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MICHIGAN

Professor testifies in trial for slaying of U student

An MSU geology professor testified Friday that soil samples found on the shoes of a man accused of slaying his wife, an MSU graduate student, match the soil found on her body. Professor Thomas Vogel analyzed soil on shoes owned by Dennis Michael Salerno, 32, after he was accused of slaying his wife in July 2000. And even though the soil samples matched, Vogel said the soil on Dennis Salerno’s shoes and that found on Michelle Rizzi Salerno’s body are not made up of the same elements as dirt at the Bowling Green State University landfill in Ohio where her body was found. “You can make your own conclusions,” Vogel said. The body of Michelle Salerno, who was 26 when she was reported missing June 20, 2000, was recovered in April 2001.

MSU

Residence hall cafeterias beef-up meal options

Seated at a small table in the corner of the crowded Landon Hall cafeteria, English junior Danielle Redfield and education junior Jenny Kish gazed around the room, quick to mention differences in residence hall dining.“The lines to wait for food are really long,” Kish said, pointing to a row of students slumped behind one another to pick up an entree.

MSU

Weekend party lures U to Auditorium

The grassy knoll to the south of the Auditorium was scene to medieval warriors, “The Price is Right” and a foosball table Saturday night.But this was not anarchy - it was Party at the Aud.More than 300 student groups - about 20 more than last year - assembled outside the building hoping to lure some of MSU’s nearly 43,000 students into joining their organizations.“This is probably our biggest recruiting campaign,” said Charlie Cove, Fencing Club president and a food industry management senior.

MICHIGAN

Cigarette tax burns holes in area pockets

Since the cigarette tax increased by 50 cents Aug. 1, some people might see their money go up in smoke.Wesley Thomas contends the change, along with measures across the country to eliminate smoking in public, is discrimination against smokers.“It’s stupid that they’re raising taxes and saying that we can’t smoke where we want to,” the 19-year-old Lansing resident said.

MSU

Impounded bicycles left unclaimed end up on sale

Many times students see them left on campus, long forgotten, tires flat, rust collecting on the bars and seats missing. MSU Parking Services has impounded more than 1,300 bicycles since this summer. And while students are notified by letter if their bike has been impounded, many times bicycles are not retrieved. Many of them are taken to the MSU Surplus Store after no one bothers to retrieve their transportation.

MSU

Shaw Hall steeped in stories, history

When Larry Goulette lived in Shaw Hall in 1973, the world was a different place. The Vietnam War was close to ending, the Watergate scandal was on the rise and the art of streaking was much more popular than it is today.“I remember we went through that cafeteria without the benefit of clothing,” said Goulette, an MSU alumnus who now lives in Allen Park.

MSU

U not part of recruiting trend

MSU officials say lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender students are attracted to MSU because of its welcoming atmosphere, but the university is not part of a growing trend of schools actively recruiting LBGT students.Some universities are increasingly approaching admittance of LBGT students in a way similar to recruitment programs aimed at racial and ethnic minorities.“In the Northeast it’s becoming more common,” said Jibril Salaam, associate director of admissions for diversity and inclusion at the University of New Hampshire.

MSU

Pavilion adds energy savers

Solar panels and saving money are on MSU’s horizon.On July 1, 2003, the Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education will have about 70 solar panels placed on its roof to save $1,300 in MSU’s energy cost while helping the environment.The $100,000 grant for the solar panels was issued by the Department of Consumer and Industry Services to provide campus with an alternative energy source.

MSU

CATA unveils campus service center

Students who once huddled next to each other for warmth as they waited for a bus to come barreling down the street now have a new boarding center on Shaw Lane to keep them toasty and dry. The Capital Area Transportation Center was scheduled to open Aug.

MSU

Go on now, get shot up already

It only takes a shot to save a life. That’s the message MSU officials are hoping to get out with a new marketing strategy to promote immunizations for incoming freshmen and other students at risk for preventable diseases. Immunization-themed posters and bookmarks were put strategically in various campus buildings, and depict either a basketball player mid-air or a tennis player mid-swing.

MICHIGAN

Department prepares for more students, more alcohol

An influx of students during welcome week means an increase in traffic, crowding and drunken driving.The East Lansing Police Department and MSU’s Department of Police and Public Safety create safeguards each year to help deal with the substantial growth in the area’s residency.East Lansing adds patrols during welcome week, football weekends and any other time period where people traffic may be high, Capt.