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MSU

ASMSU to create book exchange for students

Ryan Wallace
October 24, 2001

Many students complain about the price of book at bookstores - and MSU’s undergraduate government is trying to help. ASMSU’s Academic Assembly passed two bills Tuesday that could alleviate the cost of textbooks by setting up a book exchange program through its Web site. The site will be a free exchange of books to all students - similar to a message board where students can set their own prices. Jared English, representative for James Madison College, introduced the bills and said the bills call for the Webmaster to keep the site updated and for the director of public relations to publicize the new Web Site. The bill took awhile to finalize because ASMSU had to make sure they weren’t breaking any laws, he said. “The university wanted to make sure we talk to our lawyers about the legalese before we went ahead with it,” English said. The international relations sophomore said it will be up to the students to make this site work and he’s hoping to have the book exchange fully operational before finals. “I hope students take the time to do it, it requires them to take the initiative,” he said. Many MSU students said they’re interested in what ASMSU’s Web site has to offer. Mike Barker, an English sophomore, said he spent almost $500 on books this semester.

MSU

Group sheds light on learning disorders

Camille Spencer
October 24, 2001

Elaine Womboldt knows firsthand the struggle of dealing with a learning disability.She has two children who have experienced such disorders, prompting her to create Lansing’s Learning Disabilities Families & Friends, Inc. in 1989, a resource center to help combat the problems that go along with learning disabilities.These problems can include dyslexia, a lack of spelling and reading comprehension and difficulty with mathematics.“I saw that there was a need for the family to work with kids and as a family unit for success,” Womboldt said.

MICHIGAN

Rooming residences fire up for inspection

Sara Luneburg
October 23, 2001

Justin Ritz lives in a large, three-story home just outside of Cedar Village with eight other people. Ritz, a mechanical engineering junior, transferred to MSU from Western Michigan University this fall and chose to move into the nine-bedroom home with his sister and seven other strangers.

MSU

Orthodox leader to speak on self-governing church

Alison Barker
October 23, 2001

A leader of the earliest church in history will give a presentation about Orthodox unity tomorrow. Archbishop Nathaniel of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America will speak about the need for an Autocephalous American Orthodox Church - a separate, self-governing church. MSU’s Orthodox Christian Fellowship and the Orthodox Christian Women of Mid Michigan are bringing the archbishop to campus to speak about the Canon Law required by the Orthodoxy in America, which would create the self-governing church. The law is supposed to create one jurisdiction in America, but it is not enforced, said Janet Peters, president of the Orthodox Christian Women of Mid Michigan.

MICHIGAN

Police-greek communication improves

Leslie Escobar
October 23, 2001

Members of the greek community will meet with representatives of the Task Force on Student-Police Relations today to discuss improving relationships between the two groups.The meeting will be at 8 p.m at Lafayette Square in Brody Hall.Assistant Director of Student Life Billy Molasso said the meeting will be a good opportunity for students to voice their concerns about relations between police officials and students.But the meeting will take place in a smaller setting with the hope that students will feel more comfortable talking with the task force, Molasso said.“As opposed to 400 people, we’ll have a small number of task force members and a small number of greeks to really talk about what’s out there and talk about what’s on students’ minds,” he said.The meeting is aimed toward relations between police officials and greeks, but any interested students can attend, Molasso said.“I suspect that the issues that we talk about are going to be greek-related, whether about tailgating or security issues for greek events,” he said.Ginny Haas, executive director of the Task Force on Student-Police Relations, said the intentional small size of the meeting will help students open up about issues of which they are concerned.“We have the public forum that the entire task force attends,” she said.

MICHIGAN

Conference will determine plan to lower budget

Steve Eder
October 23, 2001

State Rep. Mike Murphy is hopeful state lawmakers won’t take a dicing approach to budget cuts after today’s revenue estimating conference.The Lansing Democrat said the state will need to tighten its spending but should use caution in setting priorities for appropriations.

