NPR journalist visits campus for science lecture

Ira Flatow, a veteran science correspondent for National Public Radio, will broadcast his weekly “Talk of the Nation: Science Friday” show from the new Biomedical and Physical Science Building this week. This week’s show will deal with the food industry and alternative fuel technologies in the automotive industry. “Whenever we go on the road, we try to pick up local issues,” Flatow said. Flatow is visiting MSU this week as part of the McPherson Professorship. “I’ve never had a warmer welcome anywhere else,” he said.

E.L. police use sports to build youth relations

East Lansing police officers are taking youths to court - where the biggest offense is a double dribble.Basketball season began last week for the Police Athletic League, a program designed to help relations between youths and the East Lansing Police Department.The league was started in 1998 when Officer James Campbell grew tired of watching East Lansing children getting into trouble.“There were kids in the community that didn’t have anything constructive to do,” he said.

Campus briefs

MSU Museum talk details digital art With a storage of artwork moving from dusty galleries to memory chips, MSU Museum officials are addressing the preservation of digital artwork.

Community security depends on relations

Lansing - Jay Leno’s jokes were falling on silent ears the days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. “If you don’t laugh, the terrorists have won,” Leno jokingly said to the silent audience. This story was told by David Carter, professor of criminal justice and director of the National Center for Community Policing at MSU, on Tuesday during the Homeland Security Seminar. Carter, who put the seminar together, discussed the future of community policing and the importance of maintaining a working relationship with private individuals to fight crime and terrorism. “It’s important to get this message across to the community,” he said.

Test scores fuel charter school debate

State education officials disagree about the significance of Michigan Educational Assessment Program scores released from a group of charter schools. National Heritage Academies released an analysis of MEAPscores by the Hillsdale Policy Group showing students who attend an academy school for two or more years score higher than students entering an Academy school for the first year.The report said charter school students improved more than their public school counterparts in six of eight test categories and performed better than the state average for fifth and eighth grade writing and eighth grade science.“You’re seeing the evidence that charter schools, being a new public school, are getting dramatic results in education,” said Dan Quisenberry, president of Michigan Association of Public School Academies.But Margaret Trimer-Hartley, director of communications of the Michigan Education Association, disagrees.“There are many other indicators besides the MEAP,” she said.

Police briefs 03/13/02

Student government supports U building recycling center

ASMSU officials might support the university building its own recycling facility on or close to campus. At the undergraduate student government’s Academic Assembly meeting on Tuesday night, a report compiled by Steve Lovelace, the assembly’s internal vice chairperson, said a new facility would be the best option.

Bills would ban commonly-used chemical

A couple of state bills would prohibit businesses from producing a chemical commonly used in upholstery, appliances and plastics. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are useful as a flame retardant.

RHA looking for new leadership as elections continue

Elections for the Residence Halls Association’s executive board will continue tonight at the general assembly meeting. President-elect Tim Liss could be joined by Case Hall Rep.

Baby steps help improve health and overall wellness

Every day Emily Eshenroder tries to walk a little bit farther.The 2001 MSU graduate parks farther away in the grocery store parking lot and walks around her office a few times a day.

U recognizes International Womens Day

With a budget of about $150 and a planning committee of three, MSU students will have the opportunity to celebrate the 82nd International Women’s Day four days after the rest of the world.

For-profit Internet proposal taken off trustees agenda

MSU officials will be reevaluating a proposal for MSU to create a new for-profit Internet service providing company.MSU Provost Lou Anna Simon, who presented the proposal at last month’s Board of Trustees meeting, refused to comment about the reevaluation, saying it only was taken off the trustee’s agenda, not suspended.The proposal would have created an Internet service providing company operating with a lower overhead cost than local competitors.

Elections open, seek student participation

Students will have a chance to vote on representation and tax increases when student election polls open today. Position elections for ASMSU, the undergraduate student government, and other changes will stay open until noon Saturday at www.student-elections.msu.edu.

Natural Resources Commission establishes goals

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources could receive a few changes this year. The Natural Resources Commission, which establishes general policies for the department, met last week to discuss its goals for the year. The commission agreed on five goals to update the department’s policies but DNR spokesman Brad Wurfel said the biggest change in the commission’s outlook is its involvement in the department’s operations. “Clearly they’re making a move to become more involved in the agency and in the legislature,” he said. Wurfel said while a strong relationship is the highlight of the commission’s goals, the group has progressed in that respect over the past five years. Director K.L.

Bill could aid foster care

Donna Hawkins loves being a mom. In her Okemos home, Hawkins and her husband, John, care for foster children ranging from infants to teenagers.

Police briefs 03/12/02

Shamrocks fill establishments, help cause

Green and gold shamrocks are covering the walls of local businesses, schools and restaurants for the 19th annual Shamrocks Against Dystrophy program. For a $1 donation, students and customers can sign green paper shamrocks, and for a donation of $5 or more they sign gold shamrocks.

Science library provides more resources

Robert Cichewicz said he instantly noticed a difference when he entered the new Biomedical and Physical Sciences Library on Monday.“This one smells better,” the horticulture graduate student said.

U-M association leads walkout

Ann Arbor - Members of the University of Michigan’s Graduate Employees Organization led a one-day walkout on Monday that left some classes empty. About 500 graduate student instructors at the Ann Arbor campus picketed several locations to show the organization is working without a contract. U-M spokeswoman Julie Peterson said some classes had low turnout but weren’t canceled. “My suspicion is that some classes did not meet,” she said. Peterson said further negotiations were booked for today, but a tough budget year is limiting the school’s financial abilities. The graduate students have been negotiating with U-M administration since October.

Group must raise $15,000 to continue annual Pride March

Budget cuts and a lack of donations might force Michigan Pride to cancel its annual lesbian and gay Pride March in Lansing. The event, slated for June 15, is designed to promote awareness and visibility of lesbian and gay culture.