2009-2e-3

TO THE POLLS! THE DAILY KENT STATER GUIDE TO THE ISSUES AND CANDIDATES ON YOUR BALLOT S P E C I A L S E C T I O N A | M O N D AY, N O V E M B E R 3 , 2 0 0 8 ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHRIS SHARRON

DON’T GET SHUT OUT

TURN THIS SECTION OVER FOR THE DOS AND DONTS OF VOTING AT THE POLLS

8 0

Daily Kent Stater

Page A2 | Monday, November 3, 2008

STATE ISSUES/RACES

ATTORNEY GENERAL

OHIO SUPREME COURT

Ohio’s chief legal counsel post up for grabs in tomorrow’s statewide general election

Four candidates vie for positions on Ohio’s highest court during tomorrow’s election

MIKE CRITES Mike Crites served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio for seven years where he led task forces on health care fraud, insurance fraud and environmental compliance. He has acted as law director, prosecutor or special counCRITES sel for at least seven Ohio cities since leaving his federal appointment.

He served in the Vietnam War and is a retired naval captain. He is also a graduate of the Ohio Northern School of Law. He taught at the Ohio State College of Law and is currently a partner in the Columbus firm Rich, Crites & Dittmer, LLC. Crites’ press secretary was unavailable for comment.

RICHARD CORDRAY Richard Cordray became state treasurer in 2006. He served in the Ohio Attorney General’s office, and he created a program to help local prosecutors argue cases at the state supreme court. He has argued six cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, at the urging of both former CORDRAY President Bill Clinton and President George

W. Bush. He has argued cases for continued funding of legal aid programs nationwide and protection of voting rights.

Cordray is a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, and he clerked for two U.S. Supreme Court justices. He also taught at Ohio State for 15 years.

Deputy communications director Nick Benson also said people are often surprised to learn Cordray was a five-time consecutive Jeopardy champion in the 1980s.

ROBERT OWENS Robert Owens became a prosecutor in Delaware County in 2003. He has clerked for a federal judge and served on the City of Delaware’s Charter Review Commission in 2008. He is concerned with legislation that protects civil liberties OWENS and national sovereignty.

Owens is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan and studied at Oxford University in England.

He is also accredited by the Ohio Division of Real Estate.

In the last few years, Owens has taken on several pro bono cases dealing with home foreclosures. Communications director Brian Doran said he has become known as the “man to go see when there’s overwhelming odds.”

— Brittany Moffatt

VOTE

JOSEPH RUSSO

EVELYN STRATTON

Judge Joseph Russo is a Democratic candidate running for the Ohio Supreme Court, and he has served in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court since 2000.

“Reforming the court ethically and removing the embarrassment brought to our court through newspa- RUSSO per articles,” Russo said about his reasons for running, referring to a story from the New York Times that said current justices vote in favor of contributors to their campaigns.

He explained that he is campaigning on the idea of having a “Fair and balanced” court system because the current Supreme Court justices are all Republican.

Justice Evelyn Stratton is a Republican currently on the Ohio Supreme Court and running for re-election.

She has been a justice for 12 years, and if she is elected this would be her third term.

“Stratton is best known for setting up mental health courts within the state of STRATTON Ohio,” campaign manager Barbara Lewis said.

If re-elected, her priorities are to continue the work she has been doing in mental health and adoption reform, Stratton said. Stratton feels that her expertise in having seen a wide variety of cases as a justice qualifies her for re-election.

PETER SIKORA

Justice Maureen O’Connor was elected in 2002 as the 148th justice to the Ohio Supreme Court.

“I’m running for re-election to the Ohio Supreme Court because I’ve seen the importance of having a fair, unbiased court that interprets the law and creates a level playing field for all those who come before it,” O’CONNOR O’Connor said.

“I firmly believe that we must adhere to legal precedent and instill stability and predictability in the law,” she said on her Web site, www.oconnorforjustice.com.

“When I put on my robe to hear a case, I’m not a Democrat or a Republican,” she said. “I’m a justice sworn to uphold the constitution and the laws of the state of Ohio.”

Judge Peter Sikora is a Democratic candidate running to be an Ohio Supreme Court justice. He has spent almost 20 years as a judge in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas juvenile division.

“Citizens are not well served by the current all- SIKORA Republican bench,” he said.

Sikora said the Supreme Court should have “checks and balances,” and electing him would help that balance.

Unifying the probate court, juvenile court and domestic relations so that they work better together is also a priority, he said.

“We need to rethink how we assign responsibility,” Sikora said.

MAUREEN O’CONNOR

— Heather Scarlett

AVOID THE LINES

TODAY TOMORROW

Daily Kent Stater

Monday, November 3, 2008 | Page A3

ON THE BALLOT

1 2 3 5 6 ISSUE

ISSUE

ISSUE

ISSUE

ISSUE

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

Issue 1 proposes to amend the Ohio Constitution so that the deadline to submit referendums, legislation and amendments to a ballot would change to 125 days before a general election. Currently, those looking to push an issue on the ballot must submit signatures 90 days in advance. Supporters of this issue argue that, under the current system, there is not enough time to check the validity of these petitions. Under the new rules, they say, voters will not be confused if their votes will count because of invalid issues on the ballot. Opponents of the bill say the measure will make it more difficult to get important issues on the ballot.

There are two main aspects to Issue 2, the Clean Ohio Program, which provides financial support to organizations and local governments working to clean up Ohio’s environment. First, it doesn’t raise taxes, but it does use bonds to pay for programs. These bonds are repaid with money from tobacco taxes as well as Ohio’s general fund. The second aspect of Issue 2 is the preservation of open land as well as the redevelopment of industrial “brownfield” sites , or chemically contaminated and damaged land, into “greenfield” sites, or pure, unsoiled land.

— Joe Shearer

— Sarah Nusinow

Ohio voters will soon decide the outcome of Issue 3.

This issue is called the Ohio Water Compact Constitutional Amendment and it is a follow-up to the recently approved Great Lakes Water Compact, according to an Ohio.com story posted to the Web site Oct. 23.

Sen. Timothy J. Grendell of Ohio’s 18th District spearheaded the water rights issue in the Legislature which Gov. Ted Strickland is supporting, according to Ohio.com.

Grendell said one reason for initiating the amendment is due to a movement to make private water a public resource.

He explained this means the government could easily decide to take control of groundwater or surface water on a person’s private property.

“Courts come and go and judges come and go,” Grendell said. “So it is important for people to vote this law into the Constitution.”

“I don’t think water rights should be left to the judge sitting on the bench,” he said. “Water is a fundamental right. We all need it to live.”

On Nov 4., the result of Issue 5 will determine whether “payday lending” stays the same or changes the way loans are carried out in Ohio.

The bill was passed by the Ohio legislature and signed into law June 2 by the governor.

The Substitute House Bill 545 changes the law that regulates how certain lenders in Ohio will operate.

If a majority of Ohio voters approve the House Bill 545, all cash lenders would have to follow these new limitations: n The maximum loan amount would be $500. n Borrowers would have at least 30 days to repay the loan. n The maximum interest rate on all loans would be 28 percent.

If Ohio voters decide against the bill, then cash lenders would continue to operate under the previous law. That law states that the maximum loan is $800, there is no minimum repay period and check cashing lenders would continue to charge rates and fees, resulting in a total charge for a loan that exceeds an equivalent annual percentage rate of 28 percent.

The approval of Issue 6 — or the “My Ohio Now” amendment — would amend the state’s Constitution to allow a privately owned casino in Clinton County.

The casino would be a $600 m i l l i o n , 9 7 - a c re re s o r t n e a r Interstate 71 and state Route 73 in Wilmington, located between Cincinnati and Columbus in Clinton County. The casino’s operator would be required to pay taxes of up to 30 percent, which would be distributed to Ohio’s 88 counties.

Proponents for Issue 6 say the casino would add thousands of jobs and more than $200 million in tax revenue for local governments in the state.

“We’re creating one casino with a guaranteed plan,” said Rick Lertzman, co-founder of My Ohio Now. “We will provide 7,000 jobs at the casino, 5,000 jobs around it and bring all 88 of Ohio’s counties 30 percent of our revenue.”

Opponents for Issue 6 say it is filled with loopholes.

“This proposal is a scam for all Ohioans,” said Rob Walgate, vice president of the Ohio Roundtable. Other opponents of Issue 6 include major out-of-state gaming companies, such as Penn National Gaming Inc. “It’s a bad economic policy, and it will drain more money than it puts in,” Walgate said.

ELECTION DAY @ Twitter updates from Phoenix, Chicago and all throughout Portage County as voters turn out to the polls. n Audio from reporters on Black Squirrel Radio. n Live broadcast of TV2’s election show at 10 p.m. n

HHH

IF YOU VOTE YES: Press Secretary Keith Dailey of Gov. Ted Strickland’s office said if Ohioans vote in favor of Issue 3, the amendment will be “embedded as law into the state Constitution.”

“If surface water crosses your property, you have a right to it by virtue of owning the land,” Dailey said.

IF YOU VOTE NO: “To my knowledge there are no opponents or organized parties to oppose the issue,” Dailey said.

“But, if they decide ‘no’ then the people will have spoken.”

— Heather Scarlett

IF YOU VOTE YES: If a voter checks “Yes,” he or she is approving Section 3 of House Bill 545 and wants to change the short-term lending law.

IF YOU VOTE NO: If a voter checks “No,” then he or she does not want anything to change in the current law.

— Heather Vitale

IF YOU VOTE YES:

A “Yes” vote allows the casino in Ohio and adds the amendment to the state’s Constitution.

IF YOU VOTE NO: Voting “No” would deny the construction of the casino.

— Tony Lange

8 0

Daily Kent Stater

Page A4 | Monday, November 3, 2008

LOCAL RACES

OHIO HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE - 68TH DISTRICT

COUNTY COMMISSIONER

Conservative challenger aims to defeat incumbent who is seeking a third term

Republican challenger hopes to unseat county’s 20-year Democratic incumbent

W. ROAK ZELLER

KATHLEEN CHANDLER

CHRIS SMEILES

LARRY SOLAK

W. Roak Zeller is the Republican candidate for the Ohio House in the 68th district.

He ran unsuccessfully for Kent City Council in 2001. Since running for council, Zeller said he learned not to focus his campaign on just one issue. He got into the race because of the 1,000 employees who recently lost their jobs with the closing of Amweld Eaton, RB&W and Ravenna Aluminum. Zeller also said he would support legislation to cut taxes. He said Ohio is on an economically destructive path that will lead the state into recession, and Ohio currently has the fifth -highest tax burden.

“History teaches us that when you cut taxes, you have economic growth and when you raise taxes, you have economic recession,” he said.

Another issue Zeller said is important to the people in the district is guns. On June 10, the Ohio Legislature passed the Ohio Castle Doctrine, a piece of legislation that established that people could protect themselves by any means possible when someone entered their homes. His opponent, Kathleen Chandler, voted against the legislation, and Zeller said his constituents support the legislation.

Zeller would also encourage public universities in Ohio to restructure the way master’s programs are run. He would encourage putting more money in nursing programs so nurses are encouraged to go to graduate school. With that, he said Ohio could help curtail a nursing shortage and also keep college graduates in Ohio.

“Many health care institutions are being forced to pay high salaries in order to compete for a limited labor pool of nurses,” Zeller said. “Instead of treating all master’s programs the same, Ohio needs to increase funding of nursing master’s students.”

Zeller also wants to make universities more responsive to students’ needs by having state money follow the student to the college he or she wants to attend. He would work to eliminate the current system, within which all Ohio public universities get a fixed amount of government funds. With that, he said, the colleges with the most students would have the most money. Colleges would then compete more for students.

He would do away with E-Check, and he would cut governor Ted Strickland’s administrative pay, which Zeller said rose by $116 million in 2007.

Kathleen Chandler, a self-described “middleof-the-road” Democrat, says her “very conservative” opponent W. Roak Zeller has the wrong idea when it comes to taxes.

“He wants to get rid of the income tax, and I think that’s probably the fairest tax we have,” she said.

Because of the economy, she said taxes shouldn’t be raised. But Chandler wants to know where to get money to pay for services if the income tax is cut.

“If you do away with the income tax, how are you going to afford, for example, higher ed?” Chandler said. “Government has to have money to support the services we all decide are important to us, and most of us are willing to chip in our fair share.”

Chandler, 76, is seeking re-election for a third term representing Ohio’s 68th district, which represents northern and northeastern Portage County, including Aurora, Brady Lake, Hiram, Kent, Mantua, Ravenna, Streetsboro, Sugar Bush Knolls and Windham.

Before being elected to the Ohio Statehouse, Chandler served as a Portage County commissioner from for six years, Kent mayor for seven years and Kent councilwoman from 1980-1989.

She has a master’s degree from Kent State.

Chandler said the most important piece of legislation she supported during her last term was the tuition freeze for Ohio universities, which she hopes to help extend another two years. She also cites her work with the Third Frontier Project, a 10-year initiative that support high-tech jobs and research capabilities.

Her long-term goal is to see everyone who qualified for college receive free tuition.

On the topic of regulation, she said she disagrees with the “Republican mantra” of “get government off my back” but thinks it should only be used when absolutely necessary.

“I think you don’t need any regulation except for those things that require it for the health and safety of the public. I don’t like a lot of regulation either,” Chandler said. “And I think that we could go through the Ohio Revised Code and probably find many sections where we could remove some restrictions.”

Chandler said both parties want the same things, but they go about them differently.

“I think it’s time for a change,” Chandler said. “One change you can make is to have a majority of Democrats. My recommendation is to give Democrats a chance to make a difference when it comes to these things we value.”

Chris Smeiles believes incumbents automatically lose 40 percent of the vote. Smeiles should know, considering he will be seeking his sixth term as Portage County Commissioner tomorrow as he faces Larry Solak.

The past two weeks have seen the campaign go from experience as the main issue to ethics, after an Ohio state audit showed Smeiles’ daughter used federal funds reserved for Portage, Geauga and Ashtabula county residents in need of job training for her education.

The 53-year-old real estate broker claims the audit — which led to reports in the Record Courier and Cleveland Plain Dealer and which also included county officials Charlene Badger, Becky Porcase and Anita Herington — is a case of “Election Day politics,” and said he did nothing wrong.

As far as experience is concerned, Smeiles has been a county commissioner since 1988 and now serves as the president of the board of commissions. Smeiles received several endorsements, including fellow county commissioner Chuck Keiper, who said he supported Smeiles 100 percent, on the basis of his knowledge of the county.

Smeiles, a Democrat, has been called a conservative commissioner. Keiper said Smeiles is as “tight with the dollar as anyone I’ve ever been around and believes in team almost to a fault.”

When Smeiles was first elected to the board of commissioners, he said fighting between Portage County offices was common, and he has worked to end the rift.

“We have 18 elected officials — the judges, the prosecutor, the sheriff, the recorder, the treasurer, the auditor — and the voters expect us to communicate and to cooperate,” Smeiles said.

Solak said he wants to bring more efficiency to the board of commissioners, but Smeiles said Solak lacks the experience to be commissioner.

This will be the third time Solak has run for Portage County Commissioner.

With experience being Smeiles’ biggest campaign talking point, the irony is that he faced 19-year-old Brett McClafferty of Streetsboro in the March primaries. Smeiles defeated McClafferty with 60 percent of the vote.

It’s unclear how the audit will impact Smeiles’ chances of winning another four-year term, but Smeiles has continued to campaign strong using commercials and an army of “Smeiles” signs throughout the county.

Republican Larry Solak has been a Shalersvile Trustee since 2001 and said he feels his experience in that position and others in the county have prepared him for office if elected as Portage County commissioner.

Opposing Solak is incumbent Democrat Chris Smeiles, who has 20 years of experience as a Portage County commissioner and said those years in office make him the better candidate for the job.

Solak has served on the Portage County Emergency Planning Committee from 1988 to 2006, the Portage County Emergency Management Agency since 1988 and the Portage County Airport board from 2004 to 2008.

This is the third time Solak is running for the commissioner position because he said he feels a responsibility toward government and enjoys playing an active role.

When Solak first ran in 2004, he was defeated by Democrat Commissioner Maureen Frederick, and in 2006 he lost in the Republican primary election to Meg Hudson, who later was defeated by Commissioner Chuck Keiper.

There are several things Solak said he would like to change if elected, such as holding the local government more accountable for the decisions they make and the reasoning behind those decisions.

He said, if elected, he would be more cautious with the county’s spending and wants to lower the county debt. He also suggested downsizing the government at the county level.

As a trustee, Solak has reviewed the township budget and allocated money, but he said he recognizes the differences in county and township revenue and spending procedures.

Solak started his own business, Solak’s Automotive Machine Shop, in 1970 and said he believes in applying sound business practices to government.

Taxpayers are the government in the United States, Solak said, adding that as a township trustee he works for the residents of Shalersville, just as he would work for the people of Portage County if elected.

He has lived in Portage County all his life and said he believes he can take the commissioner’s seat knowing that he will have tried his best to leave the county in a better position than when he entered.

— Jeff Russ

— Theresa Bruskin

— Brock Harrington

— Alyssa Sparacino

Daily Kent Stater

Monday, November 3, 2008 | Page A5

ON THE BALLOT

PORTAGE COUNTY SHERIFF

UNCONTESTED RACES

Democrat runs against Independent incumbent to oversee entire police force DUANE KALEY

DAVID DOAK

Sheriff Duane Kaley is running for re-election with what he believes is an advantage: experience.

Seeking his fifth term and working on his sixteenth year as sheriff of Portage County, Kaley has seen the best and the worst.

