U argues legislative issues

This is the first in a three part series about the Michigan House and Senate Reconvening. With the second half of the 2001 Michigan Legislature’s session fast approaching, MSU students are hoping to see a greater emphasis on higher education in the legislative agenda. Students from the MSU Democrats and the MSU College Republicans say they are hopeful the tuition tax credit is repealed and funding is lifted to 3 percent when session reconvenes Sept.

Bags welcome student renters to neighborhoods

Police and resident volunteers distributed about 4,000 bags to student renters as a way of welcoming them back Friday morning.Volunteers representing the East Lansing Police Department, the East Lansing Parking and Code Enforcement department, MSU’s greek community and other interested residents showed up at the Bailey Community Center, 301 Bailey St., Friday morning to pass out the bags to their student neighbors.This is the second time in the past three years the Community Relations Commission has sponsored the program.

Students protest, claim human rights Gap

Fall fashion and student opinions clashed like stripes and plaids Thursday night at Gap, 435 E. Grand River Ave. Members of MSU’s Students for Economic Justice protested the store’s fall fashion show to raise awareness about sweatshop labor. “We came out to educate the public,” said member Zak Bleicher, an international relations and political theory and constitutional democracy sophomore.

Peepholes show residents new view of dorm safety

Knock knock. Who’s there? Students living in the dorms can now have the satisfaction of knowing who’s knocking at their doors now that peepholes have been installed in just about every dorm room.The installation of the peepholes took place over the summer and was a result of careful deliberation among the Residence Halls Association, Residence Life and University Housing said Angela Brown, director of University Housing. “We discussed safety awareness and created a safety committee, which reviewed night receptionist safety and overall dorm safety,” Brown said, adding that students have been asking for peepholes for years. “(The peepholes) are great,” said Emmy Gregory, a pre-vet freshman.

Free yearbooks return this year

For the second year the Red Cedar Log yearbook is available to all students at MSU - and anyone else who wants to pick one up.The Red Cedar Log is the largest college yearbook in the country with more than 20,000 copies available this year. In 1996 the yearbook was shut down for financial reasons.

West Nile virus found in Michigan crows; U helps search for cure

Two dead crows found in Oakland and Macomb counties died of the West Nile Virus, MSU officials said. After the birds were found Aug.

Annual horse show

The Appaloosa Classic Horse Show held this past weekend at the Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education received a smaller turnout than last year, but the show must go on, and it did with an exhibit of well-groomed horses and their equestrians. There were 662 entries in the weekend long show, about 100 fewer than last year, said Leslie Zobel, Chairwoman for the Michigan Appaloosa Horse Association horse shows.

McDonalds updates look, technology in time for U

McDonald’s wants to see East Lansing smile. Not only is the McRib back, but an entire new facility has been built at 1024 E.

Police briefs 08/27/01

Few know: Culture available at Union

At the Union, students can do more than just bowl or check their e-mail in the computer lab.Students can get some culture.The Multicultural Center, located in the Union’s basement, is the home of many minority students and groups.Maggie Chen Hernandez, the center’s coordinator, said there are resources for students to learn or to just hang out and read.“Just by stopping by there, students get to learn and meet people,” she said.

Officials urge students to combat meningitis

It was almost two years ago when thousands of students lined up in IM Sports-West, waiting to receive a free meningococcus vaccine. Music education sophomore Adam Busuttil had come down with the Y strain of bacterial meningitis that left him without portions of his fingers. Busuttil was given a clean bill of health in January. In 1997, MSU saw similar lines after two students died from the disease, a potentially fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. But after two years without a case of meningitis reported on campus, some people fear the need for a vaccination may not be taken as seriously. “It’s just human nature,” University Physician Beth Alexander said.

Bikes left behind can get U around

Students might notice them sitting locked up next to buildings and fences on campus.Rust might have started to cover the bars, a wheel might be bent or a flat tire might be hugging the ground.These are the bikes that get left behind by students.

$11 million Shaw Hall renovation continues

After three years of residence hall living, Nick Gordon packed up his single room in Shaw Hall and moved off campus.But he wasn’t happy about it.“The dorms really appeal to me,” the general business and pre-law senior said.

Police briefs 08/15/01

Police release sketch of imposter officer

While East Lansing’s Police Department includes a force of about 70 members, at least one officer on the city streets isn’t carrying a valid badge. A sketch has been released of the suspect in a police impersonation incident last Thursday on Marfitt Road, near the Lake Lansing Meijer. Police describe the suspect as a white male, 5-foot-11 to 6-foot-2, about 200 pounds, with medium-length brown or black hair, medium build and possibly in his late 20s to early 30s. He was wearing a dark blue, long-sleeve police shirt, uniform pants and a Garrison-style cap. This is the fourth time since 1999 a police impersonator has been reported in East Lansing.

Office helps foreign students find their place at U

Vikas Menon, a computer engineering sophomore, left his life in India with a suitcase in pursuit of a college degree at MSU.A year later, Menon is welcoming students from around the world to Spartan country.“I was excited, but I wondered if people would accept me,” he said of his first days in East Lansing.Menon said a week of orientation programs through the Office for International Students and Scholars prepared him for college life.“After having left home for the first time I was homesick, and I met friends in the same situation,” Menon said.

ASMSU asks for student-city liaison

One week after two recent MSU graduates failed to pass through the primary election for the East Lansing City Council, ASMSU’s Academic Assembly has introduced a joint resolution it says will improve relations between students and the city council.The resolution, which must be approved by both assemblies of the undergraduate student government, calls for the creation of a joint committee to act as a liaison between the city and students.“It’s very vague right now,” Academic Assembly Chairperson Matt Clayson said.

Teenager opens clothing store

LANSING - Concert T-shirts hung from racks as Trent, a pink dog with a Mohawk, scampered on the wooden floor proudly displaying his chew toy.

U official receives promotion in federal relations

Howard Gobstein lives in the same house and works in the same office, but things have changed.After six years as assistant vice president and director of federal relations for MSU, he has been promoted to associate vice president for governmental affairs.“I’m still the director of the Washington, D.C., office, but I’ve become increasingly busy,” Gobstein said.

Expert discusses benefits of olive oil

Got olive oil?About 20 people at least got information on it Tuesday while listening to visiting scholar Apostolos Kiritsakis’ seminar about the oil’s benefits.Kiritsakis, who has a doctorate in food science from MSU, talked about the history, processing, product quality, packaging and nutritional and health aspects of olive oil during “Olive Oil from Tree to Table,” at the School of Packaging.Kiritsakis has been studying olive oil since 1972, and is currently working on an olive oil project in the school with Rueben Hernandez, a professor of food packaging.