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News

MICHIGAN

Granholm wary of states pollution criteria

Aaron Johnson
April 1, 2002

A proposed change in the state’s cleanup of dioxins drew fire last week from Attorney General Jennifer Granholm.The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, as part of its work to update its criteria for cleanup, proposed an increase to its standard for acceptable contamination from 90 parts per trillion to 150 parts per trillion.According to Granholm, there is no evidence to support such an increase.“Generally, scientific information suggests that we should be going for a tightening, not a loosening in standards,” said Genna Gent, spokeswoman for the Attorney General’s office.Granholm cited an analysis from the Michigan Department of Community Health that suggested a 12 parts per trillion standard.But DEQ spokeswoman Geralyn Lasher said that number wasn’t supported by any real data and was only a reaction to a U.S.

MICHIGAN

Membership rises for area clubs

Kendra Snyder
April 1, 2002

Michigan membership in international service clubs decreased through the ’80s and ’90s but Lansing-area chapters memberships have begun to boom.The Rotary International Club has 4,167 Michigan members, compared to 4,510 in 1994.

MSU

Quorum trouble plagues ASMSU

Alison Barker
April 1, 2002

ASMSU’s Student Assembly members still have business to finish at their last meeting of this session Thursday - but lack of attendance might make it impossible to finish.Thirteen out of 24 members must be at the undergraduate student government assembly meeting to vote on items.

MSU

Case Hall Castaways completed

Casey Mcnenly
April 1, 2002

What started as an experiment in social relations ended with two Case Hall residents left to claim a $350 prize Friday.A week of living in cramped quarters with five other students ended solemnly Friday as James Madison College freshmen Justin Chung and Pakapon Phinyowattanachip awaited the result of the first Case Hall Castaways contest.Seven students signed up to be locked in a 12-by-12 room in the Case Hall government office to compete for money.

MICHIGAN

Youths take active roles in community

Shaun Byron
April 1, 2002

Erica Peery does more than her day-to-day classes.After school, the 14-year-old balances school work, friends and family with the Youth Action Team.“Some people think we started it to just get out of classes, but I am a good student already and we do a lot for the community,” she said.The team is comprised of East Lansing high school and middle school students who take active roles in the city through community service and event planning.Many hope the team will form a junior East Lansing city council, similar to other communities.“I think it is a really good idea for the students to interact with the community,” Peery said.The team is working to become more involved in decision-making, said Kathleen Miller, youth coordinator for East Lansing Parks and Recreation Facilities Department.“We do a lot of social activities,” she said.

MICHIGAN

Cell phone store thriving, growing

Aaron Johnson
March 29, 2002

The interior of Wireless Express L.L.C. doesn’t immediately look impressive - boasting only a brown adobe pot, a couch, a couple of rows of cellular accessories and few small display cases. But behind the checkout desk - complete with a set of barstools - Navid Ghavami makes a living. The 18-year-old Okemos High School graduate owns and manages the store, 109 E.

MSU

Lack of members delays ASMSU vote

Alison Barker
March 29, 2002

Despite expectations that ASMSU’s Student Assembly would pass its 2002-03 budget Thursday night, not enough members were present to vote. The undergraduate student government must pass the budget by April 4 or it will be in violation of its own code. The proposed budget includes a $12,000 budget cut and rearranged money allotments within the organization. Inflation and the organization’s failed $3 tax increase referendum last week contributed to the new projected $775,855 budget.

MSU

Students plan panel discussion

Camille Spencer
March 29, 2002

A town hall meeting organized by black student leaders to discuss issues affecting their community will be held Monday. There will be a panel discussion with an open mic that includes students, faculty and staff from National Panhellenic Council, Black Student Alliance, residence hall black caucuses, the MSU police, the Office of the Provost and the Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs. The purpose of the town hall meeting is for minorities to discuss issues such as minority retention, student and police relations, racism, unity, a free-standing Multicultural Center on campus and Black Celebratory, a graduation ceremony to celebrate minority students. Osie Gaines, a human biology senior and one of the event’s coordinators, said he hopes the town hall meeting educates students and allows them to express their opinions. “The purpose is for students who may not know the parameter of campus politics to become better informed,” he said.

MSU

Castaway competition nears completion

Casey Mcnenly
March 29, 2002

With only three castaways remaining in this week’s Case Hall Castaways competition, the remaining students must find a way to survive one last day locked in a small hall-government office. After enduring cold nights, no showers and cross-dressing, international relations junior Melissa Mattingly, English junior Erika Wagner and political theory and constitutional democracy senior Lori Stone were voted out of the 12-by-12 room by Thursday afternoon.

MSU

RHA hires human resources director

Casey Mcnenly
March 29, 2002

The Residence Halls Association is ready to form the 2002-03 executive board with the hiring of Melissa Kessler as director of human resources.Kessler, the association’s Michigan organization communications coordinator, will join President-elect Tim Liss, External Vice President Emily Edick and Internal Vice President John Sturk to fill the top four spots on the executive board.On April 10, the four will assume full duties for next year.Kessler, who will receive a $4,204 salary, said she is looking forward to working on the next board.“I am looking for a group of dedicated individuals,” she said.

MSU

Group encourages minorities to donate bone marrow

Camille Spencer
March 28, 2002

Bone marrow from minorities is in short supply on the American Red Cross’ registry, and some campus groups want to help. The Asian Fraternity Interest Group and residence hall Racial Ethnic Student Aides are sponsoring a bone marrow drive geared toward minority students today. The drive is free for students. The American Red Cross estimates there are about 4 million potential donors in the registry - only 1 million of whom are minorities.

MSU

Campus briefs

Megan Frye
March 28, 2002

Cancer group 5K run, walk to begin Saturday The student group Battle Against Cancer will sponsor the “5K Run, Walk to End Cancer” on Saturday. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

MICHIGAN

Aquatic Center to see repairs, drop slide for summer season

Shaun Byron
March 28, 2002

A drop slide could make the city’s savings go down the drain, officials say.The East Lansing City Council voted three to two in favor of improvements to the pool, located at 6400 Abbott Road, which includes the repair of a bathhouse floor and a drop slide.Councilmembers Bill Sharp and Beverly Baten both voted against the improvements saying the $38,900 drop slide was an unneeded expense..“This is not the time to do a drop slide,” Baten said.

MSU

ASMSU elections dominated by new college reps

Alison Barker
March 28, 2002

The votes were tallied for the ASMSU representative elections Wednesday, and new faces dominate each assembly. The undergraduate student government’s March 19-23 elections generated 26 new members and nine returning members from the Student and Academic assemblies.

MICHIGAN

Tutoring made easy for teens

Shaun Byron
March 28, 2002

Anthony Banks and Ben Minadeo needed help with math.But since the two 13-year-old middle-school students have signed up for tutoring, figuring out percentages and decimal places has been a breeze.“You’re challenged educationally,” Banks said.