“It’s the only job that I KALEY know that you can play cops and robbers,” he said about his position. “If re-elected I will continue the war on crime, which I have dedicated my career to.”

The biggest obstacle in the coming years will be the country’s failing economy, Kaley said, especially with jobs leaving Ohio.

“If jobs leave, people go to other means to try and make ends meet,” he said. “And that’s when you may get an individual who may not normally commit a crime, but all of a sudden out of desperation (he or she might).”

In preparation of this, Kaley said improving public safety and searching for extra funding are two of the most important things to do right now.

“We’re always looking to improve on public safety,” he said. “As far as sheriff, it’s your job to protect the citizens of Portage County, and I take that very seriously. I always strive for improvement.”

Finding funding to improve this area is a big task for the sheriff.

“I think one of the biggest challenges is always finances with the growing population in Portage County and a decrease in jobs and income,” he said. “We’re always looking for alternative funding (and) trying to work the grant system.”

Kaley said throughout his years with the department, $1.8 million of federal and state grants have come into the county.

If re-elected, Kaley said he will search out funding as well as keep up with his normal 60- to 70-hour work-week demands. He is the director of the Portage County Drug Task Force, he works with Family Services with investigations into abuse, and he maintains both the Web site for registered sex offenders as well as the Web site for the 10 most wanted fugitives in Portage County.

Overall, Kaley said the proof is right on the table.

“I have 33 years of service,” he said. “I’ve come up from the ranks. I’ve been elected sheriff four different times. And that’s a hard thing to do.”

David Doak wants to expand the staff of the Sheriff ’s Office and improve communication between police agencies.

As the Democratic candidate running against Independent and incumbent Duane Kaley for Portage County Sheriff, Doak brings DOAK 38 years of law enforcement experience to the position, including 12 years as chief deputy at the Portage County Sheriff’s office. He has lived in Ravenna all his life.

Doak said he thought Kaley should have responded to population growth in Portage County by adding additional staff on the road. He cited a “difference in philosophy” in law enforcement administration as his reason for running.

One of his first priorities for the Sheriff’s Office is to increase its staff, and he thinks he can stay within the office’s budget to do so.

He also wants to have better investigation and follow-ups of home invasions and improve collaboration between police agencies. He wants to hold meetings with detectives in each agency so they can compare notes on suspects who may be traveling around the county and committing crimes in different areas.

“I’ve worked for five different agencies,” Doak said. “I’ve been a patrol officer, a detective, a sergeant, a lieutenant and chief deputy.

I have a little bit different vision than the current administration. I have a willingness to work with all other law enforcement.”

Each agency has the same goal: to prevent crime in the community, Doak said.

He wants to provide the office with better equipment such as mobile data terminals that allow officers to file reports while on the road.

He would also like to focus more on school safety and form a better working relationship with the Portage County Emergency Management agency. In the event of a major disaster, the agency will need the Sheriff’s Office for manpower, Doak said.

The role of the Sheriff’s Office is to oversee all the police agencies in the county, provide police protection to unincorporated areas as well as security for the courts and manage the Portage County Jail.

When Doak announced his intentions to run for sheriff about a year ago, Kaley dismissed him from his deputy position. Doak said he expected something like that to happen.

“It’s politics,” he said.

— Kiera Manion-Fischer

— Kelly Pickerel

COUNTY COMMISSIONER

ENGINEER

Maureen Frederick is running for her second term.

Frederick was appointed as a county commissioner in 2003 following Kathleen Chandler’s election as a state representative. She was the FREDERICK county treasurer before taking the post. She ran and was elected in 2004 for a full term.

Commissioners serve four-year terms, beginning the January following his or her election.

Michael Marozzi is running for his sixth term. He worked for two-and-a-half years for his predecessor before successfully running for election, himself.

County engineers serve four-year terms, beginning the first Monday of the January following his or her election.

MAUREEN T. FREDERICK

PROSECUTOR

VICTOR V. VIGLUICCI

Victor Vigluicci has been the county prosecuting attorney since 1994. He also ran a private law practice in Ravenna and was a judge in the county municipal court VIGLUICCI before becoming prosecutor.

County prosecutors serve four-year terms, beginning the first Monday of the January following his or her election.

CLERK OF COURTS

LINDA K. FANKHAUSER

Linda Fankhauser is running for her second term.

She was the county recorder prior to her election as the clerk of courts.

The clerk of courts serves FANKHAUSER a four-year term, beginning the first Monday of the January following his or her election.

RECORDER

BONNIE M. HOWE

Bonnie Howe is running for her second term. She has also been a Rootstown Township trustee for 18 years.

County recorders serve four-year terms, beginning the first Monday of the January following his or her election.

TREASURER

STEVE SHANAFELT

Steve Shanafelt is running for his second term. Shanafelt was appointed to the post following Maureen Frederick’s appointment to county commissioner in 2003. He ran and was elected in 2004 for a full term.

Treasurers serve four-year terms, beginning the first Monday of the September following his or her election.

MICHAEL A. MAROZZI

CORONER

ROGER MARCIAL

Roger Marcial is running for his fifth term.

He first ran for the post in 1992, and he has been unopposed in every election since.

Coroners serve four-year terms, beginning the first Monday of the January following his or her election.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS  JUDGE

JOHN A. ENLOW

John Enlow is running for his third term. He also served as a judge in the municipal courts from 1979 to 1996.

Judges serve six-year ENLOW terms, beginning the January following his or her election.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, PROBATE DIVISION  JUDGE

THOMAS J. CARNES

Thomas Carnes has served as judge in the court of common pleas, probate division, since 1989. He also served as a judge in the CARNES municipal courts.

Judges serve six-year terms, beginning the January following their election.

VO TE

— Brittany Moffatt

G O

Daily Kent Stater

Sen. Obama plans to give college students tax money toward college in return for their participation in community service. He also wants to find a way to make community college free for all students. Obama opposes vouchers and wants to use federal funds to get more children enrolled in preschools.

Sen. Obama wants to end the war in Iraq. He plans to keep a residual force in Iraq to conduct targeted counterterrorism missions against al-Qaida and to protect American diplomatic and civilian personnel.

Obama doesn’t want to build permanent bases in Iraq, but he plans to continue efforts to train and support Iraqi security forces as long as Iraqi leaders move toward political reconciliation and away from sectarianism.

The phased withdrawal will encourage Iraqis to take the lead in securing their own country and making political compromises.

Obama supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions.

Sen. Obama wants to introduce a low-carbon fuel standard and export climate-friendly technology to developing nations. He supports more sustainable sources of energy.

Sen. McCain wants to make sure America has “the quality intelligence necessary to uncover plots before they take root.” He plans to strengthen the response to terrorist attacks. McCain strongly supports the development and deployment of theater and national missile defenses, saying effective missile defense is essential. He also wants to increase the size of the military. Like Obama, McCain would like to better prepare and modernize the military.

Sen. Obama wants to focus on defeating worldwide terrorism by targeting al-Qaida, better preparing the military to meet 21st century threats and investing in the American intelligence apparatus, thus increasing its capacity to collect, analyze and share information. Obama also plans to work to prevent nuclear terrorism, strengthen U.S. information networks and prepare effective emergency response plans for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.

NATIONAL SECURITY

Sen. McCain plans to provide tax incentives to drivers of cars that don’t emit carbon dioxide. He also plans to push developing economies, such as China and India, toward cleaner energy regulations. McCain supports alternative sources of energy, including nuclear.

ENVIRONMENT

Sen. McCain says Iraq has to take control of its government before any American troops are pulled out.

McCain supported the surge of troops. He believes the United States should welcome a larger United Nations role in supporting Iraqi elections. He says Iraqis need to know the U.S. will not abandon them but will continue to press their politicians to show the necessary leadership to help develop their country.

McCain plans to call for international pressure on Iran.

IRAQ/IRAN

Sen. McCain plans to provide up to $4,000 to low-income students to aid them in preparing for any college admissions exams they may need to take in order to further their education. He supports vouchers. McCain also wants to set aside federal funds to create virtual schools.

EDUCATION

Sen. Obama’s plans to require all employers to either provide health care benefits to employees or contribute to a public health care program. Obama plans to expand current public health care programs, and he wants to regulate health coverage for all children.

HEALTH CARE Sen. McCain’s plans to offer tax credits to people so they can purchase health savings accounts. The tax credits will total $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families to help them buy health insurance. McCain also wants to drive down costs of health care in the private area by increasing competition between common health care providers.

OBAMA Sen. Obama plans to provide tax relief for middle class Americans. He wants to create 5 million new “green” jobs. He plans to reward companies that employ American workers through rebates and tax incentives, support small businesses in the form of tax relief and create a network of public-private business incubators that will allow entrepreneurs to start companies with more ease. He will invest in research sciences to keep America at the forefront of global innovation. Obama also wants to establish a credit card bill of rights to protect consumers.

ECONOMY Sen. McCain plans to lower energy costs by exploring domestic resources for oil and natural gas, and he will reform electric and nuclear energy policy to build more power plants and create more jobs. McCain wants to keep taxes low and cut the corporate tax rate by 10 percent to keep jobs and money in America. He wants to institute a summer gas tax holiday that would suspend taxes on gas and diesel fuel from Memorial Day to Labor Day. He also wants to strengthen workplace flexibility and choice in respect to working from home, retirement plans and scheduling. McCain plans to reduce international trade barriers and empower Americans to compete globally in the job market.

MCCAIN

Sources: www.barackobama.com, www.johnmccain.com, www.mydebates.org, www.dispatchpolitics.com

From the beginnings of the campaign trail, the 2008 presidential election has shattered past histories and paved roads into the future of American politics. Now, the white flag is waving. The final flex of muscle is here. Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain are poised in a sprint for the finish line: the White House. Whoever wins the race will inherit the recent perils of American policy and politics. He will also preside over and represent the vision and future of the United States.

Reporting Darren D’Altorio, Laura Lofgren, Rebecca Mohr, Suzi Starheim, Denise Wright Illustrations Chris Sharron

THE FINAL STRETCH

Page A6/7 | Monday, November 3, 2008

8 0

Daily Kent Stater

Page A8 | Monday, November 3, 2008

LOCAL ISSUES

ISSUE 32 PARKS DISTRICT

ISSUE 31 HEALTH DISTRICT

If approved, .5 mill levy would generate $1.7M a year for Portage Parks District

Failure of health department levy could lead to higher fees for its many services

WHAT IT’S ABOUT: The Portage Parks District placed a .5 mill levy on the ballot to provide more funding for the parks district. Currently, the parks district is allotted $175,000 per year to operate its 10 parks. This levy will cost the owner of a house assessed at $100,000 about $1.50 a month and will generate $1.7 million annually.

IF YOU VOTE YES: Because of insufficient funds, only five of the 10 Portage County parks are open.

With the additional money, eventually all 10 would be accessible to the public. The money would also allow the parks district to hire more maintenance and full-time workers. It

would also make operation and maintenance of the parks and trails easier. The tax money would also provide a local match to accept capital grants. Voting “yes” would also improve the green space in Portage County, which would provide more opportunities to take part in recreational activities.

IF YOU VOTE NO: If this levy doesn’t pass, the parks district would be forced to close more parks. It would also be forced to lay off three of its four parttime workers. The one full-time employee would be reduced to part-time help. Without the money, the parks district only has enough money to operate for the next two months.

— Megan Rozsa

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

IF YOU VOTE YES:

Issue 31 calls for an additional .5 mill levy over the next five years to cover the Portage County Health Department’s operating expenses. The property tax levy, which has not been increased since the Eisenhower administration, has failed 24 times at the polls.

“The health department affects everybody, every day,” Health Commissioner Duwayne Porter said. “We’re in a financial crisis. We won’t even operate on a minimal level.”

The health department ensures safe drinking water, provides immunizations and inspects restaurants, along with public health and safety programs. Kent and Ravenna have their own health departments, so their residents will not vote on the issue.

Voting “yes” would increase taxes less than $16 annually for a $100,000 home. Programs receiving stays of execution would include a mosquito larva extermination campaign to eradicate the needle-nosed disease carriers and the immunization of citizens countywide to prevent epidemics.

IF YOU VOTE NO: Voting “no” would lead to the county handing off many programs it cannot sustain over to the state. Fees charged by the health department for its services would also increase, Porter said.

— John Hitch

ISSUE 35 MRDD

ISSUES 10,11 MRDD

Renewal of MRDD levy would not mean new taxes for Portage county residents

Issues’ passage could save Streetsboro residents money but hurt small minority

WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Issue 35 is a 2-mill renewal levy for the Portage County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

Because it is a renewal levy, no new taxes will be collected.

This levy, which was last passed in 2003, is the largest of six that provide 70 percent of MRDD’s funding. Medicaid and the state of Ohio provide the other 30 percent of the funding.

IF YOU VOTE YES: When voting “yes” for Issue 35, you are voting to pass the levy. If it passes, it would provide $3.2 million — one-sixth of the revenue MRDD gets from property taxes within the county.

MRDD taxes fund, in part, programs

and services such as those at Happy Day School in Ravenna. Revenues from the levy would be deposited into the general fund and provide services for 800 people within the county. About 70 percent of MRDD’s expenses relate to personnel, including wages for employees. The funds also pay for programs and transportation for those who attend Portage Industries in Ravenna or who use other residential care services.

If it passes, the average homeowner would pay $70 for every $100,000 of appraised value for the tax years 2009-2013.

IF YOU VOTE NO: If you vote “no” for Issue 35, you are voting to not pass the levy. According to the Portage County Board of MRDD, consequences may mean cuts in staff and services.

— Holly Schoenstein

WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Streetsboro residents will vote on two tax issues that could save a majority of residents’ money but at the same time would double the income tax for a small minority.

Issue 10 on the Nov. 4 ballot proposes to double the current income tax from 1 percent to 2 percent for anyone working in Streetsboro — including the 1,800 residents who live and work within city limits.

In conjunction with the tax increase is Issue 11, a proposed 2 percent tax credit for those residents who live in Streetsboro but work outside of the city.

This credit will only go into effect if both issues are approved. If the voters only pass Issue 11, then neither tax issue will go into effect.

Currently Streetsboro has a 1 percent income tax and no tax credit in place for those residents who live within city limits but work

in another city. This means that a resident must pay two separate income taxes – one to the city they work in and 1 percent income tax to Streetsboro – without any relief.

By enacting a tax credit, those residents who work outside the city will no longer have to pay the extra income tax to Streetsboro. If both issues were to pass, the majority of residents would not experience a tax increase.

They would experience a tax decrease because of the tax credit.

If both issues are approved, the city would receive an additional $2.9 million in income tax revenue. This money would go to essential services provided by the city, such as fire protection, road repairs and city improvement programs.

If both or only one of the issues were to pass, then neither the tax credit nor the tax increase would go into effect, and the city would not receive any additional revenue.

FOLLOW ELECTION RESULTS LIVE STARTING AT 10 P.M. TOMORROW NIGHT ON TIME WARNER CABLE CHANNEL 16 AND KENTNEWSNET.COM

— Sarah McGrath

Daily Kent Stater

Monday, November 3, 2008 | Page A9

ON THE BALLOT

ISSUES 7,8,13,16,20 ALCOHOL SALES

ISSUE 19 FIRE

Voters to decide on a number of issues dealing with local Sunday alcohol sales

Voter approval of fire levy could increase department’s budget by almost $225,000

ISSUE 7 Only residents in Precinct C of Ward 1 can vote on this issue. The Circle K gas station and convenience store on North Mantua Street in Kent wants to sell beer on Sundays.

If you vote “yes,” you approve the Circle K on North Mantua Street selling beer on Sundays. If you vote “no,” you do not approve the Circle K on North Mantua Street selling beer on Sundays.

ISSUE 8 Only residents in Precinct B of Ward 2 can vote on this issue. The Speedway SuperAmerica gas station and convenience store on state Route 59 in Kent wants to sell beer on Sundays. If you vote “yes,” you approve the Speedway SuperAmerica selling beer on Sundays. If you vote “no,” you do not approve the Speedway SuperAmerican selling beer on Sundays.

ISSUE 13 Only residents in Precinct C of Ward 2 in Streetsboro can vote on this issue. The American Legion Post 685 and Cocktail Lounge in Streetsboro wants to sell wine, mixed beverages and spirituous liquor on Sundays. If you vote “yes,” you approve the American

Legion Post 685 and Cocktail Lounge selling wine, mixed beverages and spirituous liquor on Sundays. If you vote “no,” you do not approve the American Legion Post 685 and Cocktail Lounge selling wine, mixed beverages and spirituous liquor on Sundays.

ISSUE 16 Only residents in Precinct A of Windham Village can vote on this issue. The Hideaway in Windham Village wants to sell beer on Sundays.

If you vote “yes,” you approve the Hideaway selling beer on Sundays.

If you vote “no,” you do not approve the Hideaway selling beer on Sundays.

ISSUE 20 Only residents in Precinct E of Brimfield Township can vote on this issue. The WalMart Supercenter in Brimfield Township wants to sell wine and mixed beverages on Sundays.

If you vote “yes,” you approve the WalMart Supercenter selling wine and mixed beverages on Sundays.

If you vote “no,” you do not approve the Wal-Mart Supercenter selling wine and mixed beverages on Sundays.

— Jackie Valley

ISSUE 36 MENTAL HEALTH

Renewal of 20-year mental health levy would support several treatment agencies WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

IF YOU VOTE YES:

Issue 36 renews a 20-year levy that generates about $581,000 each year to support agencies such as Townhall II, Coleman Professional Services, Children’s Advantage, Family & Community Services, Bair Foundation and Compass Recovery. They provide mental health treatment and counseling, 24-hour crisis intervention, sexual abuse education and substance abuse support.