MSU

ASMSU uses business cards to teach students their rights

Ryan Wallace
October 23, 2001

Students do have rights, believe it or not. ASMSU/COGS Student Legal Services, Academic Assembly and Student Assembly are working on letting students know what rights they have anytime they want to know. These groups within MSU’s undergraduate student government are working to make business cards that list some of their basic rights. Aaron Kelly, director of legal services, said he got the idea at an Associated Big Ten Schools conference meeting last summer.

MSU

Students for Life bring graphic exhibit to U

Casey Mcnenly
October 23, 2001

Students coming to and from classes in Wells Hall on Monday received a stern warning of the images they were about to witness. However the orange signs reading, “Warning Genocide Pictures Ahead” placed in the courtyard behind Wells Hall and the International Center could do little to prepare them. The Genocide Awareness Project, organized by MSU Students for Life and the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, came to campus armed with photographs depicting the remains of aborted fetuses side by side with historical examples of genocide.

MSU

Scarves a symbol of Muslim support

Camille Spencer
October 23, 2001

As a symbol of solidarity for Muslims who have been harassed since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, women who are not of the faith have been wearing hijabs, headscarves, to demonstrate support for the community. The scarves are considered to be a religious display of modesty and intellect and are worn by Muslim women in a fashion that covers their hair. The trend has been created in response to a worldwide campaign, “Scarves for Solidarity,” which has held events in Australia, England, Illinois, California, Washington, D.C.

MSU

Sessions to address 9-11 attacks

Camille Spencer
October 22, 2001

The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have sparked a lot of debate - and a series of discussions will encourage students to voice their opinions further.The first of three sessions to explore national issues while facilitating discussion about the attacks will be held Tuesday.This all-university symposium will give faculty the opportunity to present information about the topic and allow people to express their opinions afterward.The first symposium, “Responding to Terrorism: Are We At War?

MICHIGAN

Businesses lacking in plans, study says

Shaun Byron
October 22, 2001

Michigan businesses may not be prepared to protect employees or cope with production loss from bioterrorism scares, a recent study suggests.A survey conducted by the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at MSU found 73 percent of Michigan corporations have crisis management teams.

MSU

International Center to expand

Eric Morath
October 22, 2001

A dream for an improved International Center is starting to become reality for Delia Koo.The addition of a third floor to the center is set to begin in the coming months and preparations, including building a temporary loading dock, are underway.Last fall, Koo donated an undisclosed amount to fund the project and the MSU Board of Trustees later announced the center’s academic wing will be renamed the Delia Koo International Academic Center.Koo, who received her master’s from MSU in 1954, said the idea originated when the Volunteer English Tutoring Program, which until recently she was coordinator for, needed more space.“It will provide a nice place for all international students and scholars to stop and realize that Michigan State University is interested in helping them.” Koo said.

MSU

Formula race team appreciates sponsors

Ryan Wallace
October 22, 2001

Taking turns at high speeds while adrenaline rushes through the driver’s body and wind rushes over his or her head. This is how sponsors of MSU’s Formula SAE (Society for Automotive Engineering) Race Team described their experiences on a makeshift track Saturday at Lot 89, the commuter lot. The team wanted to recognize those who make the design and construction of the car possible. “This is a day to show appreciation to the businesses, faculty and parents that help us out,” said Matt Palomaki, team project manager and mechanical engineering senior. Palomaki is one of about 40 MSU students who design, manufacture and race against 135 teams from all over the world every May at the Pontiac Silverdome. “We’ll finish up our final design the first of November, start manufacturing after that and finish by the beginning of May,” Palomaki said. Last year, the team finished 25th overall, but came in second place in a category based on design and marketing.

MICHIGAN

Fraternity educates area families

Sara Luneburg
October 22, 2001

Smokey Bear may have lost some of his notoriety, but East Lansing children can still have fun while learning the importance of fire safety.For the second straight year, the Phi Delta Theta fraternity teamed up with the East Lansing Fire Department to host an afternoon of fire safety awareness for area children.About 200 people came to tour the ambulance and fire truck in front of the fraternity house at 626 Cowley Ave., to try their hands at spraying a fire hose, check out a variety of fire safety booths and see the fire department’s musical performance skit, “Pumper & Pals.”“This month is Fire Safety Month,” East Lansing firefighter Bill Drury said.