are gaining popularity among college students and adults alike.

Bills emphasize marriage counseling

When Stephanie Posner gets married in a couple of years, she and her fiance don't plan on seeking professional consultation before the big day.

ASMSU passes committee bill

ASMSU services will undergo scrutiny next fall by a new committee formed Tuesday night. A bill to form a committee to evaluate the effectiveness of ASMSU's services was proposed to Academic Assembly for the second time this semester at the Tuesday meeting. MSU's undergraduate student government provides legal services, blue books and funding for campus events.

Fair-labor activists upset by meeting

A student group supporting fair labor is upset with the university after MSU President M. Peter McPherson met with the executive director of a labor-monitoring organization without notifying them. Members of Students for Economic Justice, or SEJ, said they have been campaigning for four years to get McPherson to consider joining the Worker Rights Consortium and were disappointed to find out that the meeting took place earlier last month without their input or presence. "That's unprofessional," said economics senior Dave Mitchell, a member of SEJ.

'U' systems possibly infected with virus

University computers might be infected with a program that can track personal information entered into machines. Merit, the university's Internet provider, notified Academic Computing and Network Services on Tuesday that about 15 computers are thought to be infected with a keystroke logger.

CATA extends weekend hours of Northern Tier bus route

Students living in apartments a few miles north of campus and in downtown East Lansing have another option when the question arises of how they'll get home after 10 p.m. Capital Area Transportation Authority, or CATA, has recently extended its hours of operation on Route 26, which services Abbott to Chandler roads, and is home to numerous businesses and apartment complexes. The route now runs on 35-minute intervals until 2:30 a.m.

Police briefs 04/07/04