If you vote yes, individual home owners would pay $4.25 per year for a $100,000 home.

IF YOU VOTE NO: The levy, first approved in 1978, would not be renewed.

Follow tomorrow’s election all day at

— Theresa Bruskin

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

Issue 19 calls for a one-mill fire protection tax to raise money for the Brimfield Fire Department. If it passes Nov. 4, the proposed levy would add an additional $224,600 in revenue to the fire department’s $930,000 budget. It will cost the owner of a $100,000 home $32. The fire department hasn’t had a new tax passed in four years.

In that time, Brimfield Fire Chief Rob Keller said the department has seen a 40 percent increase in the number of calls it has received, which is due to Brimfield Township’s rising population. The fire at the Puritan Plant, which happened Aug. 30, lasted almost five days and cost the department $43,000 in labor and equipment. The department has also doubled its fuel budget due to increased fuel costs, which is $19,500 this year.

IF YOU VOTE YES: Keller said the fire department will replace a fire engine the department has that is from 1983. He also added the fire department will be able to have three firefighter-paramedics on duty at all times. It will also purchase new vehicle extraction equipment.

“We’ll use it to help offset increased costs,” Keller said.

IF YOU VOTE NO: Keller said the fire department won’t replace the fire engine from 1983. He also added that the fire department will have to reduce the firefighter training to almost none.

“We’ll have to cut our staffing more than we already have,” Keller said.

— Kristen Kotz

ISSUE 22 BRIDGE/ROADS

ISSUE 27 SCHOOLS

Franklin Township levy would fund a continuing road maintenance plan

Garfield and Windham school districts seek voter approval on levies

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

Franklin Township is proposing two mills on a replacement levy for the Nov. 4 election that, if passed, would provide about $162,500 for road re-paving.

The ballot tax levy is for five years and will fund a continuing road maintenance plan.

Target areas for this year ’s ballot are mostly in the Twin Lakes area. The entire west Twin Lakes region, as well as the north side of east Twin Lakes, are leading candidates. Ken Penix, township administrator, said roads in the northwest quadrant of the township are being looked at as well.

The total amount of paving that would be done amounts to roughly 4 1/4 miles.

Re-paving consists of crews milling down the existing road and then placing new asphalt on top.

Both Hiram and Paris townships are proposing the same thing but on a smaller scale. The two mills won’t provide as much money because property values in those townships are lower.

James A. Garfield school district hopes voters will pass an emergency levy renewal on Nov. 4. The levy is for 5.42 mills which will cost owners of a $100,000 home $166.99.

The levy would run from 2009-2013.

“It’s very important,” school treasurer Tracy Knauer said. “It’s 7 percent of the general fund. We’ve been doing a good job and are fiscally responsible. The district was rated excellent by the state. We have the lowest per-pupil expenditures seven of the last nine years.”

The Windham School District will also seek an emergency levy renewal on Election Day. This levy is for 3.46 mills and would also last until 2013 if approved.

The levy would generate $200,000 for the school.

“We are looking to maintain a level of service without having to cut, which is probably what would happen if the levy fails,” Superintendent Carol Kropinak said.

— Chris Gates

— Tyler McIntosh

8 0 Page A10 | Monday, November 3, 2008

VOICE OF

Daily Kent Stater

In September, our public affairs reporters teamed up to canvass the city of Kent and gauge what issues were most important to residents in tomorrow’s election. The entire package, including audio and video from the project, is available at KentNewsNet.com, but here is a sample of what’s on voters’ minds this year.

H ECONOMY

H EDUCATION

H ELECTION

H FOREIGN POLICY

H GAS PRICES

Emily Douglass

Loralea Allen

Mona Joy

Beth Johnson

Martina Nwoga

WARD 6

WARD 3

WARD 7

WARD 7

WARD 4

Douglass, manager of Susan’s Coffee and Tea, said she is concerned with the economy and health care. As the manager of a small business, she cannot afford to provide her employees with health insurance. “It is frustrating when other coffee shops, such as Starbucks, pop up and take away business from Susan’s,” she said.

“I would like for them to be able to guarantee more money easier,” Allen said. “I would like for them also to supply ways of working back your student loans. I know Barack Obama suggested that working back in the community setting is a way of paying back your student loans.”

“All of a sudden (McCain) has just appeared, and he is ready to run for president,” said Joy, a former housekeeper at Robinson Memorial Hospital. “You never really hear too much about John McCain until it’s time to run for president.

“I don’t think he has enough political experience.”

Johnson says she would like to know the presidential candidates’ views on Guantanamo Bay. She says she thinks people everywhere should have the same freedoms, but she hasn’t heard much about the prison from either candidate.

Nwoga is concerned about oil, gas prices, education and health care.

“I’ve had to catch the bus a couple times — I’m not from Ohio, I live out in inner-city New Jersey — so I’ve had to catch the bus,” she said. “I try to minimize the use of the car because of the high gas prices.”

Jan Tregoning Namye Dave Raso Name, XX WARD 5X “We need somebody Angerman said she’s in seen there her health who is going care tocosts help increase the middle dramatically, class because and it’s struggling,” she worries aboutRaso, said friends a Kent whoState constantly grounds put off going employee. maintenance to the doctor “The because ofstinks. economy costs. We’re lucky to have “Instead jobs because of being you proacsee people tive, so losing many people them every end up day.

The saying, oil crisis ‘If I’misreally stunning sick,the I’ll nation.” go,’” she said.

Christina Yager WARD 4 Yager, a waitress at Bob Evans, posed these questions to the candidates: “What ways they are going to help benefit our generation, especially college students? And, how they are going to help our careers? What are they going to do to provide us with better Social Security? I just want more help.”

Nike Olabisi WARD 1 Olabisi, who works at Riverside Wine and Bar, doesn’t think undecided voters should listen to what the candidates have to say in the final days before the election. She advises them to educate themselves on the important issues.

WARD 2 Tregoning explained that her niece’s fiancé, a member of the U.S. Navy, is learning the Iraqi language because he anticipates the call to duty.

“It concerns me because we have children that need things here, and we have elderly that need things here, and we’re spending our time and effort on foreign things when we ought to be taking care of our families,” she said.

Aaron Sutherland WARD 4 Sutherland’s main concerns deal with energy and investing in technologies to become less dependent on foreign oil. He cited solar and wind as plausible clean-energy options.

“I don’t want to be dependent on those technologies, but I think investing in something like that would certainly reduce gas prices,” Sutherland said.

THE VOTERS Daily Kent Stater

H HEALTH CARE

Monday, November 3, 2008 | Page A11

H JOBS

H LOCAL ISSUES

H SOCIAL ISSUES

H WAR

Herve Carden

Henry Shepard

Rob and Jan Domen

Justin Holly

Alex Zarlino

WARD 2

WARD 2

WARD 2

WARD 4

WARD 4

Before leaving the military in 1979, Carden suffered what he called a “near death experience that has been an overshadowing problem ever since.”

This health concern, along with an unresolved injury on the job in 2005 and a recent five-week stay in the hospital due to heart complications, are why Carden said he is aware of the tribulations disabled individuals face.

Shepard has a bachelor’s degree in communications, but has been unable to find a job in the field. Last year, he had to sell his car because he could not afford it. He rides his bike around Portage County — biking five to 10 miles a day.

Rob Domen, 56, of Kent and his 58-year-old wife, Jan, are concerned about several local issues in the area. Rob said he is concerned about the issue of poverty and called it a “hidden sin” in the area.

Rob and his wife are both concerned about the lack of parking in Kent and expressed concern about people parking on the Main Street Bridge.

“How dangerous is that?”

Jan said. “We don’t have any parking, so let’s just park on the bridge.”

Holly said the one thing he’d like to see changed in the United States is the law on drug use.

“They’re filling up prisons with non-violent offenders and just throwing more money into the prison system to make more prisons for people that shouldn’t really be there,” he said. “Giving people felonies for marijuana is ridiculous, I think.”

If Zarlino could ask the candidates about one issue this election, it would be about the two wars our country is fighting.

“I would probably say, ‘What are you going to do about the war? Realistically, what are you going to do about it?’” she said. “My brother was in Afghanistan. He just got back about six months ago.”

Becky Miller Malcolm Weckerly WARD 2

Phil Glazer WARD 2 Glazer said he feels there needs to be some sort of government program that provides health care for everyone.

“The average person can’t afford health care,” he said. “A lot of places aren’t hiring people full time so that they don’t have to pay employee benefits.”

Weckerly said his ideal candidate would be someone with knowledge on how to create jobs in this country.

“We don’t make anything in this country anymore; therefore, we don’t have any decent jobs,” Weckerly said. “It’s as plain and simple as that.

“As jobs get harder and harder to find, people have less money to spend, and as a retailer, I surely would hope they would spend money.”

WARD 1 Miller is a third grade teacher and usually votes for issues affecting her profession. She said she believes education is the most important issue, locally and nationally. Miller said she wishes more Democrats would have a position in the House at a local level because they would be able to better support Strickland’s reform issues and plans. Miller spends a lot of time looking into school funding and the No Child Left Behind Act.

Moyra Matthews WARD 7 Mathews said she would like to see the candidates take more of a stand on the rights for same-sex marriage because she is a lesbian.

“I know the Democratic Party is at least for rights for it more than the Republicans who are completely against it,” she said. “So, it is a half and half kind of thing.”

Shauna Carter WARD 5 “Issues in Iraq are the top priority,” said Carter, who lives on-campus in Centennial Court A. “Right now, I’m undecided if we should leave [Iraq] for the sake of our country and our soldiers’ lives and for the structure of their [the Iraqi’s] country because it’s chaotic.”

> > > Listen to audio, watch video and read about what more Kent residents are concerned about this election season at the Voice of the Voters section of KentNewsNet.com.

★★★★ DON’t GET SHUT OUT ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ Daily Kent Stater

Page A12 | Monday, November 3, 2008

BRING THE FOLLOWING TO THE POLLS

DO NOT BRING OR WEAR TO THE POLLS

■ A current and valid photo identification that shows name and address, such as a driver’s license, state identification card or military identification.

Items promoting candidates or issues are not allowed within 100 feet of polling sites. People adorned with partisan items, such as T-shirts, buttons, hats and stickers will not be allowed in to vote. Leave this stuff at home.

■

No passports will be accepted.

■ Proof of local address, such as a utility bill, cell phone bill, bank statement or FlashLine “address” sheet with your Kent address printed at the top next to Kent State University. If you are voting in Kent, this means it must be something that contains your Kent address.

BEFORE GOING TO VOTE

Check your polling location online at http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/pollinglocation.asp.

IF YOU ENCOUNTER PROBLEMS VOTING ■

Call the Portage County Board of Elections at 330-297-3511. Lines may be busy, so continue calling until someone answers.

■

Or call one of the national hotlines devoted to helping solve Election Day problems: 866-MYVOTE1 or 866-OUR-VOTE.

■

Lawyers for both the Democrat and Republican parties will also be present at polling sites Election Day if voter problems arise.

lsu living The Daily Reveille’s Guide for College Students

football guide

Michigan State University’s independent voice | www.statenews.com | East Lansing, Mich. | January 29, 2008

Tuesday

You’ve lived here for a while now. Learn about making this community your home.

HOUSING GUIDE, PAGE 1C

2008 STATE OF THE UNION

A D M I N I S T R AT I O N

Endowment funds for scholarship, future use What’s an endowment?

MSU’s endowment consists of donations and investments that generate interest over time. Only the interest is available for spending each year.

The university’s endowment was $592 million in 2003, about $1 billion in 2006 and $1.2 billion in 2007.

MSU spends an average of $10 million of its endowment per year on scholarships to offset tuition increases.

MSU spent about $54 million of its endowment in 2007.

SOURCE: MSU SPOKESMAN TERRY DENBOW AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSIT Y BUSINESS OFFICERS

By Mike Blasky THE STATE NEWS ■■

RON EDMONDS/AP

President Bush delivers his State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress Monday on Capitol Hill in Washington as Vice President Dick Cheney and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi listen.

FINAL FORMAL ADDRESS FOR BUSH Address focuses on economy, urges patience with war

By Terence Hunt THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ■■

Washington — President Bush, standing before Congress one last time, urged the nation Monday night to persevere against gnawing fears of recession and to stay patient with the long, grinding war in Iraq. He pressed Congress to quickly pass a plan to rescue the economy.

“We can all see that growth is slowing,” Bush said in a blunt acknowledgment of rising food and gas prices, increasing unemployment and turmoil in the housing and financial markets.

He cautioned against accelerating U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq, saying that would jeopardize progress achieved during the last year.

“We have unfinished business before us, and the American people expect us to get it done,” Bush declared. It was his final State of the Union address and he faced a hostile, Democratic-led Congress eager for the end of his term next January.

See ADDRESS on page 2A

RECENT BUSH STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESSES 2001 Bravery during terrorist attacks, strengthened economy, social security reform 2002 Rebuilding nation, fighting terrorism, improvement of public health 2003 Domestic program reform, economic growth, income tax reductions 2004 Domestic safety, strengthening health care and the economy, same-sex marriage 2005 Economic revival, Social Security solutions, importance of America’s youth 2006 Reduced foreign energy sources, importance of a strong America, technological advances, affordable health care 2007 Domestic energy supply, No Child Left Behind Act, immigration reform, funding efforts to fight HIV/AIDS SOURCE: W W W.WHITEHOUSE .GOV

Locals say speech familiar, lacks plans

By Zack Colman THE STATE NEWS ■■

President Bush’s eighth and fi nal State of the Union address Monday was reminiscent of his previous addresses to some students and experts in the greater MSU community.

“It was a speech that reminded me of the last six or seven he’s given,” said Ed Sarpolus, vice president of EPIC-MRA, a Lansing-based polling company. “There were a lot of repeated issues.”

Bush continued to emphasize supporting American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the war on terror, making tax cuts permanent and cutting down legislative earmarks.

“Unfortunately, it hasn’t distinguished anything from his previous speeches,” said Emily Mixter, secretary of the MSU Democrats. “I think any Democrat is very glad that this will be the last Bush State of the Union speech.”

Still others supported Bush and his vision for the country. Ben Morlock, president of the MSU College Republicans, said history will “judge See BUSH on page 2A

As state funding dwindles and tuition increases, many students don’t understand why the $1.2 billion MSU has locked away in an endowment isn’t offsetting their costs.

Interior design freshman Erica Shepard said that was her biggest concern once she learned about MSU’s endowment, which grew by about $200 million in 2007.

“I don’t really understand why tuition is going up,” Shepard said.

It’s a question MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said she is asked more than any other. The answer, she said, seems to be hard for the public to understand.

“The purpose of endowments for a public institution like MSU was to be able to provide support for a margin of excellence that aren’t typically supported through your basic operation line,” Simon said.

Simon said examples of margins of excellence include up-todate facilities and more experienced faculty to improve the quality of education.

Though MSU spends an average of about $10.5 million of its endowment per year on scholarships to offset tuition increases, both Simon and MSU spokesman Terry Denbow agreed tuition was a complete measure of a university.

“While not all money off interest goes to scholarships, it’s going toward other margin-of-excelSee ENDOWMENT on page 2A

VEGAN WARDROBE

A G R I C U LT U R E

Manure extracts used to produce energy

By Crystal O’Reilly THE STATE NEWS ■■

MSU researchers are turning poop into power.

The university is researching how to utilize the methane in animal waste as a form of energy, which would be used to power generators and peoples’ homes, said Steve Safferman, associate professor of biosystems and agricultural engineering.

“There’s three options for the

gas,” he said. “One option is to use it in a generator as electricity.

Another is if you have the need for heat you can use it in boilers, and the third is to make highquality natural gas (that) can be directed into a pipeline.”

Because each cow produces 150 gallons of liquid manure a day, the supply for methane is there.

“We have approximately 320,000 cows (in Michigan) and they all produce manure,”

said Phil Taylor, an MSU Extension educator in Eaton County.

“If we could turn that manure into an energy source, that’s a good thing.”

The research stems from farm owners’ problems with odors from livestock, Safferman said.

To combat the issue, farmers are using methane digesters, which break down manure into methane.

“It’s like a human stomach,” said Charles Gould, an MSU

Extension educator in Ottawa County. “That’s how we get gas, is the microorganisms in our stomach.”

Manure is then separated into a liquid fraction and a solid fraction, and the gas from the liquid is used to make electricity, Gould said. Landowners could financially benefit by using the solid fraction of manure for other products, such as fiber for building material.

Despite the benefits, the pro-

cess hasn’t become mainstream in farming due to monetary roadblocks.

“The primary reason at this point is the rate of return is not there,” Gould said. “The power companies are only willing to give us an avoidance cost, so it’s not profitable.

“The other reason is it’s expensive but technology is bringing the price down, so it’s becoming See COWS on page 2A

What and what not to wear when you want to adhere to the vegan lifestyle. 1B

Weather Showers

High 41° | Low 16° Three-day forecast, Page 2A

2A | THE STAT E N E WS | TUES DAY, JANUARY 29, 2008 | WWW.STATE N E WS.COM

statenews.com E N T E R TA I N M E N T B L O G

LOOKS BUT NO TALENT Reporter Thea Neal writes that while Jessica Alba is attractive, she doesn’t quite cut it as a talented actress.

SPORTS BLOG

Reporter Cash Kruth wants readers to help him decide which professional athlete is best, Tiger Woods or Tom Brady.

