Bookstores entice students with promotions

For Carisa Siljander, buying books at the MSU Bookstore on Thursday also meant getting her palm read.

Police briefs 01/10/03

Spring rush to begin for some greeks

Spring recruitment for Interfraternity Council fraternities and Panhellenic Council sororities kicks off Monday with an open house in the Union from 4-8 p.m. Interfraternity Council President Anthony Morabito says a joint council open house is a first for this semester. "Normally, the guys have a night in the Union, and the girls go and do their own thing," Morabito said. Allison Amrine, Panhellenic Council vice president of recruitment, said meet-and-greet sessions are beneficial to those interested. "All the sororities are coming out," she said.

GEU, 'U' officials to begin negotiations in March

A date has been set for a third-party mediator to hear arguments between the Graduate Employees Union and university officials regarding a dispute on the wording of an eight-month-old contract.The two parties will begin talks March 5, union President Scott Henkel said.The graduate employee contract, ratified in May, says teaching assistants with at least four semesters of experience will be promoted to the highest level of pay.

Assistant joins department staff

Flash back a few years. A senior at Albion College is winding down his student teaching program with the hopes of becoming a teacher after graduation.

Program seeks applications

Applications for the 2003-04 Racial Ethnic Student Aide positions are due Jan. 15 in the Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs. Requirements for the position are a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.5, at least one semester of living in a MSU residence hall and a strong desire to help people. The program provides a supporting environment for racial ethnic students at MSU, and a one-of-a-kind learning experience, said Nikki O'Brien, coordinator of African American student affairs.

E.L. service provides recycling program for Christmas trees

For many East Lansing residents, leftover remnants of the holiday season can be considered more of a nuisance to be disposed of than to be put toward a useful cause."I had this huge, beautiful Christmas tree in our living room, and I didn't know what to do with it," no-preference sophomore Sarah Mellon said.Mellon was happy to learn her tree could soon be transformed into healthy fuel to be used year-round in city parks through a tree recycling program run by the East Lansing's Department of Public Works and Environmental Services."Recycling is always beneficial in any way possible," she said.

Communities gear up to restore grants

East Lansing wants its money back.City officials say they will be working with 61 communities to restore $3.7 million in fire protection grants throughout the state.

Police briefs 01/09/03

Rogers favors tax cut plan, says it will help economy

The state of Michigan is undoubtedly feeling the sting of a weak national economy, but U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers said the package of tax cuts President Bush laid out Tuesday will benefit all taxpayers. "The goal here is to create more jobs and continue the growth of the economy," Rogers said.

Professor wins research award

Mercouri Kanatzidis, a university distinguished chemistry professor, has been presented with the 2002 Humboldt Research Award.

Police briefs 01/08/03

DCL, Cooley expand to Grand Rapids area

Two area law schools are expanding west. Lansing-based Thomas M. Cooley Law School will offer classes at Western Michigan University's downtown Grand Rapids Graduate Center beginning in May. In addition, MSU-Detroit College of Law is offering a third-year advanced securities regulation course at Grand Valley State University in Allendale. Both schools also plan to develop more classes in the future. "Grand Rapids has been a steady supplier of students in the Lansing area since we have opened," said Don LeDuc, Cooley president and dean. Until recently, LeDuc said he didn't think Grand Rapids had a large enough population to support a Cooley program.

Recently-elected lawmakers ready to get work done

Like a typical first day of class in a new semester, the first session of the Michigan Legislature will include lawmakers getting acquainted and picking out their seats for the rest of the term. And while many of those legislators bring years of experience to the Capitol today, members of the House will be seeing several new faces - including some who are in their 20s. At 22, state Rep.

Having a cow

Amid the nasal sounds of cows voicing an occasional "moo" and herdsman coaxing preoccupied heifers into the milking parlor, Mina struggled through a difficult, nearly four-hour labor, finally giving birth to a baby boy - or male calf - at MSU's Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center.

Granholm holds retreat

In her first Cabinet retreat Tuesday, Gov. Jennifer Granholm intended to tackle the state's biggest crisis - the budget - and still emerge with new programs. By the end of the daylong retreat, Granholm hoped to emerge with 10 ideas from her 79-page plan that she could implement without making the budget crisis worse. Before her election, Granholm and running mate John Cherry drafted the document, entitled "Securing Michigan's Future," detailing their plan. "Our main goal is to identify low-cost or no-cost programs," Granholm spokeswoman Mary Dettloff said.

Trustees may switch to election

MSU trustees will decide at Friday's meeting whether they can elect their next leader. Under a proposal by Trustee David Porteous, board members would elect a trustee to serve a two-year term as chairperson.

Police offer academy for interested citizens

People interested in learning more about police work can do so from 7-8:30 p.m. every Tuesday at the MSU police department. Each Tuesday until March 25, the department will hold a citizen's police academy, said MSU police Sgt.

Chorale needs voices

MSU students and East Lansing residents have a chance to test their octaves and vocal chords today. Auditions and interviews for the MSU Choral Union's spring season will be held at 6 p.m.

Debate over neon signage nears last call

Michigan's Liquor Control Commission remains in the middle of a battle for equal rights over the use of neon signs within the state's bars.The commission is expected to move on the issue following its Wednesday meeting.The Michigan Licensed Beverage Association and bar owners from across the state presented their arguments to the commission in early December for the right to hang neon signs advertising beer.The current regulation, supported by the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association, prevents businesses serving alcohol in the state of Michigan from advertising the beers they serve via illuminated neon signs.