Group looks at effect of social norm programs

A growing number of campuses are telling students that their peers drink more responsibly than they may think, but little information is available to show if such efforts result in safer drinking practices.But a Massachusetts-based education policy group is collecting data from 34 colleges nationwide to prove such campaigns - known as social norms programs - lead to more responsible drinking by college students.“To date the effectiveness has been largely anecdotal,” said Helen Stubbs, a spokeswoman for the Education Development Center Inc. “Certainly it’s been shown to work on some campuses.”Studies show most students think other students drink heavily, when in reality most abstain or drink moderately, Stubbs said.

Speaker raises African issues, perspectives

Social, political and economic difficulties in African countries will not improve until the issues receive support from the world community, said Leonard Robinson, president and chief executive officer of the National Summit on Africa.“We live in a time of global interdependence and Africa cannot make it alone,” he said.

Graduates display artwork

Lamont Clegg thinks the art by four graduate students in Kresge Art Museum is amazing.“I really think these four students are really talented and I think they can make it as professional artists,” the museum’s spokesman said.

ASMSU approves funds to cover Angelou speech

ASMSU’s Student Assembly approved a bill to allocate $33,000 from the ASMSU investment account Thursday to cover speaking fees for g a nationally acclaimed poet to campus Maya Angelou, who is scheduled to speak on campus April 18.“This is phenomenal,” said Melanie Olmsted, Student Assembly Women’s Council representative.

Graduate union seeks to collectively bargain

The Graduate Employees Union is one step closer to gaining collective bargaining power.Graduate assistants are set to vote in an election April 19 and 20 to determine whether they wish to be represented by a collective bargaining unit.“We’re very excited,” said Amy Jones, a sociology graduate student and vice president of the union.

Police briefs 03/26/01

U hosts annual dairy show

The winner of the show beat out all 142 other contestants in appearance and quality, but she was left near speechless when asked what the victory meant to her.“Moo” was her only response.The MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education was filled with hundreds of people and just as many bails of hay for the Michigan Spring Dairy Show and Sale held Friday and Saturday.

Legislative bill denies custody to abusive parents

State Rep. Doug Hart, R-Rockford, introduced a bill Thursday that would create “rebuttable presumption” in custody cases involving perpetrators of domestic violence. “It makes sense that perpetrators of domestic violence should not have custody of their children,” Hart said in a written statement. Hart hopes the bill will increase the protection available to victims of domestic violence.

Colleges improve city relations with program

Although the entire student population of Washington & Jefferson College could live in Hubbard Hall, school officials have found that MSU and the Washington, Pa., college have a lot in common.Both schools, as well as the State University of New York at Geneseo and Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., have been working to teach each other how to improve relationships with the communities surrounding the schools through a collaborative program sponsored by the Knight Foundation and the Institute for Research on Higher Education at the University of Pennsylvania.The participants in the collaborative effort are meeting for the last time today in Philadelphia, where they hope to discuss how to implement the ideas and programs they saw while visiting each of the college campuses.“I think we’re in a better position to see what the common ground is,” said MSU zoology Professor Don Straney, an assistant to the provost and MSU’s coordinator for the collaborative.

Market instability causes investors to put their money elsewhere

Wall Street investors saw a bear awake from a long hibernation, as slowing growth, especially in technologies, has impacted the economy.The Dow Jones industrial average, the most widely used index to the New York Stock Exchange, slipped into bear market territory - a 20 percent decrease from a previous high - before a late Thursday rally and a strong day on Friday, which contributed to the market’s 9,505 points close.Thursday’s low of 9,107 was down roughly 22 percent from the market’s all-time high of 11,723 on Jan.

Students seek funds for authors visit

A group of students gathered in front of Student Services building Thursday to sing the praises of Maya Angelou.The students were advocating the approval of ASMSU funds, which would help bring the renowned author and poet to campus.“She is such a wonderful person and artist,” said Jen Taylor, a theater graduate student who was among the students participating in the rally.

COGS proposes tax hike, seeks support

In an election next week, the Council Of Graduate Students is asking its constituents to support an increase in taxes for the 2001-02 academic year. If passed, the tax would increase to $7.25 for the fall and spring semesters, up 50 cents from its current rate.

Scholarship aids former foster children

Former foster care children may find a foothold for their future through a new scholarship program at MSU. The Foster Care Youth Endowed Scholarship Program will provide assistance to a limited number of incoming freshmen who spent some part of their childhood in Michigan court-ordered foster care placement. Less than 10 percent of young people who leave foster care at age 18 attend college, said Gary Anderson, director of the School of Social Work, which is directing the program. “Increasingly the states are realizing that this is a population that we need to pay attention to because education is so crucial for their success,” he said.

Fraternity celebrates housing chairman

Professor James Rainey is going out with a bang.Rainey will be the guest of honor at a party thrown by the members of Alpha Kappa Psi from 4 p.m.

Residents grab petitions for race

Although an election for two seats on the East Lansing City Council isn’t until November, City Clerk Susan Donnell has had a busy week.Two candidates picked up petitions to run for two open East Lansing City Council seats late this week, bringing the total of possible candidates up to seven.Urban planning senior David Jirikovic also grabbed an application Monday.“We were kind of surprised that we have three in a row,” Donnell said.Donnell said it’s uncommon to have several candidates express interest during one week.Nicholas D’Isa, who stays at home with his two children, and Mark Van Remortel, a substitute teacher in the Lansing area, are the latest additions to the candidate pool.D’Isa, 34, has been a city resident for eight years.

E.L. program receives national accreditation

The East Lansing Recreation & Arts program has become the first organization in the state to receive accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies.The program had to meet 154 standards set by the national agency for its human resources, finance, facility safety, program and instructor quality and diversity.“We had a lot of stuff in place already,” Executive Director Jim Crisp said.

Monkey ear research helps understand human hearing

If a tree falls in the woods, would a monkey be able to hear it?Michael Harrison, a professor of physics and astronomy, presented a paper to the American Physical Society last week during its five-day meeting in Seattle that could help explain why monkeys don’t hear as well as humans.“I began to get interested in these problems when I realized the subject I was working on, the mechanics of vibration, had a good deal to do with the way hearing takes place in mammals,” Harrison said.

Bill to punish cell phone users

Lansing - Legislation calling for stronger penalties for motorists who use cellular phones during traffic violations is on hold - for now.A bill introduced by state Rep.

Legislation may expand deposit law

LANSING - Water, tea and fruit drinks will be the newest items included in Michigan’s 10-cent deposit law if new legislation is approved.State Rep.

Online training aids educational community

The State NewsStudents, faculty and staff at MSU who want to learn more about computers can clear up their confusion with access to more than 700 free online courses.MSU is just one of Michigan’s educational institutions that can utilize the Information Technology Training Initiative - a state-funded program intended to make computer training more widely available.Gov.