Continued ADDRESS

or derail it and neither option is acceptable.”

He also pushed Congress to extend his tax cuts, which are to expire in 2010, and said allowing them to lapse would mean higher tax bills for 116 million American taxpayers. For those who say they’re willing to pay more, Bush said, “I welcome their enthusiasm, and I am pleased to report that the IRS accepts both checks and money orders.”

Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the war has been a main topic of Bush’s annual addresses to Congress. He said Monday night the buildup of 30,000 U.S. troops and an increase in Iraqi forces “have achieved results few of us could have imagined just one year ago.”

“Some may deny the surge is working,” Bush said, “but among the terrorists there is no doubt.

Al-Qaida is on the run in Iraq and this enemy will be defeated.”

Still, Bush said, “The mission in Iraq has been difficult and trying for our nation. But it is in the vital interest of the United States that we succeed.”

He made no commitment about withdrawing additional troops from Iraq, and he said Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. general there, has warned that

Bush warns against hasty troop withdrawals, discusses economic stimulus plan in Monday night’s State of the Union address FROM PAGE ONE

Three-day forecast

Police brief Room key, ID stolen from Holden Hall doorknob

Wednesday Snow High: 16° Low: 16°

Thursday Mostly cloudy High: 28° Low: 24°

A key and student ID were stolen from an 18-year-old female student sometime between 1:30 a.m.

Jan. 20 and 2 p.m. Jan. 21 in West Holden Hall, MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said. The victim said she believes a suspect stole the items when she left the key and attached ID in the doorknob of the door to her room, McGlothian-Taylor said. The victim reported that the suspect used her student ID to charge about $130 on her student account with purchases at several locations across East Lansing, McGlothianTaylor said. One suspect is described as a 5-foot-7-inch male weighing about 170 pounds with hazel eyes.

Police have another suspect with an unknown description. The incident is under investigation.

NICQUEL TERRY

Friday Snow High: 31° Low: 25° VOL. 98 | NO. 99

TO CONTACT THE STATE NEWS

Index Campus + city Opinion Nation + world Sports Lifestyle Classified The fold

3A

(517) 432-3000 ■■

4A 5A

EDITORIAL STAFF (517) 432-3070

6A 1B 3B 5B

EDITOR IN CHIEF Laura Misjak MANAGING EDITOR Sarah Harbison DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Kris Turner WIRE EDITOR Jessica Haynes OPINION EDITOR Kate Polesnak CAMPUS EDITOR Craig Trudell

Corrections The State News will correct all factual errors, including misspellings of proper nouns.

Besides printing the correction in this space, the correction will be made in the online version of the story. If you notice an error, please contact Managing Editor Sarah Harbison at (517) 4323070 or by e-mail at feedback@ statenews. com.

In the page 3B story “Catching up with Stanton, Duckett” (SN 1/28) the third Drew Stanton quote should have been attributed to T.J. Duckett.

The Page One art for “Identity crisis” (SN 1/25) should have been identified as a photo illustration.

CITY EDITOR Jacob Carpenter SPORTS EDITOR Jon Schultz THE GAME EDITOR Matt Bishop FEATURES EDITOR Elizabeth Swanson FACES & PLACES EDITOR Petra Canan MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Margaret Harding PHOTO EDITOR Nichole Hoerner ASST. PHOTO EDITOR Jason Chiou DESIGN EDITOR David Ingold COPY CHIEF Mac White ASST. COPY CHIEFS Alexa Schlosser, Michelle Ortlieb ■■

ADVERTISING M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(517) 432-3010 ADVERTISING MANAGER Candace Barnes ■■

PROFESSIONAL STAFF GENERAL MANAGER Marty Sturgeon, (517) 432-3000 EDITORIAL ADVISER Omar Sofradzija, (517) 432-3070

With his approval rating near its all-time low, Bush lacked the political clout to push bold ideas, and he didn’t try. He called on lawmakers to urgently approve a $150 billion plan — worked out with House leaders — to avoid or soften any recession through tax rebates for families and incentives for businesses to invest in new plants and equipment.

“The actions of the 110th Congress will affect the security and prosperity of our nation long after this session has ended,” the president said.

Senate Democrats want to expand the economic stimulus plan with rebates for senior citizens living off Social Security and extensions of unemployment benefits for the jobless. Bush said those changes “would delay it

COWS

ENDOWMENT

MSU researchers harness power from methane in cow manure, which could reduce gas in atmosphere

MSU aims to keep endowment spending consistent despite ups and downs in market FROM PAGE ONE

FROM PAGE ONE

lence things,” Denbow said.

“Would it be okay to bring tuition down and move to inferior facilities? Let’s use the money to make (facilities) state of the art, which improves the value of a degree.”

Even if MSU wanted to allocate more money for student scholarships, most of the endowment money is restricted to specific university programs, Simon said.

“There’s very little endowments that we receive that are unrestricted,” she said. “If I give an endowment, I want it to be in support of my favorite program.”

MSU’s endowment increased by $184.3 million in 2007 through investments and by another $70 million through donations. The university spent $54 million in 2007.

“We try to keep the endowment spending pretty consistent,” Simon said. “We’re not going to cut the endowment spending this year even though the market has tanked.”

Though members of Congress have discussed instituting a bill to force universities to spend more of their yearly endowment on scholarships, the university’s spending is already

Feces facts The methane extracted from livestock waste can be used to generate energy.

Michigan’s approximately 320,000 dairy cows produce 150 gallons of manure daily, making manure a viable source of energy.

Methane digesters are used to process the gas in animal waste by breaking down the compound into liquid and solid fractions.

The liquid can be used to create electricity and heat boilers, and the solid portion can create fibrous material for building.

SOURCE: MSU EXTENSION

more and more in reach.”

The financial burden of this technology is something to be remedied, because the environmental benefits for converting waste to energy are overwhelming, said James Clift, policy director of the Michigan Environmental Council. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, methane is about 20 times more harmful to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

“From the environmental side, it’s nice because it’s a greenhouse gas that leads to global warming, so to the extent we burn it turns it environmentally friendly,” Clift said.

pulling Americans out too quickly could undermine Iraqi forces, allow al-Qaida to regroup and trigger an increase in violence.

Bush said U.S. adversaries in Iraq have been hit hard, though “they are not yet defeated and we can still expect tough fighting ahead.”

A major challenge for Bush in his address was simply being heard when many Americans already are looking beyond him to the next president.

His speech came hours before Florida’s presidential primary election and just eight days before Super Tuesday, when voters in more than 20 states go to the polls on the biggest day of the primary campaign. Republicans running for president rarely mention Bush, preferring to focus on conservative hero Ronald Reagan instead.

Bush made only one mention of Osama bin Laden, who remains at large more than seven years after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. There was no reference to North Korea. In his 2002 address, Bush caused a stir by warning that Iraq, Iran and North Korea constitute an “axis of evil.” The United States and its allies are pushing North Korea to abandon its nuclear programs.

above the numbers being discussed, Denbow said.

“We are a great steward of our endowment funds,” Denbow said. “Through prudent investments, we have been able to pay out more than most institutions.”

Denbow added that MSU’s spending policies are mandated by the MSU Board of Trustees — a publicly elected body.

“It’s almost anti-democratic to have a congressionally imposed relationship between endowment and tuition,” he said. “What if there was a huge crisis in the market, or a huge boom in the market? Congress can’t meet and say let’s up or down that, but our board could do that in a day.”

MSU Trustee Joel Ferguson said a federally mandated percentage of endowment spending could be acceptable if aimed at schools with much larger endowments. Harvard University’s endowment, for example, exceeds $30 billion, according to a survey conducted by the National Association of College and University Business Officers. The survey was published in January.

“We’re not one of those schools,” Ferguson said. “(MSU) is still trying to build our endowment. We’re not there yet.”

Denbow said endowments are about the future, though the temptation to increase spending is there.

“You could solve a lot of problems today,” he said. “But you could solve today’s problems and make tomorrow’s problems bigger.”

Sudoku Level:

BUSH

Bush’s final State of the Union address Monday evokes jaded reactions from some MSU students FROM PAGE ONE

(Bush) more fairly.”

Morlock credits Bush with guiding America through the uncharted area of international terrorism, which will give the president a “legacy.”

“He’s been directly on point when it comes to the defense of the nation because we’re dealing with a threat like we’ve never dealt with before,” Morlock said. “I’m just happy we have somebody with such great resolve and comprehensive understanding of the issue as our commander in chief.”

Sarpolus said the speech served as a fi nale, rather than to lay out policy for the coming year.

“He rallied his troops, he pitched the bait, but it was pretty much a farewell speech,” Sarpolus said.

Bio c he m i s t r y s opho more Elizabeth Cholakis said while Bush’s tenure was marked by idealism, his shortcomings aren’t much different from other politicians.

“Bush has accomplished things, but it’s kind of like every politician is overshadowed by the things he promises, and I don’t know if he met all of his promises,” she said.

“I don’t know if anyone does.”

Students weren’t concerned with the issues as much as they were with this being Bush’s fi nal speech.

And for those students, that was a good thing.

“I’m happy to see Bush go,” education freshman Lukas Darnton said.

“I have fairly liberal views, and I disagreed with a lot of his points of view.”

Zoolog y sophomore Andrea Cohen said she usually doesn’t watch the State of the Union address, but was pleased it was Bush’s last speech.

“I think it ’s time for change,” she said.

But despite st udents’ dismay with Bush, Sarpolus said the president has learned a few things in his nearly eight years in office.

“You saw tonight he’s trying to save face, to put a good face on everything he’s done,” he said. “He’s learned he ca n’t ex plai n away what happened since Sept.

11.”

Staff writer Marilyn King contributed to this report.

By The Mepham Group

1 2 3 4

PRODUCTION MANAGER Max Sa Leitao, (517) 432-3014 ASST. PRODUCTION MANAGER Sabrina Egeler, (517) 432-3014 WEBMASTER/PROGRAMMER Mike Joseph, (517) 432-3014 PHOTO ADVISER Robert Hendricks, (517) 432-3013 ■■

THE STATE NEWS is published by the students of Michigan State University, Monday through Friday during fall, spring and summer semesters. A special Welcome Week edition is published in August.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $5 per semester on campus; $98 a year, $65 for one fall or spring semester, $50 for summer semester by mail anywhere in the continental United States. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the MSU community. For additional copies, please contact the business office.

PERIODICALS POSTAGE paid at East Lansing, Mich. Main offices are at 435 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI, 48823. Post office publication number is 520260.

DELIVERY NOW AVAILABLE 517-332-4687

POSTMASTER Please send form 3579 to State News, 435 E. Grand River Ave., in care of MSU Messenger Service, East Lansing, MI 48823.

STATE NEWS INC. is a private, nonprofit corporation. Its current 990 tax form is available for review upon request at 435 E. Grand River Ave. during business hours.

OPEN LATE!

order online at

COPYRIGHT © 2008 STATE NEWS INC., EAST LANSING, MICH.

Use coupon code: freehot •

Limit 1 per customer

Solution to Monday’s puzzle

1/29/08

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.

© 2008 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

WWW.STAT E NE WS.CO M | T HE STAT E N EWS | T U ESDAY, JA N UA RY 29, 20 0 8 |

Campus+city

CAMPUS EDITOR Craig Trudell, campus@statenews.com CITY EDITOR Jacob Carpenter, city@statenews.com PHONE (517) 432-3070 FAX (517) 432-3075

S H O R TA G E WHAT’S YOUR TAKE?

VET COLLEGE SEEKS MORE STUDENTS

By Jeff Kanan ■■

An increasing number of food animal veterinarians nearing retirement could create opportunities for graduates, but might also spell food safety concerns, according to a recent study.

Data from the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association, or MVMA, suggests more than half the state’s food animal veterinarians are approaching retirement age, which means a large number of younger veterinarians are needed to prevent a possible shortage.

“It’s a problem we’ve suspected might be coming for some time,” said Jim Lloyd, associate dean of MSU ’s C o l l e g e o f Ve t e r i n a r y Medicine.

“There’s a great number of career opportunities in veterinar y medicine, and combine that with the fact that a diminishing proportion of our population comes from farms and rural backgrounds, so people aren’t that aware of food animal careers.”

L loyd s a id a l ac k of food animal veterinarians could expose humans to diseases like tuberculosis and hurt the agriculture industry, the state’s second largest industry. “ Wit hout a n adequate veterinar y workforce, the productivity and economic health will be at risk,” Lloyd said.

To counter a possible shortage, the college has imple-

Jim Lloyd, MSU’s associate dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine

mented a number of programs aimed at training students in the food animal field.

“Our objective is to get more people into the (veterinary medicine) program who are interested in the fi rst place a nd to s t i mu late i nte re st for st udent s not a s i n t e r e s t e d ,” s a i d To m Herdt, chairperson of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences.

The food systems fellowship program allows students to work in political and pharmaceutical settings to provide exposure in different parts of the field.

“We like to give them experience not in traditional clinical settings, but give them a broader base so they understand how veterinary medicine impacts the food system,” Lloyd said.

Students said they prefer to specialize in the fields they’re most comfortable.

“The area where I grew up was more urban, and I had more access to small animals,” said Jennifer Stokes, a fi rst-year veterinary student

who prefers working with smaller animals.

Ashley Lange, a fi rst-year medical student, said the time commitment and safety issues involving large animal clinical science makes the field less appealing.

“It takes time, energy and effort, and there’s also a risk of injury,” Lange said.

Food animal veterinarians shortage Retirement age is approaching for more than half the state’s food animal veterinarians, according to the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association.

MVMA data shows a peak in food animal veterinarians aged 51 to 60 years old and a much smaller distribution for the 30-and-under age group.

A vet shortage could potentially bring about economic implications and increased human exposure to diseases like tuberculosis.

SOURCE: MICHIGAN VETERINARIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

N E G O T I AT I O N S

Proposed contract change could put TAs on shorter notice of hire THE STATE NEWS ■■

Teaching assistants could have less time to plan and prepare for teaching courses if the university’s proposed changes to its contract with the Graduate Employees Union, or GEU, are approved.

The GEU’s contract, which expires May 15, requires the university to send appointment letters to hired and rehired TAs by March 31 if they will be teaching during the summer or fall semesters. The university’s deadline to notify students hired for the spring is Dec. 1.

During negotiations for a new contract with the GEU, the university wants to push the appointment letter deadline back, said Kristin Bott, a zoology doctoral student and GEU’s Vice President for Organizing and Outreach.

“For this contract, (MSU) wants to move things back and notify students by May 15,” she said.

T he app oi nt me nt letter informs the TA of which class they will be teaching and includes their starting date, salary and schedule.

For TAs teaching in the summer — particularly the first summer session that starts May 16 — one day is too small a window to prepare, Bott said.

“You can’t just walk into a classroom and have a course ready, but that’s what they’re asking us to do,” she said. “It would be like getting a job where you’re in an administrative role and you wouldn’t be informed of it until a day before you were expected to

“We’ve got to let graduate students know as far ahead of time to keep good students, but we’ve also got to make sure we only spend the money we have.

It’s a tangle, but you have to figure it out.”

Karen Klomparens, dean of the graduate school

appear.”

One of the issues facing the university in hiring graduate assistants is budgeting, Graduate School Dean Karen Klomparens said.

“It’s a balancing act between letting graduate students know what their support is going to be for the following semester, the realities of MSU’s budgeting year, when (the TAs) actually have the money in their hands and know what they can spend,” Klomparens said.

Klomparens said the university doesn’t know how much money it will receive from the state until July, which can cause some concerns.

“There’s some dependencies on the state, and those dependencies come f rom department chairs spending only the money they have in their hands, not (guessing) about what they may have,” she said. “If the chairs wanted to spend money based on an allotment we may not get, those would be promises we Locally Owned & Operated BetterHealth - Lansing (E.) BetterHealth - Lansing (W.) 305 N. Clippert St 6235 West Saginaw

. . . . . .

NATURAL & ORGANIC FOOD STORE LOCALLY SOURCED ORGANIC PRODUCE CAFÉ featuring ORGANIC & VEGETARIAN FOODS VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS

Interview

“There’s a great number of career opportunities in veterinary medicine, and combine that with the fact that a diminishing proportion of our population comes from farms and rural backgrounds, so people aren’t that aware of food animal careers.”

THE STATE NEWS

By Pete Nichols

3A

Across from Frandor Mall

Across from Lansing Mall

(517) 332-6892

(517) 323-9186

10 %

BEER & WINE

WITH COLLEGE ID

AND MUCH MORE!

CANNOT be combined with any other store offers.

Offer not available at W. Saginaw location. Excludes beer & wine.

Appointment Letters Graduate assistants teaching in the summer or fall receive appointment letters telling them what they’ll be teaching by a March 31 deadline.

The deadline is included as part of the Graduate Employee Union, or GEU’s, current contract with the university.

According to the GEU, current suggestions from MSU in negotiations would change that deadline to May 15 — a day before they would be expected to teach.

SOURCE: KRISTIN BOTT, VICE PRESIDENT FOR ORGANIZING AND OUTREACH

couldn’t keep.”

The trick, Klomparens said, is fi nding a balance.

“We’ve got to let graduate students know as far ahead of time to keep good students, but we’ve also got to make sure we only spend the money we have,” she said. “It’s a tangle, but you have to figure it out.”

The lack of preparation time would affect every aspect of being a TA, especially if the TA was teaching the class alone, said Melissa Fore, a TA for ENG 203, Genres and Themes.

“You figure students use (the fi rst couple of weeks) to get their course packs and books,” she said. “How would you get your book orders in?

