Dorm residents include those with four legs

Although many college students love being away from home, there’s often some aspect of it they miss.Sometimes that aspect is four-legged and furry.University policy prohibits any pets, other than fish, to live in the residence halls - but not all students play by the rules.Stephanie, a West Circle Complex resident and studio art junior, has kept her hamster, Peanut, with her in the dorms since her freshman year at MSU.She said she ran into trouble at first, but the supervisor of her hall at the time said they couldn’t make her get rid of her pet.“I’m not sure if the RA this year knows, but if she does, she doesn‘t say anything about it,” she said.

Police briefs 11/27/01

Language training benefits international TAs

Arriving in a new country and learning a new language isn’t easy.And if you are expected to begin teaching a class within days of your arrival, the adjustment could be greater.This scenario is a familiar one to many international teaching assistants who arrive at MSU during the summer before they begin teaching courses.To help with their training process, several programs developed by MSU have been updated to accommodate growing numbers of TAs involved.“TAs have a really important responsibility, and when they get good training and good attention from the faculty, they can do a good job,” said William Rittenberg, coordinator of the International Teaching Assistant Program.All international TAs at MSU are required to attend a university-sponsored training workshop before classes start to learn rules and regulations on campus.While the length of this orientation was extended to three weeks two years ago, the Teaching Assistant Summer English Program was also added for more in-depth language training.

Peanut Barrel to host fund-raiser

The MSU Student Food Bank will hold a fund-raiser at The Peanut Barrel Restaurant, 521 E. Grand River Ave., all day Tuesday. The annual event will raise money toward the purchase of foods for the bank, which gives students without a residence hall meal plan access to free groceries. Fund-raising coordinator Minerva Gebara said she thinks the event will be successful. “All day, whatever they make for the day, they’ll give us a portion of the profits,” the business administration graduate student said.

E.L. revamps city Web site

Even the city of East Lansing needs a face lift every now and then.But unlike the heavy equipment working on the city center and fountain square projects, this face lift was virtual.The city unveiled its newest improvement, an upgraded Web site, last week.The old site had been in place since 1996 but, while it was comprehensive with more than 15,000 pages of information, the site was not interactive or easily upgraded.“It wasn’t long after (the original site’s) shortcomings began to show,” City Manager Ted Staton said.

Director asserts race is unimportant for position

Melanie Olmsted was hired as director of racial, ethnic and progressive student affairs two weeks ago.

ASMSU town hall meeting features area politicians

State reps. Gretchen Whitmer and Paul DeWeese will stop to chat with MSU students about fake identification and election reform tonight. Whitmer, D-East Lansing, and DeWeese, R-Williamston, will be the guests at an ASMSU-sponsored town hall meeting at 7:30 p.m.

State News elects new editor in chief

The new year will bring fresh leadership to MSU’s independent voice. The role of editor in chief for The State News will be filled by Jeremy W.

Rogers works to improve travel safety, Michigan gets information technology director

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, along with Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., began the Intelligent Transportation Systems Caucus in hopes of best using new transportation technologies.Rogers said the caucus will work toward applying high technology to make the nation’s airports, highways, railroads and transit systems safe, secure and efficient.“We will have applied technology to automobiles in the future that will allow us to be less oil dependent and have cleaner engines,” he said.

Free child care offered during finals

Raising a child, working and going to school at the same time can be a challenge.Nadia Rodriguez knows that.

Business donation expands Life Sciences Corridor

Born nearly two and a half years ago, after a $1 billion state investment including a $40.4 million initial contribution to MSU, the Life Sciences Corridor is growing up.The corridor stretches from Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids, through MSU and the University of Michigan to Detroit’s Wayne State University.

Card sales expected to hold

The holiday season usually means a surge in greeting-card sales and more demands on postal services, and this year should be no different. Despite anthrax scares and a sluggish economy, retail shops are reporting sales have not slowed. A recent poll conducted by the U.S.

Tree brings holiday cheer

Lansing - A 74-foot white spruce forced traffic away from Michigan Avenue in front of Oldsmobile Park for more than two hours Wednesday night.

Group finds trouble in toyland

Lansing - This toy story might be more of a horror story. Public Interest Research Group In Michigan released a report Tuesday highlighting various toys that can be considered harmful and fatal for children. The report focused on possible choking hazards and toys made with toxic chemicals. Chemicals such as nail polish with toluene in teething toys are harmful for children younger than 3-years-old.

U beats Penn State in annual blood drive challenge

With the help of students, for the third time in eight years, the MSU-Penn State Blood Challenge victory was won by MSU.

Whats happening?

Events Medical Yoga Club of MSU: Yoga classes and meetings, 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday, D214 Fee Hall, 12:10 p.m.

Vacancies rise in nursing field

Although emergency rooms may have the same number of patients as they did a decade ago, the population of nurses is lacking. Information released by The American Hospital Association said 75 percent of hospital employee vacancies were for nurses.

Students mentor Sudanese refugees

Amanda Audo travels to a few miles to a Lansing church each Tuesday to help The Lost Boys, a group of Sudanese refugees who have spent most of their lives traveling to get to Michigan.The pre-vet sophomore and about 90 other Residential Option in Arts and Letters students help tutor, play sports, do crafts and chat with about 130 refugees in their late teens and early twenties.“Some of the boys that are in high school are not keeping up with their subjects so we are going to try to help them,” Audo said.

Thoughts of travel, manners, affect U

For students going home this Thanksgiving, the next four days may seem more like a hassle than a vacation.

Patriotic plates purchased for fund-raiser

Michigan motorists will see more than 10,000 new patriotic license plates on the road this Thanksgiving. Since initiating the patriotic “Proud To Be American” license plate Oct.