Friday, July 26, 2024

News

MSU

New ASMSU chief ready for change

As soon as he was confirmed to be ASMSU’s chief of staff last Tuesday, Nimri Niemchak wanted to loosen the collar on his new position.But the undergraduate student government’s decision to appoint Niemchak was not official right away.

MICHIGAN

Greek elections to take place

Wednesday evening at 6 p.m., the Union will host the greek system’s annual Interfraternity and Panhellenic Council elections.Fraternity elections will take place in the Union Gold Rooms A and B and sorority elections will be held in the Union Parlors B and C.Panhellenic president Tiffany Finlan said it’s a responsibility not to be taken lightly.“It’s important to select a strong individual who will be able to carry on the responsibility of such a large organization,” Finlan said.

MICHIGAN

Housing, skate parks top council agenda

East Lansing City Council members will discuss a downtown housing study and the possible construction of skate parks in the Lansing area at their city council work session tonight. The Downtown Housing Market Study will be a 60-day project that begins Dec.

MICHIGAN

Byrum may want recount

As the entire nation waits anxiously for the final tally in the presidential race, some Michigan voters may find themselves waiting to find out who is going to represent them in Congress for the upcoming term.State Sens.

MICHIGAN

Legal fraternity initiates new members, resumes activity

Friday evening in the Moot Courtroom of the MSU-Detroit College of Law Building, 43 MSU students were initiated into the pre-law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta. The fraternity, open to students of all majors who are considering law school, had been dormant on campus for the past three years. Natalie Gonder, a Spanish and journalism sophomore, was among the students initiated into the organization. “The ceremony went really well,” Gonder said.

MSU

Despite cold, locals trot 5K for Lung Association

Hundreds of runners and walkers of all ages took over the Turf Arena in IM Sports-West on Sunday afternoon to raise money for the American Lung Association.Participants gathered in the Turf Arena to register and warm up for the 11th annual Cold Turkey Trot, a 5K run sponsored by the American Lung Association in conjunction with Olin Health Center.

MICHIGAN

Police, experts work to identify remains

An autopsy will be performed tomorrow on the human remains uncovered in a wooded area on Lansing’s west side early Saturday morning.MSU experts have played a crucial part in the investigation by aiding police in excavating the body, and will help with the autopsy if needed.The body was found around 9:30 a.m.

MICHIGAN

GOP retains majority in Michigan House

Things weren’t looking good for the state House Republicans vying to keep their 58-52 majority over the Democrats.But after Tuesday’s election, the GOP prevailed - the Republicans still have 58 representatives in the House and none of the party’s incumbents, who weren’t term-limited, lost.Kendall Wingrove, press secretary for House Republican Communications, said winning the House majority has not been easy.“We worked extremely hard for two years in preparation for this election,” Wingrove said.

MSU

Group protests U subcontractor

Several local members of the Michigan Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ Union formed a picket line Thursday in front of the Human Ecology Building. The group, which also picketed Wednesday, is protesting low wages and poor working conditions for nonunion workers by an MSU subcontractor, J & S Plastering. “We will be out here until this is resolved, but I don’t see it getting resolved today,” said Greg Brisboy, a business agent and full-time representative for Local 16 of the Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ Union in Lansing. Nonunion employees are currently earning an hourly wage of $12, Brisboy says, which is $10 lower than the wage earned by area union members.

MICHIGAN

Greeks to choose delegates

At 6 p.m. on Nov. 15, the greek system will hold elections for representatives of the Interfraternity Council, in the Union Gold Room and Panhellenic Council, in the Union Parlors B and C.Tiffany Finlan, Panhellenic president, said it’s important to select a strong individual who will be able to carry on responsibilities of such a large organization.“I hope that whomever is elected will take the traditions that we have established and work to build on them,” she said.The Panhellenic and Interfraternity councils are looking for presidents and vice presidents for many greek areas and activities.There are three candidates running for Panhellenic president.Emily Crandell, a general management senior, said she is running because the greek system has given so much to her, she’d like to give something back.“I have a million ideas,” Crandell said.

MSU

Institute director calls new job a perfect position

For Carol Weissert, being the director of the university’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research is an ideal situation.“It’s a perfect position because it pulls together people who are interested in public policy,” said Weissert, currently the director of MSU’s Program in Public Policy and Administration.

MICHIGAN

Officials ask residents to keep leaves out of street

With the peak season for autumn leaves drawing near, Lansing city officials want to make sure residents know how to dispose of their leaves.It’s illegal to dump leaves in what is called the right of way, said Steve Chalker, the recycling coordinator and supervisor of the right of way enforcement officers for the city’s Public Service Department.

MICHIGAN

Sting targets video games

Minors can’t buy cigarettes, pornography or alcohol - and now the state is trying to ensure they can’t buy violent video games either.An initiative introduced by Michigan Attorney General Jennifer Granholm on Thursday morning encourages retailers to enact regulations preventing minors from purchasing mature video games.The Entertainment Software Review Board has a system to rate games on a scale similar to movies.

MSU

Freshman council adopts service program

ASMSU’s Freshman Class Council wanted to do something different this year. Hence the reason members agreed to organize “Adopt-a-Child,” a new program established within ASMSU, the university’s undergraduate student government. “We started the year thinking of something to do that would be different from any other class,” said Sarah Kane, a council representative and a member of its community service committee. In the newly founded program, the council has sent letters to more than 60 local businesses asking for donations of money and toys to ensure a happy holiday for several underprivileged children in the East Lansing area. “We sent letters to anyone we thought would be interested,” Kane said. This is the first year ASMSU has attempted such a program, and one representative said he thinks it’s about time the student government do so. “I think ASMSU needs to do things for the community and give things back to the children,” said Quinn Wright, a College of Communication Arts and Sciences representative on the Student Assembly. Wright built a foundation of the idea from a similar program - which also carries the same name - he participated in during his senior year at Ferndale High School in Ferndale, Mich. “It’s a great program, so I thought, ‘Why not?’” Wright said.

MSU

U looking for a few good minority aides

The Office of Minority Student Affairs has begun its minority aide selection process for the 2001-2002 academic year. Murray Edwards, the university’s senior coordinator for Minority Student Affairs, said minority aides play a crucial role for minority students living in residence halls. “Minority aides are undergraduate racial or ethnic students that live in the residence hall and are there to assist students in their transition to MSU by being a resource person for those students,” Edwards said. Minority aides often assist with students’ problems, issues and concerns by referring them to the proper resources on campus, he said. Candidates for the job must participate in a three-part process.