Unless ever y thing taught became standard, and that would be a disservice to the students.”

Supply chain management senior Ryan Hurley answers questions during an interview with marketing junior Mark Kenyon while Ken Nelson films the scene for a Career Services Network commercial. The purpose of the commercial is to enlighten students about different career paths.

It will air on the Residence Halls Association TV channel as well as before the RHA movies at Wells Hall.

SAM RUIZ/THE STATE NEWS

N EWS B RI E FS

City Council names its goals for coming years

By Brian McVicar THE STATE NEWS ■■

With two newly elected members on board, the East Lansing City Council convened this past weekend to discuss its priorities for the next two years.

At its biannual planning session, council members and city employees developed a broad spectrum of goals, including increasing the amount of owner-occupied housing to creating a more vibrant downtown.

For East Lansing City Councilmember Nathan Triplett, who is serving his fi rst City Council term, the planning session was helpful in quickly learning and debating the city’s aspirations.

“It’s one of the things that makes our community unique, that we have a very formal process of deciding goals,” Triplett said.

Triplett said he has a goal of increasing the amount of renewable energy the city uses to power local buildings.

The city develops its goals based on five categories: strong neighborhoods, vibrant economy, enhanced public assets, environmental quality and high-performing government.

As an elected body, it’s important to have a common set of goals, East Lansing City Councilmember Kevin Beard said.

“You need to have what your goals as an organization are and you all need to be pulling in the same direction,” Beard said. “It’s so everybody’s on the same page.”

Beard said one of his goals for 2008 is to create a plan for dealing with trees that have been destroyed by the emerald ash borer.

The plan, Beard said, should help residents deal with clearing dead trees from yards and helping to plant new ones.

“The trick is to take a manageable problem and prevent it from becoming a big problem,” Beard said. “It’s no small problem.”

The emerald ash borer is an Asian beetle fi rst found in Michigan in 2002. Since then, it has destroyed nearly 25 million ash trees and cost cities millions of dollars.

“You need to have what your goals as an organization are and you all need to be pulling in the same direction. It’s so everybody’s on the same page.”

Kevin Beard, East Lansing City Councilmember

Dave Smith, East Lansing’s environmental specialist, said about 850 ash trees are spread throughout East Lansing’s property “Many, if not most, of our ash trees are infested,” Smith said.

Trees that have been infested by the emerald ash borer can live two to three years before they die, Smith said.

Cutting down all the city’s ash trees would cost the city about $300,000.

Te d St aton , E a s t L a nsing’s city manager, said creating a set of unified goals helps the council establish internal priorities that help shape ordinances.

“One of the challenges we face is how do we best let people know that these projects that emerge are really part of a strategic plan and aren’t just reactive to a developer’s request,” Staton said.

Please recycle this newspaper

VICTIM DESCRIBES ARMED ROBBER East Lansing police have released a description of the suspect who robbed an MSU student at gunpoint Sunday morning.

The 23-year-old male victim described the suspect as a 6-foot-1-inch black male in his early to mid 20s with a thin build, dark eyes, light skin and black dreadlocks. The victim said the suspect was wearing black jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt with a white design.

The 23-year-old male victim said he was walking home alone from a bar at about 2:30 a.m. near the corner of Albert Avenue and Orchard Street when a suspect approached him from behind, pulled out a gun and demanded money.

Anyone with information about the robbery should contact Detective James Campbell at (517) 319-6814.

NICQUEL TERRY

N EWS B RI E FS

LOTTERY WINNERS GET FREE TUITION The Michigan Lottery’s new instant ticket, which awards eight prizes of a four-year college tuition, won’t be available to college students, Michigan Lottery spokeswoman Andi Brancato said.

As a second-chance drawing for losing tickets, the state is giving away eight Michigan Educational Trust contracts for fouryear tuition to any in-state public college or university.

Aimed at parents and grandparents, the MET program can’t be used by students enrolled in college or graduate school.

The top prize for the $5 ticket is $200,000.

JOSEPH TERRY

4A | TH E STAT E N E WS | TUES DAY, JANUARY 29, 2008 | WWW.STATE N E WS.COM

Opinion EDITORIAL BOARD Laura Misjak EDITOR IN CHIEF Kate Polesnak OPINION EDITOR Lindsey Poisson OPINION WRITER James Harrison STAFF REPRESENTATIVE Brandon Dunlap MINORITY REPRESENTATIVE Keiara Tenant STAFF WRITER

Letters ■■

ONLINE POLL

MONDAY’S RESULTS

Do you think President Bush addressed the country’s most important issue with his State of the Union address?

Do you think a potential tax refund will help boost the economy?

STUDENTS IMPACTED BY E.L. CONSTRUCTION CAN SPEAK OUT

Yes.

33% No.

63% I don’t know/I don’t care.

5%

Vote at statenews.com/opinion

TOTAL VOTES: 40 AS OF 5 P.M.

OU R VOICE | E DITORIAL

IMPROVED COUNSELING CENTER A VITAL RESOURCE Seek help MSU’s Counseling Center now allows students to speak with a counselor immediately upon calling, while they used to have to wait days or weeks to get an appointment.

This change came after Jan CollinsEaglin became the permanent director of the center.

I

f you’ve ever needed help or someone to talk to and didn’t know where to turn, don’t worry. You’re not alone.

The MSU Counseling Center is in the process of improving its programs to better accommodate the needs of students.

Before fall, appointments could take as long as a few weeks to make. Scheduling appointments that far ahead resulted in students not showing up.

Frequently hiring new directors didn’t help this problem either.

Fortunately, Jan Collins-Eaglin was hired in July as the new director and she plans to stay for more than a year — unlike the past two interim directors the counseling center has hired.

Collins-Eaglin already has begun turning things around. Currently, when students call, they’re able to speak to a counselor immediately, even if their appointment is scheduled for a later date.

Students who are told to put their troubles on the back burner may feel their issues have been trivialized rather than addressed. So it’s beneficial when their situation is tended to quickly.

Most people don’t feel comfortable talking to strangers about their problems, so it helps when students can relate to the person they are talking to.

Free resources for MSU students MSU Counseling Center To make an appointment, call (517) 3558270 or go to 207 Student Services.

Students get eight free sessions per semester. For more information, visit www.couns.msu.edu.

Olin Health Center To make an appointment, call (517) 3554510. Students get three free medical visits and three free psychiatric visits per semester. For more information, visit www.olin.msu.edu.

SO U RCE : O LI N H E ALTH CE NTE R AN D M S U CO U N S E LI N G CE NTE R

There are specialized counselors available to help and students may now specify who they would prefer to meet with.

There are male and female counselors, as well as those who specialize in alcohol or substance abuse.

Though things are beginning to look up for the center, it still faces some problems.

For one, it’s short-staffed, partly because it has to compete with major administrative units for funding. Providing money for programs such as the Counseling Cen-

ter should be a priority since they support students’ well-being.

As big as MSU is, only 5 percent of students visit the center. Students should utilize free programs because they can assist in helping them reach academic goals, or like the center, services may relieve stress or offer guidance.

The reason for the low student turnout may be because people don’t know about the service.

More effort should be made to spread the word about what the center has to offer, but responsibility also falls on students to seek it.

Counseling in general is stigmatized, with many students thinking the only people that should seek help are those with serious mental issues.

But the center offers resources for a variety of situations, so there is no need to feel uncomfortable about paying a visit.

Though the center has struggled with funding and keeping a full-time staff, it is comforting to know they are taking steps to better the services offered to students.

So the next time you’re feeling confused or you just need someone to talk to, put in a call or take a trip to the Counseling Center.

They’re waiting for you.

Oliver Parsonage

Regarding the story “Virginia Ave. construction hassle for area students” (SN 1/28), it appears that at least a few students living in the construction area have some concerns about the project. I wanted to make anyone with concerns about this project aware of tonight’s meeting of the University Student Commission held at East Lansing City Hall, 410 Abbot Road. It will be located in Conference Room A. The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. and there always is a public comments section of the agenda.

The University Student Commission was created to improve student and local relationships and to establish a formal link between MSU and the city of East Lansing government. With the Virginia Avenue issue and any other issues, I encourage concerned students to attend our meetings.

Again, the meeting is at 5:30 p.m. tonight in Conference Room A at East Lansing City Hall.

Brett Baker, public administration and public policy senior and University Student Commission vice chair

Campus to campus ■■

OHIO STATE BUYS VIRTUAL ISLAND TO TEACH REAL-LIFE SITUATIONS Professors at Ohio State University are using virtual games to teach students in — and mostly out — of the classroom. Ohio State’s Technology Enhanced Learning and Research, or TELR, purchased a virtual island in the popular computer game “Second Life.” The island, called TELRport, will be divided among several university professors to simulate lessons they otherwise could not teach because of the costs or risks they incur in real life. Some lessons already in the works include having architecture students create buildings on the island and simulating risky economic decisions for business students.

An article in The Lantern, “‘Second Life’ in education,” quoted Nick Johnson, a graduate research assistant for TELR and the Digital Union, saying, “If Ohio State has a strong virtual presence, it’s connected to a whole virtual world and it’s something that will be noticed by other people, by other universities. It’s kind of a prestige thing, in a way.”

The Lantern Ohio State University’s student newspaper

■■

is the State News editorial cartoonist.

Reach him at parsona1@ msu.edu.

■■

HOOSIER FANS’ FOUL LANGUAGE UPSETS ATHLETICS DIRECTOR Students cheering for Indiana University’s men’s basketball team Saturday were scolded for using profound language in the stands during a game against the University of Connecticut. Students began chanting “f--- you, ref” after several calls against the Hoosiers during the final minutes of play. While Indiana University’s Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan said he appreciated students’ support in the stands, he was disappointed with how they chose to show it at the game.

An article in the Indiana Daily Student, “Student-led chants at officials draw Greenspan’s ire” quoted Greenspan as saying, “I think that obscenities and vulgarities are below us as an institution.”

The Indiana Daily Student Indiana University’s student newspaper

COLUMNIST | KEIARA TENANT

ALL RACES SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED ■■

Keiara Tenant ■■

is a State News staff writer.

Reach her at tennan10@ msu.edu.

F

ebruary is Black History Month.

It is important to honor the contributions that blacks have made to this country. It also is important that we take time to reflect on how far this nation has come since the time of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement. I think it’s wonderful that we have a month dedicated to black history, but it bothers me that there is a need for it.

Black history is American history.

Therefore, we should celebrate it every day. Realistically, not many people will take time to do this on their own, so it is understandable why we have Black History Month. But I don’t think we should limit honoring black achievements and advancements to just one month each year.

When I was in elementary and middle school, it seemed like the only time we talked about blacks was during the month of February. I can’t even recall reading about blacks in my history books. I felt like the teachers were trying to cram hundreds of years of information into one month. It was overwhelming and frustrating.

Teachers also seemed to only focus on the big names in the Civil Rights Movement, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. It was interesting learning about those individuals, but there are

so many other blacks that made a difference. Before King, Booker T. Washington encouraged blacks to better themselves and W.E.B. DuBois advocated for black rights. Before Oprah, there was Madam C.J. Walker, the first black female to become a self-made millionaire. George Washington Carver discovered more than 300 uses for peanuts and Jackie Robinson broke down racial barriers in Major League Baseball. It would have been a privilege to learn more about these individuals as well as other blacks and their accomplishments.

Peanut butter, potato chips, the traffic signal, the ironing board and the mailbox are a few of many inventions blacks have contributed to society, which we use in our everyday life. Eventually these things probably would have been created, but they may have been a long time coming. We can honor the inventors by simply thinking about them every time we use something they invented or by passing this knowledge onto others.

Blacks fought long and hard for their rights. They had to fight for the right to vote, the right to be considered as equals among others, the right to go to the same school and the right to sit where they’d like on buses and in restaurants. They have been and continue to be victims of injustice and discrimination. Blacks, as well as other racial groups, have played a major role in building and bettering this country. Don’t they deserve a little more time and attention than the shortest month of the year?

It troubles me that other racial groups

— despite having a month dedicated to them — receive little recognition.

May is Jewish American Heritage Month.

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month and November is Native American Indian Heritage Month. America is a melting pot of races, cultures and ethnicities, and each has and continues to contribute. Why not give these months the same attention that we give Black History Month?

Jewish women played a major role in the feminist movement. Thousands of Chinese helped build the Transcontinental Railroad. It is estimated that more than 400,000 Hispanics and about 45,000 Native Americans served in the Army during World War II. What would America be like if various racial groups didn’t participate in these historic events? I imagine it would’ve taken longer for women to earn equal opportunities and respect. The Transcontinental Railroad may have never been completed, and we might not have won World War II. So I encourage you to keep these dates in mind and to celebrate all of the aforementioned racial groups, as well as others.

We cannot properly understand U.S. history unless we learn about the history of the racial, ethnic and cultural groups that contributed to America. It is important to understand where we come from in order to know where we are going. If we don’t, we may make the same mistakes, and the consequences could be greater than before.

■■

How to reach us The State News welcomes letters to the editor.

All letters must be signed and include your year and major, full address and day and evening telephone numbers. Phone numbers will not be published. Letters should be fewer than 250 words and are subject to editing.

Questions? Contact Opinion Editor Kate Polesnak at (517) 432-3070.

By e-mail opinion@statenews.com; By fax (517) 432-3075; By mail Letters to the Editor, The State News, 435 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing, Mich, 48823

Nation+world A R O U N D T H E N AT I O N A N D WO R L D

KENNEDYS ENDORSE OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT Washington — Two generations of Kennedys — the Democratic Party’s best known political family — endorsed Barack Obama for president Monday, with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy calling him a “man with extraordinary gifts of leadership and character,” a worthy heir to his assassinated brother.

“I feel change in the air,” Kennedy said in remarks salted with scarcely veiled criticism of Obama’s chief rival for the nomination, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, as well as her husband, the former president.

“I have marveled at his grit and grace,” he said of the man a full generation younger than he is.

Kennedy’s endorsement was ardently sought by all three of the remaining presidential contenders, and he delivered it at a pivotal time in the race.

A liberal lion in his fifth decade in the Senate, the Massachusetts senator is in a position to help Obama court Hispanic voters as well as rank-and-file members of labor unions, two key elements of the Democratic Party.

He is expected to campaign actively for Obama in the days before a string of delegate-rich primaries and caucuses across 24 states Feb. 5, beginning later this week in Arizona, New Mexico and California.

The senator made his comments at a crowded campaign rally that took on the appearances of a Kennedy family embrace of Obama, who sat smiling as he heard their praise.

He was introduced by Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late president, who said Obama “offers that same sense of hope and inspiration” as did her father. Rep. Patrick Kennedy also endorsed Obama from the stage before a boisterous crowd at American University.

“Today isn’t just about politics for me. It’s personal,” Obama, 46, said when it came time for him to speak. “I was too young to remember John Kennedy and I was just a child when Robert Kennedy ran for president. But in the stories I heard growing up, I saw how my grandparents and mother spoke about them, and about that period in our nation’s life — as a time of great hope and achievement.”

ROADSIDE BOMB KILLS 5 U.S. SOLDIERS IN MOSUL Baghdad — Five American soldiers were killed Monday by a roadside bomb in the northern city of Mosul, described as one of al-Qaida in Iraq’s last strongholds, just days after a house explosion and suicide attack killed as many as 60 people there.

Insurgents in a nearby mosque opened fire on other soldiers in the patrol after the roadside bombing, prompting a fierce gunbattle as U.S. and Iraqi troops secured the area, the military said.

Iraqi army reinforcements have moved into position near the city, 225 miles northwest of Baghdad, ahead of a planned offensive announced by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Monday’s deaths raised to at least 36 the number of American troop deaths reported this month, an increase from the 23 recorded in December in one of the lowest monthly totals since the war started in March 2003.

Iraqi police in Mosul, the capital of Ninevah province, reported clashes between U.S.-Iraqi forces and gunmen in a middle-class Sunni neighborhood believed to be an insurgent stronghold.

An officer, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information, said three civilians were wounded and helicopters had bombarded buildings in the southeastern Sumar neighborhood, which has seen frequent attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces that have led to a series of raids.

“The insurgents are willing to desecrate a place of worship by using it to attack soldiers to further their agenda,” said Maj. Peggy Kageleiry, a U.S. military spokeswoman in northern Iraq.

U.S. commanders describe Mosul as the last major urban center with a significant al-Qaida presence since the terror network has been driven from its strongholds in the capital and Anbar province.

The U.S. military has said Iraqi security forces will take the lead in Mosul— a major test of Washington’s plan to, at an undetermined date, shrink the American force and leave it as backup for Iraqi security forces.

GUNMEN HOLD STUDENTS HOSTAGE IN PAKISTAN Peshawar, Pakistan — Gunmen briefly seized control of a high school in volatile northwestern Pakistan on Monday, the government said, holding more than 200 students and teachers hostage for hours before surrendering to surrounding security forces.

The seven gunmen gave themselves up to a delegation of tribal negotiators, Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said.

The gunmen barged into the school near the town of Bannu after a chase and firefight with police that killed an eighth gunman and wounded a policeman.

The chase began after they abducted the health chief of a neighboring district and two of his relatives, who were later freed, also unharmed.

CHURCH MOURNS DEATH OF MORMON PRESIDENT Salt Lake City — Thousands of believers were in mourning Monday following the death of Gordon B. Hinckley, the humble head of the Mormon church who added millions of new members and labored long to burnish the faith’s image as a world religion. An announcement of his successor was not expected for days.

Hinckley, the 15th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died Sunday of complications arising from old age, church spokesman Mike Otterson said. He was 97.

