RHA to send letter of apology for Toughman

The Residence Halls Association members voted 17-1 with six abstentions to send two letters to people involved with a Toughman Contest last month.Representatives will send one letter to MSU’s Alliance of Lesbian-Bi-Gay-Transgendered and Straight Ally Students and another letter to AdoreAble Promotions Inc.Members of the LBGT community became concerned after the promotions company put on a “homosexual match” during the competition last month, which pitted two men in a mock bout.RHA’s special events program sponsored the trip to the contest at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Jan.

Conference addresses anti-Semitism, promotes tolerance

Students from 10 Michigan campuses gathered in Lansing together during the weekend to discuss anti-Semitism, Israel’s history and upcoming elections.

Term limits create vacant seats in government

Term limits are driving Gov. John Engler out of office - along with many other Republicans.In late January, Engler accepted the resignations of State Police Director Col.

Annual powwow displays culture

About $55,000 and the efforts of 15 people will culminate this weekend into an unforgettable display of Native American culture. The North American Indian Student Organization is sponsoring its 19th annual Pow-Wow of Love.

Officials meet to discuss possibility of national ID cards

Officials from around the United States will be gathering next week with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators in Washington to discuss the future of government-issued ID cards.The issuing of driver’s licenses and state IDs has been under the microscope since the Sept.

U-M group hosts affirmative action conference

An affirmative action group will be hosting a conference at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor today, Saturday and Sunday. The U-M chapter of the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary will be holding its Second National Conference of the New Civil Rights Movement to discuss tactics. “The central goals are fixing the affirmative action issue, the fight for real integration and social equality,” BAMN member Agnes Aleobua said.

Agencies assist farms in land restoration

On Robert Zeeb’s farm in Bath Township, there are the usual fields and barns, but throughout the years the property has become more than a place for crops to grow.

DPPS expects fewer tickets

John Siemianowski is thankful he has only received one ticket this semester. The biology senior drives into campus at least twice a week, and always searches for parking.Siemianowski said he parks at meters and then doesn’t worry if they expire, but when the parking ticket prices were raised in July, it made him more cautious about where he parked.In July 2001, the MSU Board of Trustees raised ticket fines, hoping to deter illegal parking on campus.Fines at parking meters were raised from $10 to $15, employee parking spot fines were raised from $20 to $25 and spots reserved for people with disabilities were raised from $50 to $100.But Siemianowski said the $5 increase isn’t enough to stop everyone from parking illegally.“I bet if they had raised them even more people wouldn’t park wherever they wanted,” he said.

$1 million grant to aid nuclear cleanup

Researchers at MSU were awarded $1 million this week for genetic research on bacteria that could help in the cleanup of facilities that were contaminated during the production of nuclear weapons. U.S.

GM looks at safety of Lansing plant

After operating for more than 30 days, General Motors Corp. is spreading the word to Lansing residents about the implications of a modification to its Craft Centre.The modification to the plant, 2801 W.

Speaker to talk on black issues

As the first speaker in the second Minority Faculty Lecture Series, the Rev. Joseph Roberts said he plans to discuss the challenges faced by black people and ways to solve them. “We are tied together and accountable for each other,” he said.

Pop in schools pits profit against health

Cassie Kraft loves the taste of Mountain Dew and drinks about two 20-ounce bottles of it every day. Although her parents didn’t always keep soda pop in the house when she was young, she’s still managed to drink it her entire life.“I’m not scared about the health risks of drinking pop, but in elementary schools I don’t think pop should be sold,” the studio arts sophomore said.Health officials rallied Wednesday to support a bill that prohibits the sale of soda pop in Michigan elementary and middle schools and limits its sale in high schools.State Rep.

Granholm to address role of women in law

Although the role of women has changed in the last 100 years, some women say it will continue changing - and they’re going to change with it.Attorney General Jennifer Granholm will talk about the role of women in law today at a presentation sponsored by Cooley Law School’s Women’s Law Alliance.Natalie Alane, a third-year Cooley student, said Granholm is an important figure in Michigan, and is excited that she will be making an appearance to help women’s image in law.“I think women influence things in different ways,” said Alane, the alliance’s president.

Fossil search

Lansing - A group of more than 150 shivering junior high students gathered outside the Capitol on Wednesday to let legislators know what Michigan really needs - a state fossil. Students carried pro-mastodon signs and held a huge drawing of a mastodon behind a podium set up on the Capitol steps.

Group protests depiction on flier

Nestled between pizza advertisements slipped under doors in Wonders Hall last week was a flier promoting the movie “Kung Pow: Enter the Fist.”Despite the fliers’ professional appearance, they actually were a parody of the film that some students say is discriminatory against Asian Americans.

Anti-terrorism bills passed

Lansing - A sweeping package of legislation designed to thwart terrorism in Michigan easily cleared the state Senate Wednesday, with senators evoking the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon to rally broad support. “September 11th was a wake-up call for everyone,” said Sen.

ASMSU representatives hope to glean new ideas from conference

Students from around the Midwest including some from MSU will be networking to improve the university experience at a three-day conference this weekend, .The Association of Big Ten Students meets three times a year to recognize how other Big Ten undergraduate student governments approach local, state, national and international issues.ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, will send 10 representatives from academic and student assemblies to the conference at the University of Michigan.“It’s a really good way to exchange information, and get on the same page as other schools,” said Matt Weingarden, ASMSU Student Assembly vice chairperson of internal affairs.

Flights rebound for spring break travel

Unlike other students, Jason VanderLaan won’t be spending his spring break with drinks with umbrellas - he’ll be “just working.”The finance junior knows a few people partaking in traditional student spring breaks in less than a month, but, in his opinion, this spring break will be just a normal one.“I don’t really think it’s that big of a thing,” he said.For airlines and travel agents, the idea of normalcy sounds pretty good.After the Sept.

Local & State briefs

LCC to hold seminar on divorce issues The Women’s Resource Center of Lansing Community College is holding a free workshop on the legal aspects of divorce from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Police briefs 02/07/02