MLK Day volunteers head Into the Streets

Lansing - To some MSU students, Martin Luther King Jr. Day means a day without classes and a chance to sleep in - but the volunteers at Monday's Into the Streets community service project made the day mean much more. "We felt that since we didn't have classes we should make good use of our time," communication freshman Stephanie Gooch said. Gooch joined about 280 student volunteers to donate time to various locations around the Lansing community, said English senior Andrea Hart, chairwoman of the Into the Streets group. "We were really pleased with the turnout," Hart said.

ASMSU fights financial aid drug law

ASMSU is implementing a plan of attack against a federal rule which bans financial aid to students convicted of drug crimes.MSU's undergraduate student government condemned the drug provision of the Higher Education Act at its Thursday meeting.The provision states students convicted of a drug crime will not be eligible for financial aid for a minimum of one year, depending on the severity of the crime.The policy has been denounced by several universities and national organizations since it was added to the Higher Education Act in 1998."Judges punish people, not federal programs," said Andrew Banyai, representative for Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

Police briefs 01/21/03

Anti-war protesters march to Capitol

Lansing - Carrying a large American flag, Lynn Meadows said she usually attends two rallies a week. The Chelsea resident said since the Sept.

New bill plans to take Canada to the dumpster

Congressman Mike Rogers is fed up with Canada's garbage - literally. Rogers plans to introduce a bill that would prohibit Canada from sending Michigan its trash when the House reconvenes later this month.

'U' works to mend bones

When Ian Smith was 15 years old, his father gave him an article on bionic eyes - glasses that connected to the brain allowing a blind person a chance to see shapes and colors for the first time.

BSA, racial ethnic aides to sponsor lock in at field house

Black Student Alliance and the racial ethnic student aides are hosting their first lock-in today, from 10 p.m.

Professor's animal law site stirs controversy

The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance is up in arms over an animal law Web site created by an MSU-Detroit College of Law professor. Beth Ruth, a spokeswoman for the organization, said the DCL site is "anti-hunter." "I think it is OK to have your own ideas on things, but I don't think a public university should be supporting this sort of material," Ruth said. The site, created by Professor David Favre, has been available for public viewing since October.

Mentors to raise funds for cancer

Leah Minnis saw stomach cancer take her aunt's life."It was back when I was in elementary school," said Minnis, a supply chain management and German junior.

Open house highlights education options for migrant students

The High School Equivalency Program and College Assistant Migrant Program will host an open house today from 3-6 p.m.

City worker steps down

When Peter Eberz thinks of East Lansing, he says green and white comes to mind just as often as city landmarks and developments."It's a composite of the whole community," he said.

Activists to escort war mural to Washington, D.C.

Lansing - The plaster masks represent the people of Iraq while the newsprint covering them symbolize what someone would call the faceless status in American culture. The images on the mural are special to the 31 members of the Greater Lansing Youth for Peace and Justice, who created the project as part of their involvement in the anti-war in Iraq movement.

Residents worried about sex offenders

Information on 1,313 registered sex offenders residing in Michigan has been lost by Michigan State Police, leaving some Michigan residents worried about their safety. "I'm scared," marketing freshman Meredith Fenton said.

Proposal could divide language programs in half

MSU's Department of Romance and Classical Languages could break into two smaller departments if a proposal is accepted by the Executive Committee of the Academic Council on Tuesday. The proposal, which has been in the works since last semester, calls for the department to divide into two programs.

Police briefs 01/17/03

Trustee to file police report over bowl rings found on eBay

MSU Trustee Joel Ferguson said his attorney will file a police report on two of his missing MSU bowl rings, which have wound up on an online auction house."We've got some criminals to chase," Ferguson said, adding he didn't remember how they left his possession.Ferguson received the 1990 John Hancock Bowl and 1993 Liberty Bowl rings for being an MSU trustee when the Spartans played in the two games.Angelo DiMeo, owner of two jewelry stores in Lansing, is selling the rings for $1,400 each on eBay.

Police briefs 01/16/03

Service offers online portfolios

MSU's Career Services and Placement is now offering a way for students to go online and retrieve portfolios of their work."It was kind of an archaic system," said Linda Gross, assistant director of Career Services and Placement.

Cars need protection against cold weather

As the new year is brewing a frigid winter season, experts are suggesting motorists winterize their cars. AAA Michigan spokesperson Jim Rink said motorists should have car items checked out - ideally before the winter driving season. "During the week when you have close to single digits and various wind chills, it drastically reduces the starting power of the battery," he said.

U-M bans smoking in dormitories

The University of Michigan announced Tuesday that starting next fall, smoking will be banned in all university residence halls. Officials say the reason for the ban is to enhance overall public health and to prevent students from beginning to smoke after arriving on campus. U-M is one of several Big Ten universities who ban smoking in dorms and Lansing Community College banned smoking on its campus last year.