“While serving for over seven decades in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gordon demonstrated the heart of a servant and the wisdom of a leader. He was a tireless worker and a talented communicator who was respected in his community and beloved by his congregation,” President Bush said.

The church presidency is a lifetime position. Before Hinckley, the oldest church president was David O. McKay who was 96 when he died in 1970.

Hinckley, a grandson of Mormon pioneers, was president for nearly 13 years. He took over as president and prophet on March 12, 1995, and oversaw one of the greatest periods of expansion in church history. The number of temples worldwide more than doubled, from 49 to more than 120 and church membership grew from about 9 million to about 13 million.

Dozens of mourners gathered Sunday night outside Mormon church headquarters to honor Hinckley.

He began his leadership role in 1995 by holding a rare news conference, citing growth and spreading the Mormon message as the church’s main challenge heading into the 21st century.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WWW.STAT E NE WS.CO M | T HE STAT E N EWS | T U ESDAY, JA N UA RY 29, 20 0 8 |

5A

WIRE EDITOR Jessica Haynes PHONE (517) 432-3070 FAX (517) 432-3075

CONFLICT

Election violence continues in Kenya

By Elizabeth A. Kennedy THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ■■

Naivasha, Kenya — Some 2,000 people from rival tribes faced off on a main road Monday in this previously quiet tourist town, divided only by a handful of police who fired into the air to force their retreat.

Some 130 miles away from the v iolence in Naivasha, in the city of Kisumu on the shore of Lake Victoria, rioting mobs torched houses and buses and blocked blood-spattered roadways.

Ethnic clashes sparked by a disputed presidential election a month ago have claimed the lives of 800 people, spreading into the fertile Rift Valley. The fi ghting began after President Mwai Kibaki’s Dec. 27 re-election, which international and local observers say was rigged. About 255,000 people have been forced from their homes.

“This is Kikuyu land!” was the cry in Naivasha from one side, which called for revenge against the rival Luo tribe.

“We want peace, but we (also) want to fight them,” said Peter Mwangi, a 20-yearold acrobat. “We don’t want Luos here.”

EU foreign ministers threatened to suspend development aid unless Kenya’s rival political factions agree to a powersharing pact and restore stability, saying the bloc “cannot conduct business as usual with Kenya.”

In a declaration, the ministers backed warnings by EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel, who has said that long-term development aid to Kenya — about $563 million in over five years — could be at risk.

Only about 6 percent of Kenya’s budget comes from foreign aid and the government has said it will not be blackmailed over it. The United States has said it would not threaten to cut aid.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Kenya has “gone from bad to worse, in terms of the violence. That underscores the urgent need for these two political leaders to come to a political agreement. The root cause of the violence is political tension.”

In Kisumu on Monday, young men blocked roads out of the town with burning tires and rocks.

“Kikuyus must go! No Raila, no peace!” they yelled, referring to the tribe of Kibaki, and to his chief rival, opposition leader Raila Odinga. Members of Odinga’s Luo tribe are among those challenging the official election results, and in Kisumu some of them took out their rage on Kikuyus, including a bus driver who was burned to death inside his minibus, according to Lillian Ocho, who saw the destruction.

“The road is covered in blood. It’s chaos. Luos are hunting Kikuyus for revenge,” said Baraka Karama, a journalist for independent broadcaster Kenya Television.

Kenya’s Rift Valley, scene of the worst postelection violence, is dominated by the Kalenjin and Masai tribes but has pockets of population from all over the country. Many of them, especially Kibaki’s Kikuyu people, settled there in the 1960s under controversial land resettlement schemes that have caused deep resentment.

The bloodshed has transformed this once-stable African country, pitting neighbors against one another and turning towns where tourists used to gather for luxury holidays into no-go zones.

Britain’s v isiting minister for Africa, Mark MallochBrown, said the latest violence appeared to be orchestrated.

“What is so alarming about the last few days is … there’s evidently hidden hands organizing it now,” he said.

Kibaki’s government sought to capitalize on MallochBrown’s visit, putting out a statement after the meeting headed “British Government recognizes President Kibaki

K AREL PRINSLOO/AP

A Kenyan soldier removes a burning roadblock Sunday in Naivasha, Kenya. Western Kenya has recently been a site of ethnic clashes.

and his Government.”

British Embassy spokeswoman Charley Williams said Britain recognizes states, not governments. Kibaki has received congratulatory messages on his re-election from only seven countries, according to Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Ministry: Iran, Kuwait, Morocco, Rwanda, Somalia, Swaziland and Uganda.

At least 22 people were killed in Naivasha during the weekend, said district commissioner Katee Mwanza. Nineteen of them were Luos whom a gang of Kikuyus chased through a slum and trapped in a shanty that they set on fire, said police commander Grace Kakai. The

others were hacked to death with machetes, a local reporter told The Associated Press.

In Kakamega, gangs of youths looted and set ablaze a downtown hotel and two wholesalers, the Rev. Allam Kizili of the Pentecostal Church said. Police fired tear gas to try to stop the violence, he said.

The violence is complicating mediation efforts by Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

“Negotiations are becoming more and more diffi cult because the level of anger between the two sides is just growing exponentially,” Malloch-Brown told reporters. “The two sides are very far apart at

this time.”

He said Odinga appeared eager for international mediation to succeed but “the government feels the situation is being manipulated and internationalized to weaken its control.”

Kibaki has said he is open to direct talks with Odinga, but that his position as president is not negotiable. Odinga says Kibaki must step down and only new elections will bring peace.

A f ter meetings Sunday, opposition spokesman Salim Lone said the two leaders were asked to name three negotiators for the talks, which he said he would hopefully start “within a week.”

6A | TH E STAT E N E WS | TUES DAY, JANUARY 29, 2008 | WWW.STATE N E WS.COM

Sports

SPORTS EDITOR Jon Schultz, sports@statenews.com PHONE (517) 432-3070 FAX (517) 432-3075

MEN’S HOOPS

WOMEN’S HOOPS

One ‘W’ away from MSU history books Merchant continues

By Joey Nowak THE STATE NEWS ■■

The MSU men’s basketball team is in good company.

While head coach Tom Izzo has downplayed the team’s success this season, the reality is that this year’s team is navigating into uncharted waters.

With No. 8 MSU’s 77-62 victory against Michigan on Sunday, the Spartans equaled the best 20-game start in school history, matching Izzo’s 2000-01 team, which went to the Final Four. The team’s 18-2 record is better than the start of the 1999-2000 national championship team. “(The best start in school history) would mean a lot because of these guys,” Izzo said. “You’re always looking for something a class accomplishes and I know we’re looking for a Final Four and league championship, but I always look for something for someone to hang his hat on when he leaves here … the best start in school history is pretty good.”

With one more consecutive victory, this year’s team will own the best start in 109 years of MSU basketball. What lies in its way, however, is Illinois — the same school that prevented the 2000-01 team from a 19-2 record.

The main difference: This year’s Illinois team, which defeated Northwestern 70-37 on Sunday, is 10-11 overall and 2-6 in the Big Ten. And the game is home for the Spartans, who haven’t been defeated at Breslin Center this season.

“I’m not a superstitious guy to worry about that,” Izzo said.

He’s baaaaack It appears to be time to silence all Drew Neitzel naysayers.

The senior guard, who was chosen as the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year, was named Big Ten Player of the Week after MSU

to iron out the kinks

Quest for success 1998-99 Started: 16-4

By Allison Grant

Ended: Big Ten Champions, NCAA Final Four

THE STATE NEWS ■■

1999-2000 Started: 15-5 Ended: Big Ten Champions, NCAA Champions 2000-01 Started: 18-2 Ended: Big Ten Champions, NCAA Final Four 2004-05 Started: 16-4 Ended: NCAA Final Four 2007-08 Started: 18-2 Ended: ?

SOURCE: MSU SPORTS INFORMATION

defeated Northwestern and U-M this week.

Neitzel averaged fewer than eight points in his first three Big Ten contests, but averaged 19 points, six assists and four rebounds in the team’s last two games.

“Maybe I was playing for other reasons or to please other people rather than to please myself and coach Izzo and this team — the real reasons I should be playing,” Neitzel said. “I’m just back out there having fun and playing the way I have to.”

Neitzel’s 4.8 assists per game ranks him second in the Big Ten and his 3.43:1 assist-turnover ratio is second best in the nation.

“I thought there was pressure to score a lot of points and to not have bad games,” Neitzel said.

“Teams have been playing me different, so it’s going to be a different kind of year. I’ve put that past me and I’m just trying to get better.”

The sky’s the limit With the continued and consistent success of freshman guard Kalin Lucas, the respect Izzo has for his young talent and the

JASON CHIOU/THE STATE NEWS

Senior guard Drew Neitzel runs down the court after gaining possession in the first half against Minnesota on Jan. 5 at Breslin Center. Neitzel was named Big Ten Player of the Week for his performance against Michigan this weekend.

expectations for Lucas continue to grow.

“It’s been a while since a freshman has played at this level as consistently,” Izzo said. “I don’t think he’s afraid to take over a game. He’s fearless in nature.”

In the nine games since the Texas contest on Dec. 22, Lucas has been averaging 13.2 points and 4.2 assists per game.

“He’s confident in his game like Mateen (Cleaves),” Izzo said. “I’m

getting a comfort level with him where he’s going to be the leader on the floor. Mateen was so strong, and quickness-wise (some of the best MSU players have been) Thomas Kelly, Charlie Bell and Eric Snow. What Kalin has is both — he doesn’t back down.”

As freshmen, Cleaves and Bell averaged 10.2 and 9.2 points per game, respectively. Cleaves averaged five assists per game during his freshman campaign.

The starting lineup for Thursday’s game against Michigan will be …

Who knows?

MSU women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant has expressed her frustration with the players’ lack of consistency individually and as a unit once they hit the hardwood.

“In a young team you have to show some toughness,” Merchant said in regard to the team’s close 65-62 victory against Illinois Thursday.

“I just wish we would show that kind of competitiveness and that kind of toughness for 40 minutes, and I think that’s been our struggle.”

In five of the Spartans’ (12-10 overall, 4-6 Big Ten) first six Big Ten games, they used a steady starting lineup of three freshmen — forwards Cetera Washington and Kalisha Keane along with guard Brittney Thomas — combined with sophomore center Allyssa DeHaan and senior guard Alisa Wulff.

However, that lineup has not represented the Spartans since the first time MSU tipped off against U-M on Jan. 13. Three players have snuck into recent starting lineups: senior guard Courtney Davidson, sophomore center Lauren Aitch and junior guard Mia Johnson — who is a growing threat on the court as her summer ACL injury pesters her less.

Merchant noted the inconsistency of the performance, both on offense and defense, is why the starting lineups have been spinning like a revolving door. “(Experimenting with lineups) is not a bad thing, but

when you play other people (they) aren’t in the same realm,” she said. “We haven’t settled on seven people, which most teams have done at this point, and some of that is because we’ve brought Mia back in the mix.”

While Johnson has started the last two games and her minutes are increasing, her play is no exception to the team’s trend of up-and-down performance.

Johnson scored 20 points against Illinois Thursday, only to struggle against Minnesota later that weekend, shooting 20 percent from the field and 0-for-5 beyond the arc. Keane and Aitch also have struggled with roller-coaster performances, combining for nine turnovers against Minnesota and only two against Illinois three days prior.

If the team is going to turn its season around, Merchant said consistency must come from all positions.

While MSU sometimes will start out hot offensively, they’ll pull a 180-degree turnaround and bounce the ball off every angle of the rim.

MSU shot 33.3 percent from the field and 30.4 percent from 3-point range Sunday in Minnesota.

However, just three days earlier in Illinois, the team shot 41.4 percent and 33.3 percent, respectively.

“It is frustrating because I feel that we are getting good looks at the basket,” Merchant said.

“It was a good sign to see Mandy step up and hit shots, but the other night it was Mia, which is good, but we need a real good balanced scoring attack and we didn’t have that against Minnesota overall.”

the cutting edge OUT WITH THE OLD E N TER TA IN MEN T

AND IN WITH THE NEW Here is a look at what’s in and what’s out in pop culture this week.

Miss Michigan clinching the Miss America title/ The prestige and purpose of being Miss America Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s racy text messages/Social acceptability of “LOL” Angelina Jolie pregnant with twins/Angelina Jolie loving her biological children less than the adopted ones “Lost” finding its way to a new season/“Lost” losing realistic story lines Singer Amy Winehouse entering rehab/Amy Winehouse’s song “Rehab”

FASHION

Judging the styles of the nation’s potential first ladies — and gentleman. 6B

Lifestyle Lifestyle

HANNAH COMMUNITY CENTER OFFERS NEW EXERCISE TECHNIQUE, CALLED NIA. 4B

Section B | The State News | www.statenews.com | January 29, 2008

VEGAN TALES

Reports Boyz II Men will reunite/False reports New Kids on the Block will reunite

While some people choose to not eat animal products, it’s possible to find alternative animal apparel as well

“Rambo” returning to the big screen/ “Meet the Spartans” defeating John Rambo at the box office

By Thea Neal

— COMPILED BY MAGGIE LILLIS

GEORGIA RHODES/THE STATE NEWS

THE STATE NEWS ■■

C

amie Heleski loves animals. As a professor of animal behavior and welfare, Heleski also is an owner of cats, dogs and horses, showing she treasures living creatures at both her workplace and home.

Except when it comes to her clothes. Heleski is a supporter of wearing leather, fur and wool — the three materials many vegan animal lovers stay away from. “I have sweaters made out of wool and cashmere, I have shoes made out of leather,”

she said.

“I feel very comfortable using animals for recreation or for producing clothing items. I just want to make sure that people are respectful of how they go about using animals.”

That’s where Heleski makes an effort to teach her students that “animal rights” varies greatly from “animal welfare.” “‘Animal welfare’ is respecting the animal, meeting their needs, but still using animal products,” Heleski said. “Whereas ‘animal rights’ is, in simple terms, more looking at See VEGAN on page 2B

Products to avoid and their alternatives

Fabulously faux Shop in the Lansing area’s major brand retailers that have vowed to be anti-fur, all of which are conveniently located at Lansing’s own Eastwood Towne Centre.

J. Crew 3037 Preyde Blvd.

Lansing (517) 485-1947 Gap 3000 Towne Centre Blvd.

Lansing (517) 316-1077 Banana Republic 3020 Towne Centre Blvd.

Lansing (517) 316-0779 Forever 21 3017 Preyde Blvd.

Lansing (517) 484-2100

If you decide to cease wearing animal products, there are three basic fabrics to keep away from: leather, wool and fur. While it may seem daunting at first, avoiding the materials can save a lot of money, as well as a lot of animals.

Wool alternative

Merino wool

American Apparel, 115 E. Grand River Ave., is a great source for organic clothing. The store’s Organic California Fleece is made of 100 percent extra soft ring-spun combined organic cotton, which is engineered for extra warmth.

Merino wool is a term that refers to the wool from the merino sheep breed. This breed is bred specifically for their wrinkly skin, as it produces more wool.

Unfortunately, the wrinkles also trap feces, urine and moisture, which can lead to blowfly infestation. These larvae blowflies will feed on the sheep, literally eating them alive.

Price: If you don’t feel like trekking out in the snow to pick up an organic hoodie or Tshirt, visit the American Apparel Web site, www.

AmericanApparel.net.

There, the site has a specific section devoted solely to organics. The shirts are rather cheap too, with many costing only $15. The sheep would thank you.

Price: Ralph Lauren has a women’s Merino Turtleneck Dress for $99.99.

Leather Leather is made from the hides of animals, making it literally fabric of skin. Usually made from cow hide, leather also can be made from ostrich, kangaroo, crocodile and lamb.

Price: The Classic Short boot by UGG is made from sheepskin and costs $120. The boot is available at www.uggaustralia. com.

Fur Obviously, fur isn’t the most humane practice on earth. Fur clothing can come from nearly all mammals, including foxes, coyote, beaver, rabbit and lynx. The practice of skinning animals is usually quite violent, and requires strangling or stomping the animals in order not to ruin the fur.

Price: Fur isn’t cheap. Pologeorgis Fur Fashion Inc. sells a bolero made from the stone marten, a weasel-like mammal, for $7,000.

Fur alternative If you’re looking to avoid fur, you can visit multiple retail giants which only sell the faux version. J. Crew, Forever 21, H&M, Banana Republic and Gap Inc. all have a “no fur” policy.

SOURCE: THE STATE NEWS

Leather alternative While leather used to be a staple in jackets, fashion is fading far from Danny Zuko. If you’re looking to replace your sheepskin UGG boot, buy a similar boot made out of cloth rather than suede.

Price: Charlotte Russe carries a similar design for $34.99, available at www.charlotterusse. com.

Tuesday Almost vegan LIZ KERSJES

Vegetarian contemplates changing diet I’m not a vegan. I never have been, save for the weeks I can’t afford eggs or butter.

That’s not to say I wouldn’t make the switch.

I’ve been skeptical of meat since eighth grade, and I made the real deal switch to vegetarianism three and a half years ago. But I haven’t ever made a serious commitment to a completely animal product-free life — I thought about it, sure, and even came very close to doing it.

I saw the moral horizon and turned away.

For me, vegetarianism is comfortable and that’s all that matters. I never think about what I eat or salivate at the thought of that juicy steak I won’t allow myself to consume, because I just don’t want it. Not eating meat products is as easy for me as not eating cardboard is for the average person.

