Spartan Bigs provide companionship

Annie Schave met her little sister about three months ago and the pair has spent about four hours a week together ever since - but they’re not related.Schave, a science education junior, is president of Spartan Bigs, an MSU extension of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Lansing Inc. in its first year as a registered student organization.Her match, Jazmine, likes to spend their time together talking, eating ice cream and playing outside.“I like just hanging out, laughing and being a kid again,” Schave said.

Assembly top job still open, seeking fresh faces for election

Undergraduate students will have the opportunity to unveil a decision to run for a chairperson position on ASMSU’s Academic Assembly tonight - just before the elections begin.The undergraduate student government applications will be collected up until an hour and a half before the assembly is to elect its three paid 2002-03 leadership positions at 6:30 p.m.

MBA students win top title in competition

A team of students from the Eli Broad Graduate School of Management took home the title from the 2002 Big Ten Case Competition. The annual competition, held earlier this month at The Ohio State University, pits teams of students against each other in analyzing, researching and solving real-world business problems.

Paternity bills could increase fathers rights

Biological fathers’ rights in establishing paternity and paying child support could be reinforced if a group of bills passes. The bills would make it harder to terminate the parental rights of unwed biological fathers, allow courts to order genetic testing and terminate child support and make it a misdemeanor to knowingly misidentify a biological father.

Pipeline raises safety, discrimination concerns

Just as gas prices rise for the summer, the issue of where a new gas pipeline will go is heating up.Ingham County Commissioner Lisa Dedden filed a brief Friday opposing the Wolverine Pipe Line, 2691 Lake Lansing Road, proposal to route a new gas pipeline along Insterstate 96 in Lansing.The route is the second proposed by the company after its first, running through Meridian Township, was denied by the Michigan Public Service Commission on the basis of safety.An issue still at large in the new proposal, Dedden said.“The same things exist so therefore the public safety commission needs to deny this, too,” she said.

Convocation speaker reminisces

Robin Sloan sits up a little when he talks about the stench of open sewers in Bangladesh.The economics senior and Student Convocation speaker lived in the country’s capital, Dhaka, for three months while on an independent internship.“Living in Dhaka, you sort of exist every day with the rest of the crowd,” Sloan said.Sloan conducted research while in the small Asian nation, working on a project to determine the impact of information technology on people in developing and impoverished countries.The country has more than 131 million people and is slightly larger than Iowa.“I went there with the intention of really understanding what it was like in a developing country,” Sloan said.

Police briefs 04/16/02

Students seek help for organ donations

About 20 students from MSU’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America are holding a campaign to increase awareness of organ donation. Group members hope to encourage students and community members to talk to their friends and families about organ donation.

Residents protest E.L. rezoning, commercialization

City officials will make the decision tonight whether to rezone a 64-acre golf course.Neighbors of the Four Winds Golf Course, 5800 Park Lake Road, have been concerned the owner will develop the property.But officials say it won’t happen.“We have opportunities to address the concerns of the neighbors,” Mayor Pro Tem Sam Singh said.

Visiting professor to preview IAH classes

Before coming to MSU to teach an honors section of Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities 211C, Area Studies and Multicultural Civilizations: The Americas, Jualynne Dodson will present and discuss her work on campus. Dodson, who is from the University of Colorado, will be next fall’s visiting Hannah Professor of Integrative Studies.

Osteopathic Medicine dean takes office

Dr. William Strampel officially began a new job this week, hoping to carry on a legacy and continue moving MSU in the right direction.

Union, administrators prepare for negotiations deadline

MSU officials and the Graduate Employees Union have continued to sign tentative agreements as they approach their target date for completing negotiations. University and union officials signed an agreement Wednesday to commit April 22 as the deadline.

Event shows mixture of culture

“Halo halo” is the name of a popular Filipino dessert of fruits, nuts and other items.

Junior League fund-raiser promotes community with auction, entertainment

Okemos - It wasn’t unusual to see a Porsche and a BMW parked inside Williams Auto World. But the hanging banners showcasing a man riding an elephant, a hot-air balloon floating by a mountain and other traveling sites and the buffet lines were certainly out of the ordinary for the Okemos auto dealership, 2186 Jolly Road. The dealership’s altered state provided the ambiance Saturday for the Junior League of Lansing’s fund-raising dinner. The night included food provided by restaurants such as Troppo, Beggar’s Banquet and Coral Gables, a live auction and dancing. The event normally is held in November to raise money to support the organization’s goals of community, volunteerism and increasing the role of women, but the date was changed this year. Junior League members still expected 500 guests, each paying $45, despite the change, league President Kim Hartman said. “This year we decided we would try a different venue and a different time, for a change of pace,” she said. Lansing resident Alex Dimmig said he attended because of his girlfriend but supported the group. “I like the whole idea,” he said. The auction, with auctioneer MSU women’s basketball coach Joanne P.

Program to be suspended for lack of funding by state

East Lansing may suspend a program that would create more sidewalks for joggers and bicyclists.The program was passed in 2000 and would connect major portions of the city that do not have sidewalks, City Manager Ted Staton said.“We are just going to suspend it for a year,” he said.

Students march to show unity

Dressed in colors of the rainbow Friday afternoon, about 50 students gathered at the rock on Farm Lane holding signs with phrases such as “Don’t Legislate Hate” and “Homophobia is Gay.”The group participated in the Pride March, organized by lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender students at MSU to demonstrate support and promote visibility of their community.

Former mayors remember terms

On Saturday afternoon, former and current mayors of East Lansing gathered to reminisce on their terms and reflect on changes in the city.The meeting, held in the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road, featured three former mayors and current Mayor, Mark Meadows.Ted Staton, East Lansing city manager, moderated the panel hosted by the East Lansing Historical Society.“I think all of us run for council because we have an issue that’s dear to our hearts and a love for the community,” said Liz Schweitzer, mayor from 1989 to 1993.

Police briefs 04/15/02

Pan-Hellenic Council kicks off week of events

The sounds of Billy Joel, Studio 54, “Grease” and “The Flinstones” signaled the end of Greek Week on Sunday at the Auditorium. Songfest was the last event of Greek Week, which featured MTV Fundraising Night, a speech by Judge Mitch Krane, Battle of the Bands, the “Beat the Greeks” game show, Special Olympics and Greeks into the Streets. The week of activities and community service raised about $60,000 for Area 8 Special Olympics, Coaches for Kids, Haven House, Children’s Miracle Network and Verlinden Elementary School in Lansing. “I think that our showing this week as far as fund-raising and community service was far above what is has been in the last few years,” Greek Week director Chris Braverman said. Fourteen teams, each with two fraternities and one sorority, participated.

U fraternities, sororities celebrate togetherness with festivities

Greeks danced through the aisles of the Auditorium on Saturday night in anticipation of the National Pan-Hellenic Council step-show and the start of Black Greek Week.The show began at 7 p.m.