Anti-discrimination clause goes to council

The proposal to add a footnote about gender identity to MSU's Anti-Discrimination Policy has been moved on to the Academic Council - the final step before it reaches the MSU Board of Trustees, who will ultimately decide if it will become policy. "This is something that is really important and deserves as much discussion as we can get it," said Jon Sticklen, engineering professor and member of the committee who developed the report. The Academic Council is scheduled to meet at 3:15 p.m.

Police briefs 02/19/03

DCL dean tries to 'make a difference'

Terence Blackburn always knew he was going to be a lawyer.But he didn't always know he was going to be an educator.While studying law at Columbia University, the MSU-Detroit College of Law dean met a breed of teachers that he never wanted to emulate."The model of teaching there was one that I absolutely detested," Blackburn said.

Holocaust survivor to share memories, past

Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss will speak on campus today. Schloss was friends with Anne Frank, a Holocaust victim whose diaries were turned into an award-winning novel and play. Schloss will speak from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Sorority leaves house for smaller quarters

Members of Sigma Delta Tau are preparing to move out of their current location, 120 Spartan Ave., and into another house this summer. "The lease expires this summer," said Ann Brawly, executive director of the sorority's national headquarters.

Case Hall returns to regular closing hours

Case Hall returned to closing at midnight, rather than 9 p.m., housing officials said Tuesday. The change, made on Friday, resulted from a negative reaction to the 9 p.m.

Families get help with taxes

Lansing - A new tax assistance program announced on Tuesday will help low-income Lansing area residents file tax returns. Low-Income Tax Assistance Program volunteers, mostly MSU finance students, will spend time with area residents to make sure their taxes are filed correctly and they receive the proper refund.

Study reports women, men use drugs for unlike reasons

Although the number of men and women smoking, drinking and using other drugs is about equal, each gender has different reasons for abusing substances, according to a study released earlier this month.The study is based on a nationwide survey of females age 8 to 22 by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.Researchers found while boys experiment with alcohol, cigarettes and drugs because of the thrill or social status, girls participate due to stress or depression."Girls are more likely than boys to be depressed, have eating disorders and to be physically or sexually abused," said Emma Berndt, spokeswoman for the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.

Meeting will address racism, discrimination

Students and MSU officials will gather at 8 p.m. today in the Brody Auditorium to address recent racially motivated events on campus. The forum will address a sexually charged flier posted in Shaw Hall and two women in Emmons Hall who were called derogatory names. Rodney Patterson, director of the Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs, Nikki O'Brien, coordinator for African American Student Affairs, and history Professor Pero Dagbovie are among the officials expected to attend. "We want to address the situations which took place within the last month, specifically the one in Emmons," said Terrance Wilbert, an Emmons Hall racial ethnic student aide.

ASMSU tax increase proposed on ballot

An extra 75 cents might be added to student's tuition bills if ASMSU can convince the students to open up their pocketbooks.A bill to increase the MSU undergraduate student government's per semester tax from $10 to $10.75 was passed by the Student Assembly on Thursday, and will be placed on the March 19 student ballot.All student taxes are refundable.This is the second tax ASMSU is sponsoring in next month's election.

Corporation uses funding for developing environmental cleanup

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers announced Tuesday he has secured more than $1 million in funding for a Lansing-area environmental corporation.Rogers, R-Brighton, gained $628,000 from the U.S.

COGS to support student domestic partner benefits

A committee supporting benefits for student domestic partners will have one more voice in their corner.MSU's Council Of Graduate Students unanimously passed a resolution Monday to support the committee comprised of ASMSU, the Residence Halls Association and family community services senior Kendra Kearney.ASMSU is MSU's undergraduate student government.COGS President Jim Ciszewski said the organization's next action is to take the discussion to the administration."The next step is to start a dialogue between the student government and the administrators and the trustees and see if we can reach an agreement," he said.

Street lights added in E.L.

The city of East Lansing and surrounding areas are beginning efforts to make the Northern Tier community safer for pedestrians and residents, starting with street lights. Lights were constructed along the stretch of Abbott Road between Lake Lansing Road and the Clinton County line last month and were turned on over the weekend, East Lansing City Manager Ted Staton said. Staton said the new street lights were part of a plan to increase safety on the roadway ever since the land north of Lake Lansing Road came into the city. Staton stressed the importance of the lights and wondered when they will be added north of Clinton County. "The volume of traffic out there just requires it," he said. Two female MSU students were hit by a car in the area, one of them killed, while walking along the unlit streets in October.

Police briefs 02/18/03

Unpaid taxes could be trouble for The Dollar

Lansing - The owner of The Dollar Nightclub is not responsible for the $80,000-$90,000 owed to the city in back taxes, council members say. Lansing City Councilmember Brian Jeffries said the person who owns the property The Dollar stands on, not the club owner, is in debt to the city.

'U' photographers take top awards in contest

The State News claimed honors in the 2002 Michigan Press Photographers Association's annual Picture of the Year contest. Former State News photographer Megan Spelman, an international relations senior, was named College Photographer of the Year. Spelman's portfolio showcased 10 pieces, which included nine single images and a photo story titled "Finding Home." "I'm flattered," she said.

Anti-war march cost city more than $16,000

Lansing - The statewide peace march on Saturday cost the city about $16,600 in extra officers and firefighters but the cost was necessary, Lansing police Lt.

Tracking system monitors international students

International students who have crossed the planet to seek an education at MSU will now have their personal information traced wherever they venture - and available on the Internet.On Saturday, the Immigration and Naturalization Services, or INS, released an updated tracking system allowing faster access to information on foreign college students.SEVIS, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, will now have a quicker version of long-standing procedures requiring colleges to monitor the academic status and address of foreign students online.SEVIS requires colleges to forward personal information - such as an international student's failure to enroll or arrest record - to a national computer database.

Lecture tells importance of diversity

For Harold Strong, the key to getting ahead in business is diversity.Strong, a senior consultant with Siemens Health Services in Malvern, Pa., stressed the importance of all organizations diversifying the workplace Monday in the Eppley Center.He said there are many facets of diversity organizations should seek to employ, and race is only one of them."Diversity covers more than just race," he said.

Librarian remembered for kindness, activism

Beth Wellman and her mother, Anne Tracy, stood in the center of the North Presbyterian Church last year singing a duet to "Dona Nobis Pacem."It was a song Tracy's four children often sang on the trip to their grandmother's house.