U professor receives distinguished award

Anil Jain is being recognized by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation for his own work with recognition.A professor of computer science and engineering, Jain has spent more than 10 years studying methods of personal identification through recognizing and matching patterns in fingerprints and eyes.He was chosen from a pool of 2,700 applicants competing to share more than $6 million from the New York-based foundation.

Math department hands out awards to hard-working students, teachers

MSU’s Department of Mathematics demonstrated it wasn’t all about numbers and equations last month when it passed out a large number of awards to deserving recipients.Mathematics graduate student and teaching assistant Aurelia Minut is one of them.

Safety commission praises professor for traffic work

Thomas Maleck said he hasn’t had time to think about being honored for his contributions to traffic safety by the Michigan State Safety Commission.

Group to save independent E.L. stores

A community organization is taking steps to preserve East Lansing’s independent stores.The Downtown Community Action League began April 23, after Bagel-Fragel Deli, 527 E.

Commissioner to run for council

Kevin Beard says he’s ready to move on to the East Lansing City Council after seven years on the city’s planning commission.Beard, 45, has been an East Lansing resident for 17 years and has been chairman of the planning commission for the past five years.He said with the experience he has gained on the commission as well as six years on his neighborhood association board, he is more than ready to be a city council member.“I really think I am prepared and qualified to tackle the big challenges the city has before it,” he said.

FBI investigates possible robbery link

Though local authorities say it’s too early to draw a connection between a recent bank robbery and a previous one at the same location, an FBI agent stationed in Lansing believes the East Lansing bank that was robbed Thursday could possibly be connected to a November robbery. The Thursday incident marked the third time in six months the Michigan National Bank, 1390 W.

E.L. tries to Stamp out Hunger

Letter carriers in the East Lansing area collected an unusual amount of outgoing mail Saturday - an estimated 10,000 pounds worth. But it wasn’t a standard load of letters that filled mail trucks at the end of the day; rather it was a collection of nonperishable food items donated by residents who took part in the U.S.

Officials say Lansing could retry for bond

After the Lansing school bond failed May 1, Lansing officials are now trying to decide how and when to have another school bond proposal.The $338.5 million proposal, based on an eight-year construction schedule, would have been used to renovate 39 Lansing schools.

New law regulates statute of limitations

A law signed May 2 by Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus eliminated the state’s statute of limitations in cases of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Alumnus to donate tree; add beauty, shade to campus grounds

When 1962 MSU alumnus Peter Secchia read an article last year about students donating a tree to the university, it made him reminisce about his days on campus. Secchia, a financial contributor to the Student Academic Center and the new addition to Breslin Students Event Center, thought it would be fitting to donate a tree on Arbor Day. Secchia, chairman of Universal Forest Products Inc. in Grand Rapids, and others will be planting a 20-foot autumn blaze maple tree at 10:30 a.m.

Police briefs 04/27/01

Faculty children shadow parents for a day

Mary Blakely wants to be an astronomer.The 11-year-old student at E.E. Knight Elementary in Elsie, Mich., was one of 180 students participating in MSU’s third annual Take Your Child to Work Day.“I’m gonna do my best to get into MSU,” she said.

Michigan celebrates Arbor Day

Kate Bernard, and 48 other local elementary teachers, are bringing their students to the zoo today, to help them learn about trees.More than 1,000 second- and third-grade students from the Lansing area will meet today at Potter Park Zoo, 1301 S.

Relations Coalition adds new members

The Community Relations Coalition family is growing - pending approval from the East Lansing City Council.The group of students, residents, city officials, landlords, business owners and MSU faculty work together to create bonds between student residents and permanent residents in city neighborhoods with the help of three new student neighborhood resource coordinators, which brings the total to six.“Our plan is to expand,” coalition member Pat Enos said.

Byrum to address voting reforms

LANSING - State Sen. Dianne Byrum will visit MSU’s campus next week to discuss concerns voters faced in last year’s troubled election. The Onondaga Democrat serves as chairwoman on the 19-person Michigan Task Force on Voting Reform.

Speaker to talk of happy lifestyles

Joe Reynolds said he thinks more people need to stop and smell the roses.International motivational speaker Matthew Kelly will be speaking about just that topic at 7 p.m.

Greeks awarded for efforts

A pair of marketing seniors earned the titles of “Greek Man” and “Greek Woman” for 2001. Jennifer Dirksen, former president of Sigma Kappa sorority, was awarded by the Panhellenic Council for her efforts in her organization.

Beaners steps into food court

It may soon be easier for MSU students to get their early morning coffee fix.Beaner’s Gourmet Coffee will be the next addition to One Union Square.

Center to offer new shopping selections

LANSING TWP. - Krystal Teamer shops at Meridian Mall, 1982 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos, because it is the closest one to MSU’s campus. The criminal justice senior has no car and said Meridian can be easily reached by bus. But next summer, Teamer and other students can enjoy shopping at the Lansing area’s newest shopping center, at the northwest corner of Lake Lansing Road and U.S.

Cameras catch motorists running red lights

Red lights, camera, preventative action.A study completed in Oxnard, Calif. by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety this week reported that cameras installed at intersections to catch red-light runners are decreasing the number of collisions and injuries.The institute estimates that more than 800 people are killed and 200,000 injured every year in red - light crashes in the United States.The city of Oxnard placed cameras at 11 of its 125 intersections in 1997.