But the vegan thing would be more difficult. While eating out as a vegetarian is often a little difficult, eating out as a vegan sometimes borders on impossible. And let’s not forget the slew of real-deal animal lovers who would oust me as not being “vegan enough” or even “a real vegan” if I accidentally ate a cookie with butter in it.

More importantly, that buttery cookie tastes delicious — and I don’t want to stop eating delicious food to adapt to a specific diet. Many people have told me they like the idea of being vegetarian but they like steak and fried chicken too much. I get that — some of my fondest food memories involve my homemade alfredo sauce, a goat’s milk brie imported from France and my mother’s special chocolate chip cookie recipe, which just wouldn’t taste the same without a stick of butter.

In a world where rules and standards are forced upon us every day, we shouldn’t be arbitrarily forcing more lifestyle rules upon ourselves.

Some people for one reason or another feel strongly enough about not eating animal products that the personal or moral peace of mind of living a vegan lifestyle outweighs the sacrifices to their diets.

For those people, going vegan makes sense, and for good reason. There is plenty wrong with the way much of the food in the U.S. is See FOOD on page 2B

FEATURES EDITOR ELIZABETH SWANSON | PHONE (517)432-3070 | FAX (517) 432-3075 | E-MAIL FEATURES@STATENEWS.COM

2B Lifestyle | T HE STATE NE WS | TUE S DAY, JAN UA RY 29, 2008 | WWW.STATE N E WS.COM Making soy candles

IN THE KNOW

NUTRITION

Explanations of why people go vegan vary

What you’ll need: - 1 pound of soy wax (block or flake form)

By James Harrison THE STATE NEWS

- 1 mason jar

■■

- 1 ounce of fragrance oil (1 fluid ounce of fragrance oil per 16 ounces of soy wax) - 1 cotton wick - wax dye (optional)

Put the soy wax, which can be purchased in supermarkets and online, in a pan and melt slowly on medium heat until the soy wax is completely liquefied.

Remove from heat.

Add fragrance oil and stir until it is absorbed in the soy wax.

If desired, add wax dye according to instructions on label.

Pour the melted soy wax in the jar and position the wick in the center, using a clothespin or pencil to keep the wick in place.

When the wax has turned solid you can trim the wick to 1/2 inch.

Enjoy.

— COMPILED BY MAGGIE LILLIS

FOOD

Though maybe difficult for others, eating according to certain rules can be easy for some people FROM PAGE ONE

produced, and not eating eggs or butter produced in unsustainable and environmentally damaging factory farms makes sense.

I avoid supporting those industries by only buying organic dairy and locally-produced eggs from an organic farm. It’s a little more expensive, but those producers need the fi nancial support and I need to know I’m not personally contributing to food being produced the “wrong” way.

Diet and food choices should feel comfortable to really work.

Of course people should make healthy choices, but going vegan or vegetarian isn’t always the healthiest or most realistic diet for every person.

“For me, vegetarianism is comfortable and that’s all that matters. I never think about what I eat or salivate at the thought of that juicy steak I won’t allow myself to consume, because I just don’t want it.”

Usually the balance is somewhere in between veganism and steak for every meal.

The most important thing to remember is people make diet choices for a thousand different reasons.

Whether vegan, vegetarian or carnivore, everyone should respect everyone else’s diet choices without judgment and simply work on making the healthiest lifestyle choices for themselves.

AMERICA’S

Eating based on your ideals isn’t always easy.

According to Vegan.org, a vegan is a person who “chooses to avoid using or consuming animal products.

While vegetarians choose not to use flesh foods, vegans also avoid dairy and eggs.” Because of this, vegans have to avoid items vegetarians normally wouldn’t, including many baked goods.

Groups such as MSU’s Students Promoting Animal Rights advocate veganism as a means of being kinder to animals. But it’s not the only reason people choose to become vegan.

Philosophy senior Brian Murphy has been a vegan for two years.

While stopping animal cruelty in the form of factory farming was one reason why he decided to give up all animal products, it was only a small part of why he chose the lifestyle.

“You sort of choose to support things with what you buy,” he said. “I choose not to support factory farming and most kind of large corporations. It’s a political thing.”

Murphy also said choosing to be a vegan can be extremely eco-friendly. He views cattle farming as expending large amounts of resources that can be better used elsewhere. By not eating beef or using products made from a cow, he thinks he’s doing his part to

Milk — Many varieties of dairyfree soy milk or rice milk are available in most stores.

solve the energy problem.

Vegans standing for their beliefs even impress those who don’t necessarily agree with them.

Enology and viticulture senior Michael Rizik wouldn’t ever become a vegan — he doesn’t view eating meat as being morally wrong as long as it’s done humanely — but he shows admiration for those who do follow the lifestyle.

“It’s somewhat noble,” he said.

While choosing a vegan diet may cut down on food options, it doesn’t mean being less healthy.

“Any diet — except weight-loss ones — can be healthy,” said Ronda Bokram, a registered nutritionist and the dietitian on staff at Olin Health Center.

That doesn’t mean vegans can be lax on monitoring what they eat.

Vegans must be sure to replace certain nutrients that other people get from eating meat and animal products.

One nutrient vegans should be very aware of is calcium, although it’s an easy problem to fi x, Bokram said.

“You can get it just by drinking orange juice

Camie Heleski, professor in the Animal Science department

animals having moral rights similar to human rights.”

But for Erica Kubersky, it’s not a matter of animal welfare or rights, but avoiding the use of animal products altogether.

Ironically, Kubersky, coowner of New York City boutique MooShoes and its Web site MooShoes.com, opened her fi rst all-vegan shoe store in a former butcher shop.

“It was defi nitely a good story to tell,” she said. “We hopefully took all the bad karma out of the building.”

Today, MooShoes carries 120 to 150 pairs of vegan shoe styles in their store, and countless pairs on its Web site. Kubersky decided to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle at the age of 8, and went completely vegan in high school.

“I became a vegetarian for ethical reasons,” she said.

“So once I realized where everything I was eating came from, I became horrified with how I was wearing other people’s skin, wear-

From the GREATEST porn star who ever lived!

(W O R MA N IN S H OW B I ZK IN G) HORNY W HOLLYWO OMEN, OD NIGHT S & THE RIS E OF THE HED GEHOG!

© AVERY WILLARD

™

Good!

y Jerem “Ron ig penis.” b has a York w —Ne es Tim

™

N E W YO R K

T I M E S

B E S T S E L L E R

RON JEREMY THE HARDEST (WORKING) MAN IN SHOWBIZ

643 E. GR AND RIVER ~ 517.351.1800 4790 S. HAGADORN RD. ~ 517.333.1800 143 N. HARRISON ~ 517.664.2900 J I M M YJ O H N S . C O M

E IL OG U N EW EP O TO S AND P H

INCLUDING: HOW TO REALLY MAKE LOVE LIKE A PORN STAR MASTERING

“THE GRIP” ©2007 JIMMY JOHN’S FRANCHISE, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

with calcium,” she said.

To Bokram, becoming a vegan is all about choice.

“It’s what works for you,” she said. “What are your reasons for you?”

One of the most difficult things for vegans is going out to eat. While campus is littered with restaurants that offer a wide range of food styles for students, not many cater directly to vegans.

“Eating out is hard,” said Murphy. “You have to make sure you pay attention to what you eat.”

Going out to eat for a vegan can be hard, but it’s not impossible. Several local eateries that people wouldn’t normally think of as vegan places have options for the budding vegan to enjoy.

Murphy cited several restaurants that include veganfriendly options, including a couple people might not normally think of. BTB Burrito, 403 E. Grand River Ave., has cheap burritos that pass vegan muster, and Sushi Ya, 124 W. Grand River Ave., offers a vegan roll option. Murphy also recommended the falafel at Aladdin’s Delight, 4930 Marsh Road, Okemos.

Vegan students still eating at the dorm’s cafeteria also have options. University

FROM PAGE ONE

RON JER EMY THE HA R E D S T M

FREAKY

FAST!

Brian Murphy, philosophy senior

Web sites, clothing stores offer garments made from materials other than animals

SANDWICH FREAKY

Vegan-friendly alternatives

“I occasionally have a vegan in my class and sometimes you’ll see some of the other students snicker. If they’re not trying to pin it on other people, they should be allowed their own personal choices.”

VEGAN

#1

DELIVERY

“You sort of choose to support things with what you buy. I choose not to support factory farming and most kind of large corporations. It’s a political thing.”

“CHARMINGLY FRANK.”

—ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

HORNY WOMEN, HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS & THE RISE OF THE HEDGEHOG!

NOW IN PAPERBACK www.myspace.com/ronjeremy

ing other people’s babies.”

In recent years, Kubersky has seen a huge increase in the public interest of animal-friendly clothing.

“I think people are becoming a lot more aware of the issue and learning more,” Kubersky said. “I think in general, a lot of people want to do the right thing, and in general I think a lot of people think it’s not right to harm animals.”

What MooShoes.com offers is “vegan leather,” a water-resistant microfi ber material similar to leather, but that isn’t the difficult vinyl of the past.

“The incidentally vegan shoes are made from vinyl, which doesn’t breathe, doesn’t break in well,” Kubersky said. “I know all the shoes we carry are made from a synthetic microfiber, and last just as long.”

Heleski draws the line when people start thinking of the animals as a tool.

Please recycle this newspaper

Eggs — In baking, eggs can be replaced by bananas, silken tofu or applesauce.

Meats — Brands like Boca or Gimme Lean provide meatfree hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage and deli meats. Using tofu, tempeh or seitan in most recipes works as well.

Cheese — Adding nutritional yeast to many recipes gives the dish a cheesy flavor. Soy cheeses also are available.

Butter — Dairy-free margarines are a great alternative to real butter.

Chocolate chips — Instead of using milk chocolate in baking recipes, vegan carob chips can be used.

Gelatin — Agar-agar, fruit pectin and locust bean gum can be used as animal-free alternatives to gelatin.

SOURCE: THEVEGETARIANSITE .COM, VEGANOUTREACH.ORG, CHOOSEVEG .

COM

Housing’s Web site at www. hfs.msu.edu lists several vegan options — including Boca burgers and vegan chicken — students can choose depending on the cafeteria.

New vegans should be prepared to exercise some imagination in their meals.

“You have to be more creative in your food preparation,” said Bokram.

Murphy’s advice to converts is a bit more simple.

“Get a cookbook.”

“When that becomes their philosophy, I think that’s problematic,” Heleski said.

As a professor in the Department of Animal Science, Heleski said she frequently encounters students who are intolerant of the beliefs of some vegans who choose not to wear animal products.

“As far as people who have chosen the vegan lifestyle, I would just like to see people be respectful of that choice,” she said.

“I occasionally have a vegan in my class and sometimes you’ll see some of the other students snicker. If they’re not trying to pin it on other people, they should be allowed their own personal choices.”

With her suede moccasins, linguistics freshman Amanda Dalaba isn’t too concerned with using animals for clothing.

“I don’t automatically think it’s an animal product,” she said. “It’s not like I’m wearing a big fur fox thing.”

Dalaba bought her shoes at Meridian Mall’s The Shoe Department, 1982 W. Grand River Ave., for $25. But she said she doesn’t feel guilt for donning a leather product.

“I’m not the one that goes out to kill the animals,” she said. “So I don’t really think about it.”

3B | THE STAT E N E WS | TUE S DAY, JANUARY 29, 2008 | WWW.STATE N E WS.COM NEED AN APARTMENT?

Classified Class

We have more than 30 apartments waiting for you to rent.

Your campus marketplace! www.statenews.com/classifieds

TO PLACE AN AD …

PLEASE NOTE

BY TELEPHONE (517) 432-3010 | BY FAX (517) 432-3015 IN PERSON 435 E. Grand River Ave. | BY E-MAIL classads@statenews.com ONLINE www.statenews.com/classifieds

OFFICE HOURS 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, cash, check, Visa, Mastercard and American Express accepted

DEADLINES LINER ADS 2 p.m., 1 class day prior to publication CANCELLATION/CHANGES 2 p.m., 1 class day prior to publication CLASSIFIED DISPLAY 3 p.m., 3 class days prior to publication

AD ACCEPTANCE All ads are subject to editing, alterations, approval, or rejection by The State News management.

RATES 1-5 DAYS $2.50/line/day 6-9 DAYS $2.30/line/day 10+ DAYS $2.10/line/day Classified liners appear online at no additional charge.

For display rates call 432-3010.

Employment

Employment

Apts. For Rent

Apts. For Rent

517.203.0754. Start building your resume today! Paid internships available w/ national environment org in EL office. Pt/ft positions available, $60+/day.

INTERNET EMPLOYEE needed. P/t and F/t.

Strong data entry & knowledge of HTML preferred not required, Photoshop, Dreamweaver preferred. Apply @ Modern Skate & Surf @ Frandor. 326 Morgan Ln. Lansing. 351-3990.

TUTORS/CLASSROOM instructors wanted. Must have 99th percentile test scores on ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, or LSAT. Training provided. Email resume to jobs@advantageed.com

AUG, 50 yards to Union.

Lic 1-2. hardwood flrs.

Efficiencies, studios, 1 bdrm. 332-4818.

CLOSE TO campusstudios, 1, 2, & 4 bdrm apts avail Aug. Great locations. No app fee.

Call CRMC 337-7577 or visit our website at www.

CRMC1.com.

ANSWER PHONES for public TV!! Temp position, 3/1-3/20. Evenings, late nights, & wknd shifts. 20 hrs + per week. Great hrs Spring Break week. Call Phone Bank Systems Inc. at 332-1502.

BEAUTIFUL UPSCALE apt community in E.L., currently seeking an exp Leasing Specialist f/t or p/t incl some nights & weekends. Ideal candidate will have strong customer service skills & be professional in appearance and attitude. Responsible for all aspects of showing & sales of apts, inclt but not limited to tours, follow up, data entry, resident retention & marketing functions. Proven track record in leasing sales as well as marketing and outreach exp a must. Yardi exp a plus.

Benefits and competitive bonus pkg incl. Interested parties should email their resume to resume@atlantisdg.com or fax 517-351-9911.

CLEAN EL house. 1/wk, $9/hr, exp req. Call 517980-5802 EXP. COMPUTER modder/skinner/mapper for summer project.

333.9330

P/T DOOR men. Apply @ Green Door, 2005 E Michigan, after 3 p.m.

WANTED REFEREES for boys and girls lacrosse.

Call 351-0402.

Apts. For Rent 1 BDRM apt.- 4 blocks from campus on Gunson, unfurnished, free heat and water, avail. fall ‘08. Call 507-3507.

134 STODDARD. 1 bdrm, lic 1 or 2. $580. primehousinggroup. com. 337-1133.

SERVERS, COOKS, & security now hiring @ Reno’s West. Apply in person. 5001 West Saginaw.

SPORTS TRAINING facility looking for dependable, hardworking w/ liable transportation.

Comfortable talking & working w/ customers.

Computer skills req for the following: Yoga instructor, massage therapist, speed/agility instructor, staff position (part & full). Email letter &/or resume to pk33333@aol.com SUMMER IN Maine. Residential camp counselor from June to August. 1800-997-4347 or www. tripplakecamp.com SUMMER JOB: M 18-25.

Assist a single man with limited mobility. Deck hand on 50’ boat. Job to begin wknd in mid-Apr to Sept. $200/wk take home. Call 517-2440563 for interview and details.

DOWNTOWN E.L. apt, ‘08-’09. 5 min walking distance to downtown E.L. 1-2 bed units & studios. Starting at $350/bed/mo- utilities included! All appliances, pet friendly, etc.— Leasing fast! Call now, 810-333-0684.

Free Heat

REFUNDS No cash refunds will be issued for cancellations.

Credit will be applied to subsequent ads for one year.

PAYMENT All ads must be prepaid unless credit has been established with The State News.

Apts. For Rent

Apts. For Rent

Duplex/Rent

LIVE THE dream with Abbott Place! Furn 1, 2 & 4 bdrm apartments.

Great amenities: free tanning, free parking, new 24 hr fitness & more! Rates starting @ $389. Call 888.821.5532 or visit us www.collegeparkweb.com

SPACIOUS NEVER looked this good. Rates start at just $409 & include a fitness center, free tanning, a washer & dryer in every apartment & much more. Get your cable with HBO & high speed internet free.

Check us out at www.

ChandlerCrossings.com or call The Landings’ helpful staff at (517) 827-2000.

AWESOME DUPLEX. South of MSU, fenced yd, lic 3. $930/mo. 5758460

SPRING SPECIAL! 1 br apartments for only $550, 2 br for $600.

White Pines of Dewitt.

Call 669-9135.

LARGE 3 bdrm in EL, 2 bath, w/d, a/c, quiet, lrg private backyard, ideal for grad students or family. $780/mo.

Lic. 3. 282-4880.

statenews.com statenews.com statenews.com statenews.com statenews.com statenews.com

1 Bedroom

STAYING IN town for the summer? We have amazing 1 & 2 bedrooms, next to campus.

Walk to everything! Enjoy huge balcony, sparkling pool, and sand volleyball court. Call 507-3502 or stop by Capitol Villa Apts.

787 Apartments

BEAL ST. Furn 1 bdrm w/ balcony. primehousinggroup.com. 337-1133.

APT. BY Yourself. $460.

337-1133. primehousinggroup.com.

Apts. For Rent

E. GRAND River. Summer lease. 2 bdrm for 2. $215/per. 337-1133.

AVAIL AUG ‘08. 3 bdrm 1.5 bath, w/d. $850/mo +util. 719-2364.

517-507-3680

P/T WEB designer. Local web design firm www.interwebforce.com/108 or call 517-703-0299.

