Coffee growers' lives, struggle shown in film

The MSU Geography Club will present "Black Gold," a film about the global coffee industry, at 7:30 p.m.

ASMSU may film informative DVD

ASMSU representatives want to create a motion picture starring MSU's undergraduate student government. Student Assembly is trying to inform students of its purpose by creating a DVD that will include information on different groups within ASMSU's assemblies and the many functions of the organization, said Nigel Scarlett, ASMSU's Student Assembly vice chairperson for external affairs. "Each group can have their own little chapter that says a little bit about their history, goals and mission," Scarlett said.

Irish holiday brings cheer

Bars opened early, students wore green and shamrocks and leprechauns were seen Saturday, as East Lansing celebrated St.

Hilton likely candidate for newest E.L. hotel

Construction of a new hotel off Trowbridge Road could begin within the next 30 days. Owner Tass Mekani of West Bloomfield is finalizing which franchise will take residence at 1100 Trowbridge Road — the last steps Mekani needs to take before breaking ground. The development already received a nod of approval from East Lansing City Council members in early March. "There is a need for it," Mekani said of his venture.

Senator warns students of typical credit card problems

Sen. Carl Levin pointed toward college students as a demographic that's particularly vulnerable to the policies of credit card companies during a visit to campus. He led a discussion with MSU students about the various abuses of the credit card industry Friday at the Administration Building. "You, who are students, are the juiciest targets out there," he said.

Events planned for war's beginning

Tuesday marks the fourth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Several events will be held in the community to highlight the country's continued involvement in the conflict. • "Voices of Resistance — Poets Against the War," will feature poets from the Lansing area sounding off on peace and violence.

Sunshine Week promotes access to information

Earlier this year, volunteers throughout the nation asked local municipalities a simple question — What is the community's Comprehensive Emergency Response Plan? The plan, which every municipality is required to have, was instated by the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act in 1986. Yet many of those volunteers looking for the information were denied access, according to a comprehensive report of this year's Sunshine Week audit. Sunshine Week ends Saturday and is a national test of the openness of government information. "What we've tried to measure as much as anything else is, first of all, how effective have we been as media in doing our job in educating the public about the issues," said Pete Weitzel, coordinator for the Coalition of Journalists for Open Government. "That was the initial intent — to energize the media across the country to focus on the issues of access to information and meetings during one week," he said. Out of 404 audits in 37 states and Puerto Rico, 177 requests were filled.

Child welfare act often neglected

Suzanne Cross gave her American Indian foster children more than just a safe place to live — she provided them one rooted in tradition and culture.

Jazz: It's not just a man's music genre

Lulu Fall, who has been singing since she was 8 years old, decided to try drumming when she was in the eighth grade. "So many people told me that the drums weren't ladylike, so eventually, I quit," the jazz studies senior said. She said she wishes someone would have told her that instruments don't connect with a specific gender — music is about how passionate someone is about the instrument or songs. Fall is a vocalist for the Women in Jazz concert, which will promote women's involvement in the arts and music performance in celebration of Women's History Month. The show is at 8 p.m.

Police briefs 03/16/07

Bringing student voices to the table

If it wasn't for his Palm Pilot, Peter Spadafore wouldn't be able to survive. His list of activities includes being the chairman of the James Madison College Student Senate, working in the college's admissions office and being a teaching assistant for an honors research seminar in public policy. And in February, the social relations and policy senior added to the list — becoming a student member of Academic Council. "I found it as a way to get involved and get my feet wet and explore university governance a little bit more than what I was doing from my college perspective," Spadafore said. Academic Council is the final step of approval for many university programs and policies before they appear in front of the MSU Board of Trustees.

MSU holds symposium on climate changes

Although a resilient minority continues to refute the scientific consensus that global climate change exists, researchers have moved past the debate and are now discussing solutions to the crisis. Experts from across the continent gathered Thursday for the "Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region" symposium at Kellogg Center.

Sober drivers to be rewarded

This St. Patrick's Day, being a designated driver gets you more than just a carful of loudmouths. To curb drunken driving, Spartans Against Drunk Driving, or SADD, and the East Lansing Police Department are teaming up to persuade students to find or become designated drivers. Students can receive a free T-shirt from local bars if they present a coupon from today's edition of The State News.

Students welcome weather

With temperatures reaching highs of 73 degrees Tuesday and 59 degrees Wednesday, Spartans across campus took advantage of the spring weather. "Everybody's happier when it's warmer," child development senior Trista Tacey said.

Great Issues lands on ASMSU spring ballot

When students vote for their ASMSU representatives for next year, they also will have the opportunity to vote on two student referendums. Great Issues, a group recently removed from ASMSU's Programming Board, obtained the necessary 1,000 signatures to get on the ballot.

Students earn awards for artistic expression

Growing up in a multicultural family, Sierra López's ethnicity was never really something to be celebrated. Yesterday, on the other hand, she was one of three students who won an Excellence in Diversity Award for her entry in the "Students Making a Difference Through Artistic Expression" contest. López, whose father is Mexican, said her ethnicity has allowed her to have unique experiences, yet she still considers it a struggle. "It's hard to be accepted because it's difficult to recognize anything but the majority," she said.

Businesses prepare for tournament

With MSU hosting the first and second round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, East Lansing's downtown businesses are gearing up for fan traffic. "We'll see an increase in activity, especially with restaurants that cater to sports fans like (Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar) and Crunchy's," said Tim Dempsey, East Lansing's community and economic development administrator. Stores in the downtown area, such as Steve & Barry's University Sportswear, 515 E.

Grade extensions may shorten

Graduate students who push their classwork to the back of their minds until nearly the end of the term may need to break that habit. The University Graduate Council approved a revision to the DF-Deferred policy stating that graduate students may only be permitted the chance for two six-month extensions at the end of a course's term, instead of the possible two-year extension that currently exists. The revision is working its way through the Academic Governance system and is not yet a policy. "Everyone hopes this will help graduate students complete their programs faster," said Brad Love, president of MSU's Council of Graduate Students, or COGS.

Event to showcase Asian culture, dances

To be an emcee for Cultural Vogue 2007 is an honor for Lemuel Goopio — as a graduating senior, he said this will complete his college career. The Asian Pacific American Student Organization, or APASO, sets up the biennial event with the help of some Asian-based campus groups.

Police briefs 03/15/07