GEU honored by labor organization for successful formation of union

One of the nation’s largest supporters of labor unions honored MSU’s Graduate Employees Union at its convention this week.The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations invited the GEU to be involved with its convention in Las Vegas because of the group’s campaign to form a union, which ended successfully in May.Peter Cunningham, an anthropology graduate student and member of the GEU’s steering committee, was chosen to attend the conference.“The AFLCIO wanted to highlight recent organizing campaigns,” he said.

Pogel retires after 30 years of service to U

An author of MSU’s Guiding Principles is organizing her final Board of Trustees meeting today. Nancy Pogel, executive assistant to the President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees, is relinquishing her duties after six and a half years in the position and nearly 30 years at MSU. In meetings Thursday, MSU President M.

LBGT responds to ASMSU bills

The Alliance of Lesbian-Bi-Gay-Transgendered and Straight Ally Students and campus affiliates sponsored a forum Wednesday night in the Wonders Hall Kiva in an attempt to promote awareness about issues affecting the LBGT community.About 50 people attended the forum, which included discussions about the lack of domestic partner services for students, adding gender identity to MSU’s Anti-Discrimination Policy and multiple identity concerns.

ROIAL features student projects

The Residential Option in Arts and Lettersmm will wrap up the semester with a holiday event from 11 a.m.

Finals stress relief offered

With finals on the way, students are finding ways to relieve stress and stay healthy for one last week of work.“My roommates and I go work out or play volleyball,” said Alison Leon, a family community services junior.

Grant helps farmers donate surplus food to homeless

The Food Bank Council of Michigan is being provided with funding to help with the overflow of homeless in shelters.On Tuesday, the State Administrative Board approved the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s proposed grant contract.The grant will supply the council with more than $980,000 for state emergency food assistance.Jane Marshall, executive director for the Food Bank Council, said the grant will help fund the Michigan Agriculture Surplus System (MASS).MASS is a partnership between Michigan food banks and the state’s agriculture industry.

Santa Claus to spread good cheer with drive thru service

Santa Claus will be making a couple stops around the Lansing area before he packs up his sleigh on Christmas Eve. Santa will make last-minute rounds Saturday and Dec.

Forum calls out to citizens to discuss plans for city

Citizens and workers of the Lansing area are invited to attend a town forum tonight to discuss regional growth. The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission will conduct its second basic growth forum in a series of three.

Police briefs 12/06/01

Stabenow works in Washington to secure borders

Michigan leaders in Lansing and Washington, D.C., worked Wednesday to improve security at the state’s international borders.U.S.

Warm weather not going to last for U

Javier Ramos hopes to see his last 10 days in East Lansing stay as warm as they have been this week, but unfortunately for him the weather will drop significantly. “It is my last winter in East Lansing and it is treating me really good,” said the turf grass management sophomore, who returns to Spain on Dec.

Department of Justice aids shelter for domestic violence with grant

A $420,000 grant from the Department of Justice will help MSU combat domestic violence. The grant, which was awarded by the department’s Violence Against Women Office last month, will provide funding for MSU Safe Place, the nation’s only on-campus domestic violence shelter.

Annual enrollment plagues students with full classes

As most MSU students are planning for finals, some are struggling to fill out schedules for January’s classes.Students attempting to add or switch classes are often faced with classes that were full since last spring’s enrollment period.Maegan Daughtery said she is checking daily to see if a spot will open in BS 110, Organisms and Populations, before classes start Jan.

Alternative couples gain benefits but not vows

A vote by the Detroit City Council will benefit gay and lesbian couples who are city employees - they are now able to register someone as their domestic partner.By a 7-2 vote, the city council approved a measure Friday which grants partner rights to alternative couples who are city employees.

ASMSU explores possible sexual assault education

ASMSU and Women’s Council are researching the potential of implementing a sexual assault education class or seminar for first-year students. Jeanette Lantzy, vice chairperson for external affairs for the undergraduate student government’s Academic Assembly, said she thought sexual assault awareness would be a worthwhile program at MSU after learning about a program at the University of Illinois.

Backers of sex crime legislation hope to improve campus safety

The 1999 launch of the Public Sex Offender Registry Inquiry allowed Michigan residents to search a computer database for convicted sex offenders in their city. But state police officials and national lobbyists hope the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act will enable college students to know about offenders on campus, too. “I think the benefit of this is that it’s going to allow students, faculty and everyone on campus information as to who’s sitting next to them or living across the hall from them,” said Tim Bolles, criminal identification team manager for the Michigan State Police.

New business breaks into Old Town Lansing

Lynne Patterson thought her new business could do some good work for the community. “I think there was a need for it in the Lansing area,” she said.

Powerful new worm seeks to infect U, anti-virus company experts say

Anti-virus companies reported Tuesday that the “goner” virus was making its way into computers around the world - including MSU’s campus. The worm arrives through an e-mail message with the subject line “Hi” and carries an attachment called “goner.scr,” in an attempt to fool users into believing they are being sent a screen saver. The message body reads, “How are you?

GEU grade-in fills lobby with people, paperwork

Workers and visitors to the Administration Building on Wednesday had a hard time keeping their balance while stepping around the busy people and stacks of papers covering the floor in the lobby. They’ll have to struggle not to trip today as well. The Graduate Employees Union held a “grade-in” Wednesday and will have another today.

Unanimous vote by LCC trustees makes bylaws a reality for board

Brian Jeffries said the forum that was created to work on the bylaws for the Lansing Community College Board of Trustees worked diligently on them. “This subcommittee worked for six months and with the board and administration to protect the First Amendment Rights,” the board chairman said.