Freshmen: better than rest of U

Student enrollment numbers may not have increased much from last year, but the academic talents may have.Although exact numbers won’t be available until a quarter of the way through the first semester, more than 6,800 students have enrolled at MSU, and the grade-point averages and ACT scores were at an all-time high.“This is academically the strongest group we’ve ever had,” said Director of Admissions Gordon Stanley.According to statistics, the average freshmen GPA is 3.5 or higher, and the average ACT score was 24.

Incident prompts safety awareness

When Joseph Clark locks the door to his Williams Hall room at night, he wouldn’t be afraid.The journalism sophomore said although he was surprised to hear about two instances of criminal sexual conduct in his residence hall, he’s not worried.“I don’t lie awake at night scared,” he said.

Picnic to feed students interest in MEXA

MSU’s oldest Chicano student group, Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Aztlan, or MEXA, is sponsoring its first annual Brown Pride Picnic to reach out to students interested in the organization.

New complexs problems are many

Students are crossing paths in a new apartment complex in East Lansing.Residents at the Crossing Place Student Apartments, 3636 E.

Study shows lack in mental health care for minorities

Minorities face greater challenges obtaining quality mental health care, a recent report conducted by U.S.

Police briefs 08/29/01

Bill Knapps decides to downsize company

Bill Knapp’s Restaurants might be closing a location back home. Eleven Bill Knapp’s restaurants in Michigan and five in Ohio have closed because of a lack of customers. “Like any other restaurant, they looked at each location to see what the market is,” said Nick Thole, a spokesman for Bill Knapp’s Restaurants. Thole said in the majority of the cases, the company felt it would be good to pull back and let business matriculate to the others. Local Bill Knapp’s locations in Lansing, Okemos and Delta Township, however, are still safe, he said. “Right now I would say those restaurants are very strong for the company,” he said. Whether other locations will also close is still unknown. “I don’t know the future plans for the company, it is just an ongoing thing and they make the determinations on whether this is the right move,” Thole said.

Election reform to be Byrums primary focus

This is the last in a three part series about the Michigan House and Senate reconvening. State Sen.

Local record shop to add new music

Techno music fans will soon be addicted.After specializing in independent hip hop, indie rock and punk, Vinyl Addict Records, 503 E.

Police briefs 08/28/01

City Council to address issues today

The East Lansing City Council will discuss the status of the Hannah Community Center construction project during its work session tonight.

Whitmer tackles new issues, lessening tuition gap

This is the second in a three part series about the Michigan House and Senate reconvening. When the Legislature reconvenes in a few weeks, Gretchen Whitmer wants to give students a tuition refund. Whitmer, D-East Lansing, said when the session begins on Sept.

Networking service comes to E.L. networking to East Lansing

They are not Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple,” but their partnership is still a little curious. Regardless of school rivalries, MSU student Paul Chambers and University of Michigan student Ryan Deyer joined forces for NetX, a networking business.

RHA still committed to goals, serving U

It’s a new semester and that means new faces, goals and attitudes for MSU’s Residence Halls Association’s executive board. The university’s RHA is the largest residence hall association in the country and the second largest student organization on campus behind ASMSU, the university’s undergraduate student government. Jeff Donofrio, the new director of public relations for RHA, said its main goal is to address the concerns and to be the voice for more than 14,000 undergraduate students throughout the 20 residence halls on campus.

Downtown project will provide locale for E.L. outdoor events

Orange construction barrels have marked the landscape of East Lansing for the past several months and now will be no different.Fountain Square, the plaza area on the corner of M.A.C and Albert avenues, will be revamped immediately following Labor Day weekend.

Police say oops to illegal parking

Kelly Downey racked up $53 in parking ticket charges while moving in this Welcome Week.Oops.But MSU’s Department of Police and Public Safety introduced a system to warn and inform parents and students about illegal parking without the cost: the “oops ticket.”“I’d rather have that on my car than a ticket,” said Downey, an advertising sophomore who ended the week with four parking tickets.

Grant provides funds for program to explain senior citizens rights

A grant from the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging is helping a Lansing law school change seniors’ lives.Sixty Plus, Inc., a legal clinic of Thomas M.

Michigans economy, job market still going strong

Even though unemployment is on the rise nationally, a spokesman for Gov. John Engler says Michigan is doing just fine.“We’re building the economy through tax cuts and job training,” said Matt Resch, a spokesman for Engler.

Groups greet students, look for new members

To kick off the school year, minority organizations are welcoming students with programs that will allow them to gain information about their groups.Asian Pacific American Student Organization will be sponsoring a Welcome Back Banquet today at 6 p.m.

MSU to celebrate 150th anniversary with Freshman photography contest

The freshman class is getting snap-happy this week.As this year’s freshman class will graduate in 2005 - the university’s 150th year - the department of Libraries, Computing and Technology gave each incoming freshman a disposable camera to capture their first moments at MSU.“These pictures will literally be a snapshot of the class that will mark (the 150th) benchmark of the university,” said Don Straney, assistant to the provost for faculty development.