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MICHIGAN

Hamilton hearing set this week

A hearing will be held Wednesday to determine if Bramlett Hamilton will stand trial for the murder of his mother, 66-year-old MSU Professor Ruth Simms Hamilton. During that hearing, a judge will rule if Bramlett Hamilton, 36, is innocent by reason of insanity. The hearing comes on the heels of a completed psychiatric evaluation of Bramlett Hamilton and a competency hearing in which a judge deemed him able to stand trial.

MSU

ACLU assists group with election issues

MSU College Democrats and MSU College Republicans confirmed Sunday that American Civil Liberties Union will represent them to voice their concerns with ASMSU's election code. The groups say parts of the code restrict free speech, such as a provision that prohibits promoting candidates from different colleges on the same piece of campaign material. If any changes to the code are accepted by MSU's student government, they would go into effect for the 2005 elections.

MSU

Study says move hurts Lansing

Health Management Associates, a medical consulting firm, told area leaders last week that moving MSU's College of Human Medicine might have damaging effects on Mid-Michigan's health care without reaping financial benefits for MSU, news reports said. The firm was hired by a committee working to keep the college in the Lansing area. In January, officials from both MSU and Grand Rapids said they were having discussions about the school's possible expansion or relocation into that area.

MSU

'U' officials block known form of virus

False e-mails claiming to be from the "msu.edu team" have been blocked from entering faculty, staff and student inboxes. The MSU Computer Center, now known as Academic Computing and Network Services, has blocked the known sending addresses at a rate of one per second.

MSU

Students spend breaks giving aid to communities in, out of U.S.

Students looking for a change of pace for spring break this year are volunteering their time to help in communities throughout North America. The MSU Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement is involved with the Alternative Spring Break program that will take about 330 student volunteers to 17 different locations from Pennsylvania to Puerto Rico.

MICHIGAN

E.L public art gallery goes on display

The culture of East Lansing will be put on display when the city's public art gallery celebrates its grand opening on Saturday. A variety of art, from hulking metal sculptures to Asian-influenced fantasy sketches, is set to fill the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road, which will be transformed into a black-tie gala for the christening. "For several years, the city has said, 'This is what we need,'" said Yvette Robinson, vice chairperson of the city's arts commission and coordinator of the gallery's opening.

MSU

WEB ONLY: Memorial service set for 'Can Man'

A memorial service will take place later this month for Ernst Lucas, known to many members of the MSU community as Ernie the Can Man. Lucas died in January at the age of 68. The memorial is being planned by his brothers, Jack Lucas of West Hartford, Conn., and Alexander Lucas of Rochester, Minn.

MICHIGAN

WEB ONLY: Police seek more witnesses in Sunday shooting

Following the early Sunday morning shooting at an East Lansing 7-Eleven, police are asking witnesses to come forward with information. Officers are looking for those who might have talked to police the morning of the incident to discuss the case further. Police also are asking anyone who was near the area of the shooting, which happened at 210 E.

MSU

ASMSU criticizes BAMN

For the first time in at least four years, an ASMSU chairperson had to break a deadlocked vote Tuesday night. Chairperson Jared English broke the tie to pass an Academic Assembly bill that stated MSU's undergraduate student government condemned the actions taken by the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action & Integration and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary, or BAMN, at a MSU College Republicans meeting last week. Barbara Grutter, plaintiff in the University of Michigan Law School admissions case, spoke at the meeting while BAMN members countered her views.

MICHIGAN

'U' grad aids in terrorism fight

An MSU alumnus and terrorism specialist has convinced some legislators it's worthwhile to begin devising plans to thwart terrorist efforts in the state. Jonathan White, a 1982 doctoral graduate who studied criminal justice at MSU, also is the director of the State and Local Anti-Terrorism Training Program.