Council continues search for ways to slash budget

Although the East Lansing City Council hasn’t begun to slash away at the city’s 2001-02 budget, it is leaving the whole thing on the chopping block.The city council continued discussion about ways to remove a $325,000 dip into the city’s general fund at its work session Tuesday.The money shortage comes after a year of increased costs for health care, recreation facilities and low Census 2000 numbers.City officials plan to contest the supposed 4,200 drop in East Lansing’s population that could have cost the city up to $1 million in funding.City Manager Ted Staton reported that state funding would not be as low as expected, although budget problems remain from continued use of the city’s general fund.“We’re a far cry from the worst case,” he said.

Convocation speaker reflects on time at U

Adam Wright spent parts of his five years at MSU cheering the Spartans, jogging the campus trails and assisting a fellow Spartan, state Sen.

E.L. Council to review budget

The East Lansing City Council will continue discussing revisions to the 2001-02 budget at today’s work session. Council members are working to eliminate a proposed $325,000 dip into the city’s savings to cover recent increases in health care and recreational project costs. Another work session will be held Tuesday to discuss budget changes before it is finalized on May 15. During the April 10 work session, council members raised questions about possible ways to add revenue or cut costs. East Lansing Finance Director Gary Murphy said he hopes to provide more answers for the city council tonight. “These are just possibilities,” he said.

Awards honor residents, U

Rollie Ledebuhr’s family knew. His friends knew. His colleagues knew.But when the 48-year city resident realized he was the only one who didn’t know he was being honored at Monday’s 14th annual East Lansing Crystal Awards, he began to cry.“I’ve always felt happy because the community accepted me when I was just a darn old dairy farmer,” he said, barely able to hold onto his engraved crystal bowl.

Officials advise review of local bars

Coscarelli’s and L.A. Globe top Lansing’s list of liquor law violations.L.A. Globe, 6810 S.

Police briefs 04/24/01

Guest to ring bells in Beaumont Tower

The haunting bell sounds filling the heart of campus from noon to 12:30 p.m. today will stem from the musical talents of guest carillonneur Jeffrey Bossin. A carillonneur plays the carillon, which resembles an organ.

State improves in math

Although there may still be future problems to solve, educational leaders considered variables that have made Michigan measure up in math education on Monday.More than 150 professors, teachers and researchers from across the state attended The Complete Equation: The Michigan Mathematics Success Story, a convocation held at the Kellogg Center to celebrate a decade of K-12 math education improvement.Participants reflected on recent math reports including the Third International Mathematics and Science Study-Repeat, or TIMSS-R - a study allowing states and school districts to see how their math and science programs rank globally.Michigan eighth-graders performed best among the 13 states th make the nation more competitive internationally.

Panel meeting to discuss thoughts on infiltration

The three-member independent panel created to examine an MSU undercover police investigation of a campus activist group will hold its first public hearing Wednesday. The public is invited to address the panel at the meeting or in writing.

State senator faces decision about future

David Jaye may learn his fate today as his colleagues discuss his future in the state Senate. Jaye’s future as a senator has come into question after he was jailed April 12 in Florida on charges of assaulting his fiancée. Senate Majority Leader Dan DeGrow, R-Port Huron, who relieved Jaye of his committee assignments, will announce today his recommendation regarding Jaye’s most recent actions to the Republican senators at a caucus meeting.

Study focuses on patients

To doctors at the MSU Clinical Center, multiple sclerosis research isn’t all about tests and trials - it’s about the patients. Dr. Eric Eggenberger, an MSU associate professor of neurology and opthalmology, has worked throughout his career to find and use new treatments for the disease, but also to make it easier for those afflicted by MS. “Multiple sclerosis is a very common disease,” Eggenberger said.

ASMSU rejects proposal for editorial control of yearbook

Although another endeavor to get editorial control of the Red Cedar Log yearbook failed Thursday, Bryan Newland was not discouraged. Instead, the North American Indian Student Organization representative said he is pleased with the extensive discussion on the issue. Newland and Black Student Alliance representative Crystal Price introduced a bill that would have granted editorial power of the Red Cedar Log to the ASMSU Student Assembly.

On-campus parking tickets increase

Students dodging parking enforcers now have one more reason to not park illegally - it’ll cost them even more. The MSU Board of Trustees voted unanimously at its meeting Friday to accept the All University Traffic Committee’s recommendations to increase citations on campus. The rates will add $5 to existing fines for spaces with meters or faculty privileges.

Police briefs 04/23/01

McPherson, senators debate university funding

FLINT - MSU President M. Peter McPherson pleaded the university’s case for increased funding before the Senate Higher Education Apportions Subcommittee on Friday at the campus of the University of Michigan-Flint. McPherson cited rising costs of employee health insurance, increasing wages for faculty and the funding gap between MSU and the state’s other research-level schools, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University. State Sen.

Senator introduces bill to ban riverfront casinos

State Sen. Burton Leland, D-Detroit, introduced new legislation Thursday that would make it illegal for Detroit to place casinos on riverfront property along the Detroit River. “Detroit’s riverfront is a jewel, one that should not be squandered,” Leland said in a written statement.

Fraternity teeters up, down for charity

The well-trodden grass under a green and white tent pitched on Demonstration field was getting muddy by Saturday afternoon.But the rain that rolled over campus that morning wasn’t the challenge for the members of the Beta Sigma chapter of Phi Sigma Pi, who were constantly bobbing up and down from 3 p.m.

U clubs unite, put on Slavic festivities

Sergey Nesterenko found a little taste of home Saturday afternoon.The horticulture graduate student from Siberia was among the nearly 60 people who attended the MSU Slavic Festival, sponsored by the Russian, Polish and Ukrainian clubs.Nesternko, who has left behind family in Siberia to study at MSU, said being away from home is a difficult thing to do, whether you’re from another country or even another state.“I think for everybody, it’s really difficult,” he said.Alyona Yasnogorodsky, an international relations freshman and secretary of the Russian Club, said the organization and others like it offer comfort to people away from their native countries.“They get to see that they’re not alone in the community,” she said.Yasnogorodsky moved to the United States from Russia when she was 12.

Race raises money for Safe Place

Rain did not wash away the hopes of raising money for MSU Safe Place on Sunday.The sixth annual “Race for the Place,” an outdoor event at Spartan Stadium benefiting MSU Safe Place, raised $18,000.“The event went really well - well, except for the rain,” MSU Safe Place Director Holly Rosen said.

Community takes part in Earth Day events

LANSING - Local environmental enthusiasts joined together Saturday with events to celebrate the day before Earth Day. The Adopt a River Program took place during the weekend with more than 400 volunteers collecting at least one bag of garbage each from the Grand and Red Cedar rivers’ banks, program Director Jennifer Rostar said. “I was very happy with the dedication people had with coming out,” she said.