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MICHIGAN

Proposed legislation fights hate crimes

A group of legislators and activists joined together Monday morning to introduce new legislation that may help combat hate crimes and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people.“Right now, people can be punished for hate crimes performed for ethnic or racial reasons, but not for sexual orientation,” said state Rep.

MICHIGAN

Web site allows U to view council meetings

The city of East Lansing is plugged in, logged on and waiting for the e-mail to pour in. With the help of MSU Broadcasting Services, every East Lansing City Council meeting will be digitized and available to listen to and view on a new Web site - giving students and residents another way to watch officials in action. “It’s designed to be one of the many ways East Lansing and the university cooperate,” project coordinator Donald Weinshank said.

MSU

Graduate students seek Pilot e-mail privacy by limiting outside access

Sam Howerton is hoping to offer more privacy to graduate students.Howerton, president of the Council of Graduate Students, is seeking to limit access to the MSU Web site’s Pilot e-mail directory, permitting access only to registered Pilot users.The move comes after Howerton received several complaints from constituents about excessive advertisements and solicitations in their Pilot e-mail boxes.“We get spam for all sorts of businesses that seem to have nothing to do with graduate student life,” he said.

MSU

DCL symposium to review labor laws

Northwest Airlines mechanics gathered in front of the White House on Monday protesting President Bush’s intervention in contract talks between their union and the Minnesota-based airline. Now, one day later, attorneys and high-ranking labor officials will take part in a labor law symposium on the MSU campus. The symposium, sponsored by the Law Review of MSU-Detroit College of Law, will be held at 7 p.m.

MICHIGAN

Cities push for state fire funds

As high-rise buildings spring up on college campuses across the state, concerns about fire safety and funding for fire protection are growing just as high.“When you have a high-rise, it can be a problem,” East Lansing firefighter Troy Brya said.

MICHIGAN

Women honored at Lansing hall of fame

LANSING - Melanie Olmsted believes with March being National Women’s History Month, every woman should take time to reflect on her accomplishments. “A lot of times women are put at the bottom of the totem pole in society,” the international studies and political science junior said.

MSU

ASMSU proposes cutting sweatshop ties

In response to concerns voiced by Students for Economic Justice and other MSU students, ASMSU is considering a measure this week asking the MSU Board of Trustees to cut ties with the Fair Labor Association, and join the Worker Rights Consortium.“The fact of the matter is that students want Michigan State to join the WRC,” said Matt Weingarden, the Council of Students With Disabilities representative for the ASMSU Student Assembly.

MSU

U maintenance cleans grounds during break

While MSU students were away, the grounds crew definitely did not play.Gary Parrott, MSU Grounds Maintenance manager, said although the absence of students did not increase workloads, grounds crews had their hands full during spring break week.“The crews do have work to do,” he said.

MSU

Student addresses ecstasy myths

Angela Massingill knows there is a common perception that most college students use the drug ecstasy; but she’s working to change that.“Media exposure given to the drug has led to a popular misperception that everyone is doing it,” the human biology senior said.

MSU

Mr. Black MSU candidate to promote unity

This is the first in a five-part series profiling the contestants of the Mr. Black MSU pageant. Jason McGhee said Mr. Black MSU has an important function in the black student community. “He’s a leader and a role model to the black community - someone people look up to and respect,” the studio art junior said. McGhee, a minority aide in Holmes Hall, said he hopes to take on those duties by gaining the title Saturday. The Mr. Black MSU pageant, sponsored by Black Student Alliance, profiles black male undergraduates who stand out academically, through their student leadership on and off campus. Marketing senior DeAndre Carter, founder and president of DCI Motivational Services, a motivational speaking business, was crowned the first Mr. Black MSU last year. BSA President Tonya Upthegrove said the event recognizes students making a difference in MSU’s black community. “We want to dispel the myth of this being a beauty pageant,” the communication senior said.

MICHIGAN

Legislature redraws districts

Michigan legislators are beginning to look at redrafting the state’s political boundaries when Michigan’s new census figures are released next month.According to Michigan law, after every census is completed, the political districts must be examined by state lawmakers and adjusted to meet the needs of the population.

MICHIGAN

Increased sales make merchants optimistic

Cory Curtisis hoping once again his sumo wrestler clocks will pull their weight in sales.The owner of Cool Creations, 209 M.A.C Ave., said the novelty items, which are sumo wrestler figurines with working clocks attached on the front, are among some of the items that are selling.And according to The Michigan Retailers Association’s Michigan Retail Index released this week, getting that kind of weight off the shelves can be expected.The report predicted sales during the next three months will increase, which will be a pleasant change from the sales slump experienced in January.“I’m being optimistic,” Curtis said.

MSU

Study tests drug to treat cold sores

Don’t ask Deborah Sudduth about cold sores - she’s suffered from them, off and on, for the last 10 years. Two months ago, Sudduth, an executive assistant to the dean in the College of Nursing, participated in a MSU study that cured her cold sores in less than two days. “I’ve never had an experience like that before,” Sudduth said.

MSU

Vet students take part in reality TV

The next dose of reality television will be prescribed by MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine.MSU’s campus will be the setting for “Vet School Confidential,” a brand new program for the Animal Planet cable network.The lives of several MSU veterinary students will be documented in the 13-episode series, to air next fall.“You aren’t going to watch it and learn how to be a vet,” said Chris Oldroyd, a producer with Rocket Pictures, which is creating the show for Animal Planet.