COPY ERRORS The State News is only responsible for the first day’s incorrect insertion.

Liability is limited to the cost of the space rendered.

NOTE TO READERS The State News screens ads for misleading or false claims but cannot guarantee any ad or claim. Please use caution when answering ads, especially when sending money.

Employment

LEASING & SALES superstar needed to lease up apartment community in EL. Must have strong sales closing and marketing background, property management exp a plus. Fax resume to 517-351-8545 or email to careerswithus@ aol.com

LINE ADDITIONS Changes resulting in additional lines will be treated as a new ad and return to the firstday rate.

CAMPUS VILLAGE, avail until Aug 08 asap, 485 a month, includes covered assigned parking space, w/d, internet and cable, has personal bdrm and bathroom with 2 other roomates, fully furnished, top floor with vaulted ceilings, golf course view, other utilities not included. Call 810-217-9948

CLOSE TO campus, 1 bdrm, unfurn, heat & water paid. Cats allowed.

Avail Fall. 212 Highland.

507-4160 24 7 365

statenews .com

CLOSE TO campus.

Newly renovated apartment homes. Walk to MSU, full size w/d, heat and water paid. Available for Fall ‘08. 517507-4180.

517-507-4170

CHEAP SUMMER Rates.

Primehousinggroup. com or call 337-1133.

Discover

AUG ‘08. Studio apts downtown EL. Heat/ water paid. 575-0008. www.hudginsrealty.com

GREAT FOR grads: 1 & 2 bdrm apts. Remodeled kitchens available. Lots of parking, carports, onsite laundry. Stoneridge Apts. Call 507-3693 or visit www.dtnmgt.com.

Woodside Apts. and find your new home! · 1 BDRMS

HUGE 1 bdrm apts Fall ‘08. Cats welcome. Perfect location at Abbott & Saginaw. Carports, onsite laundry. 507-3683.

LIVE RESORT style, we’ve got everything you want. 24-hour state of the art fitness center, golf simulator, indoor basketball court, indoor pool, free tanning & bus pass. Visit www.ChandlerCrossings.com to check out all the amenities available at The Club or call (517) 3369100.

· GREAT FOR GRADS · FREE WATER & HEAT · CLOSE TO MSU

517-507-4170

TEACH FOR Kaplan Test Prep. F/t, p/t teachers w/ paid training & great hourly wages. ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT. Go to Kaptest. com, call 517-3322539 or email jay. russ@kaplan.com.

Burcham Woods Apartments DON’T GET STUCK 10 MILES OFF CAMPUS!!

Awesome 1 & 2 Bdrms Apartments Available Sign a lease today...

507-3680

Recycle Recycle Recycle Recycle Recycle Recycle Recycle

Go State!

OAKRIDGE APTS - Huge 1 bdrm unfurnished apts avail Fall ‘08. Close to campus and Frandor shopping center. Heat and hot water included.

Call 507-4160.

SCENIC VIEW of river.

Lg 1 bdrm. Furn, heat & water paid. www.primehousinggroup.com 3371133.

STILL PRELEASING for fall ‘08 studios, 1-bdrms, 2-bdrms, 3-bdrms sold out. 1/2 off deposit (conditions may apply). 2900 Place, 866-299-8290.

SUMMER AND fall leases ‘08 avail. 2 & 3 bdrm, on campus. River House Apartments, 204 River St. Call 337-8016.

SUMMER LEASE. 1 bdrm apt. by yourself. $350. 337-1133.

YOU’VE HEARD of our pool parties, but have you been to the Village yet? Visit the Village to reserve your space next to the pool today. Not dreaming of summer yet? You will love to see our Ice Skating Rink, 50 Seat Movie Theater, 24 hour fitness center, free bus pass & free tanning. Visit www.ChandlerCrossing.com for a virtual tour & low rates.

Call the Village at (517) 351-7667.

E.L. 623 John R. Newly remodeled, 2 bdrm, carport, no pets/smokers. $700. 339-2731.

GUNSON & Lexington3 bdrm duplexes avail Aug. No app fee & free laundry. Call CRMC for details 337-7577.

Houses/Rent ‘08 AUGUST. 3 bedroom, lic 3. 1309 Frye (off Spartan) 517.896.1865.

‘08 AUGUST. 630 Stoddard, 5 bedroom. Lic 5.

Call 517.896.1865.

1031 DAISY Huge lic 3.

Walking dist., w/d. 6553778 or 927-1338.

2 BDRM 1 bath pet ok horse ok. $800/mo +util.

248-444-8942.

2 BDRM 1 bath, fenced yard, pet ok. $850/mo.

231-258-3413.

2008 HOUSING - Don’t wait, look now! Make your choice early to get the best selection.

Browse the web at www.

CRMC1.com for houses, duplexes & apartments.

Large selection & great locations. CRMC 3377577.

3 BDRM remodeled home. Close to campus.

200 S. Magnolia. $895/ mo. (517)206-8469.

318 LINDEN- Aug ‘08Lic 4. 4 bdrm, 2 bath, $2,300/mo. 204-7488.

5 BDRM lic 3, fully remodeled, w/d parking Aug 08. 586-212-4763 819 W Grand River, lic 4.

4 bdrm. Aug ‘08. $1600.

339-3645.

4B Lifestyle | T HE STATE NE WS | TUE S DAY, JAN UA RY 29, 2008 | WWW.STATE N E WS.COM

Weight wars DR. D

Feeling ‘fat’ may signal stress in life Dr. D, I need some advice. I love my girlfriend and think she looks just fine.

The problem is, she thinks she needs to lose weight. We got in a big fight last weekend when she

asked me the question, “Do I look fat in this?” I told her she was beautiful, but no matter what I said she kept asking — not wanting to hear what I believed was true.

Can’t win either way.

Dear CWEW, Did my wife put you up to this question? This very question has resulted in numerous conversations between us about life, liberty and the pursuit of a common language in which to talk about a positive body image.

Although she will always be perfect in my eyes, the problem is I don’t see her through her eyes. And, as I know now, it’s rare that her view is really about how she looks.

I feel for you, dude, but you aren’t alone. There are more people concerned with los-

ing weight and not “looking fat” than ever before. The ironic thing is many of the people worried about “fat” aren’t even overweight.

Nearly 40 percent of MSU students reported in our last survey said they were still trying to lose weight even though they were at their right weight or even underweight. And this is not just a concern among women. Men also are adopting this “Do I look fat” conversation starter — or should I say, conversation stopper?

The word “fat” is used to express so much more than appearance. The trick is to learn to interpret what is truly being asked or stated. The difficulty here is the language being spoken is usually only understood by the one speaking it — and some-

times not even by them.

So, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. “I feel fat” is really a cue to initiate a conversation or discussion about “Am I OK?” or maybe “I had a bad day” or even something as simple as “I need a hug.”

Your response should be as simple as saying “I love you.”

I know you just want to help and may want her to see your logic (after all, the movie starts in 15 minutes and you still have to park.)

But the majority of the time, this isn’t a question about looks. Someone is asking for help or expressing uneasiness about his or her life, and not just on a physical level.

So next time she asks you about her looks (especially if connected to a comment or question about her weight), take the opportuni-

Fitness regime combines dance, exercise

By Maggie Lillis

ty to ask her how she is feeling right now and what can you do to help. Maybe she’s just asking you for a simple yea-or-nay response. But if not, use the opportunity to have a conversation about how she feels and ask her to help you understand. Make sure you’re willing to listen and have the time and energy to get into a deeper conversation about what’s going on for her internally, rather than the external view in the mirror.

For further information, you may want to read Jessica Weiner’s book “Do I look Fat in this?: Life Doesn’t Begin Five Pounds from Now.” Ms. Weiner is a recognized selfesteem/body image expert.

In the book she has advice she calls, “A guy’s guide to closet meltdowns” where she gives suggestions on how

Fashion don’t THEA NEAL

THE STATE NEWS ■■

When learning the Nia Technique, no pain is gain.

The technique blends mind, body and spiritual expressions with dance fitness.

It’s a new class offered through Hannah Community Center.

“You can get a workout at your own level,” said Barb Starling, a certified Nia instructor. “What it’s all about is the pleasure of movement and fi nding health in movement.”

Nia literally invites its participants to feel free while they work out.

Nia was started 25 years ago by Carlos and Debbie Rosas, a Californian couple looking for a gentle fitness regimen that healed the body.

They incorporated martial arts such as t’ai chi and tae kwon do with modern dance and healing techniques such as yoga.

Starling is a white-belt instructor and has taught classes for about two years.

Although her class sizes range from four to 11 participants, she recently requested a larger room at Bailey Community Center, 300 Bailey St., to accommodate her constantly moving group.

The exercise is done barefoot to rhythmic music of all varieties.

Starling prefers uplifting, fast-paced world music and counts Angelique Kidjo as a favorite when doing Nia. The tunes, along with low light provided by strands of twinkling lights lining the walls, help Starling provide a welcoming atmosphere.

“The mood that I try to

No excuses for sporting ugly UGG boots

PHOTOS BY GEORGIA RHODES/THE STATE NEWS

Instructor Barb Starling leads Julie Meyerle, right, and Alice Townley, behind, in a Nia routine Friday.

“You can get a workout at your own level. What it’s all about is the pleasure of movement and finding health in movement.”

Barb Starling, Nia instructor

set is to relax, have fun and enjoy your body and have a good time,” she said.

During the hour-long class, Starling introduces a focus and intention for the class, such as range of motion, with the goal of improving flexibility and mobility in new ways.

Starling encourages her students to modify moves — everything from twists, turns and shoulder tilts to “tail wags” and hip gyrates — to their own level of comfort.

Houses/Rent

Houses/Rent

Houses/Rent

AFFORDABLE 4 bdrm houses. Roomsimple. com or 989-763-6898.

FALL 2008. 5 bdrm 2 bath. Close to MSU. 412 S Hayford. $1300/MO. (313) 410-9023.

SHARP 4 bdrm, 2 baths, new kitchen, w/d. $1300/mo. lic 3.

333-0123

AUG ‘08. 4 bdrm, 1/2 mi off campus, w/d. 989627-1515.

AVAIL AUG 08. Daisy Ln, lic 4, 1.5 baths, w/d, finished bsmt, 2 car garage. $1600 & 1/2 off security deposit thru Jan. Call 517-719-4200.

AVAIL AUG, 267 Stoddard. Corner of Stoddard & Albert. 3 bdrm. lic 3. 202-0920.

AVAIL AUG. ‘08 lic 4.

Near MSU. Bairdrentals. com or 351-6405.

AVAIL MAY 4 bdrm 2 bath w/d. $1100. Lic. 4. hrirentals.com 3510765.

EAST LANSING/Lansing. MSU w/in 1 mi. 3,4 or 5 bdrm homes. Some w/ fireplaces, d/w, w/d, fenced yard, garage.

Pet-ok. Avail. May or Aug. 420-2411.

LANS: RENT by rm, house, open to sublease. 3 bdrm, quiet neighborhood, all app incl, easy access to MSU. $725/mo + util.

256-0914 LEXINGTON 551- 6 bdrm, 2 bath, lic 6, avail Aug. No app fee. $400/ person, free laundry.

Call CRMC 337-7577.

LIC. 4, close to MSU. 575 Cornell, 4 bdrm, 1 bath. 714-654-2701.

TWO 4 bdrm houses left, close to campus, lic 4. 482-3624.

UPSTAIRS apartment of house near Sparrow, MSU, & LCC. Close to bus route in nice neighborhood. Own washer and dryer, 1 bdrm. $590. 517-2143947.

VIRGINIA 526- 4 bdrm avail, lic 4, avail Aug. No app fee & free laundry.

Pets allowed. Great rent at $425/person. CRMC 337-7577.

Rooms/Rent ABBOTT RD. Share kitchen and bath. $350 incl util. Parking and w/ d. eastlansingrentals. com 517-351-5993

“Just keep moving,” she said to a group of students Thursday night.

“Welcome the wobble, it’s good for core strength.”

DeWitt resident Julie Meyerle discovered Nia at a health seminar at Lansing Community College and said the technique adds variety to her fitness regimen, which includes cardio workouts and sets on an elliptical machine.

“I have fun just moving,” she said. “It’s not so hard on your body … I love to dance.”

Alice Townley dances during a Nia session on Friday. It was Townley’s second time taking a Nia class with instructor Barb Starling.

Subleases

Automotive

Services

612 ELM ST., E.L. Large home. Near campus!

One bdrm avail. $250/ mo. 269-760-7308.

GREAT LOCATION on campus.

MayAug, $400/mo obo.

Newly furnished. Call 734.277.4943 LARGE ROOM on Abbott & Elizabeth. $400/ mo obo. Avail parking.

Call 248-225-2173

99’ FORD Taurus sho.

Exc. condition, V8. 84k mi. $6000 obo. Details & pictures at http://lansingtaurus.blogspot. com/ 517-575-7430.

SPRING BREAK 2008.

Panama City Beach.

Summit Condos $1599/ wk. www.TheSummitPCB.com.

CancunAcapulco-Panama City Beach. Inside SBS. Low prices. 332-0490. www.

StudentBreaks.com

Misc. For Sale 1000’s OF COMICS. 3/$1. Toy’s half off. 2016 E. Michigan. 487-0717

Tickets MSU, PISTONS, Tigers tickets buy/sell & more @ 517.351.1992 or jamestheticketman.com

Find today’s paper and more on statenews.com

Recreation SPRING BREAK ‘08! Hot deals, hot destinations, hot parties! Sunsplash Tours, 1-800-426-7710, www.sunsplashtours. com.

Business Opp. BARTEND $300/DAY Potential. No exp. nec.

800-965-6520. x110.

EARN $800-$3200 a month to drive brand new cards with ads placed on them. www.

AdCarClub.com UNDERCOVER SHOPPERS. Earn up to $70 per day. Undercover shoppers needed to judge retail and dining establishments. Exp. not req. Call 800-722-4791.

Like many college women, I am obsessed with fashion. I read the blogs, I buy the magazines.

I recently even had a “The Devil Wears Prada” moment, making Lifestyle reporter Maggie Lillis exchange her frumpy brown shoes for a pair of my brown patent 3inch heeled Mary Janes.

However, unlike other fashion-savvy women, I sport one huge difference.

I don’t own a single pair of UGG boots.

Let’s pretend you have no idea what “Uggs” are. They’re a brand of sheepskin boot, made by the brand UGG. I’m curious as to who thought the boots would be socially acceptable to wear outside of a pig pen.

When Uggs first hit the scene as a trendy clothing item, I rolled my eyes and mocked my friends for buying them. If we’d seen the hideous boots five years ago, none of us would’ve worn them. The boots look like something you’d see on the feet of a mountain man’s wife.

As the winters go by, I continue to hope the rest of the female (and some male) population can look past the UGG. I ask my friends why they invest grotesque amounts of money into the tacky shoes.

to handle the situation. You may want to pick up a copy or stop by Olin Health Education and borrow a copy.

If you want to hear from the author first hand, then you should know that Ms. Weiner is coming to Wharton Center to present, in person, at no charge … at 8 p.m. on Feb. 12. It could be the best present you could give each other for Valentine’s Day. See you there! I’ll be the one sitting with the most beautiful woman in the building.

Peace.

Dr. D Dennis Martell. Ph.D is a coordinator of Olin Health Education and writes a weekly health column for The State News. Email him your questions at dennis.martell@ht.msu.edu

Here are the reasons I’ve received, and my responses to why they’re wrong.

1. They’re practical.

Fashion has never been practical. Do you think Marie Antoinette gave a crap about practical when she was wearing 20-pound headpieces? Did Madonna care about practicality when she was donning the cone bra for “Vogue?” Does Victoria Beckham wear fierce 5inch stilettos because they’re PRACTICAL? No, no and no.

As fashion evolves, it’s never once been about practicality.

So you can tromp around the snow in your Uggs. You look stupid. So avoid the snow.

2. They’re comfortable.

There are lots of things in life that are comfortable.

Crew-neck sweatshirts. Bellbottom jeans. Not wearing a bra. But would you ever leave the house in any of these? I hope not. If something is uncomfortable, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear it. Hell, if that was true, no one would ever wear high heels, and I doubt men would even wear ties with suits.

3. They’re stylish.

I wonder if Uggs would be as stylish if they weren’t so expensive. For the price of the brand’s most popular pair, $120, you could buy a pair of Juicy Couture flats, or even an iPod shuffle. If Uggs were only $10, would they be such a wanted item? I doubt it.

However, Crocs are the awful Uggs of summer, and they run for only $29.99. That’s $30 you might as well just spend on your obituary in the world of fashion suicide.

For you trend followers, you can even get fleecelined Crocs, which resemble the spawn of an affair between Uggs and Crocs.

They have the correct name of “Mammoth.”

Unfortunately, the only thing that’s mammoth about the shoes is what a hideous mistake they are.

WWW.STAT E NE WS.CO M | T HE STAT E N EWS | T U ESDAY, JA N UA RY 29, 20 0 8 |

The fold DILBERT By Scott Adams

Crossword

5B

TMS Puzzles@aol.com

PRICKLY CITY By Scott Stantis

ACROSS GET FUZZY By Darby Conley

LOCK YOUR DOOR By Derek O’Leary

OVERBOARD By Chip Dunham

1 Place for pumpkins 6 Stuff to the gills 10 Pesters 14 Waikiki greeting 15 Sole 16 Farmland parcel 17 Himalayan kingdom 18 Grimm beast 19 Branch of Islam 20 Do the utmost 23 Prickly-topped plant 25 Potash 26 Braggart’s problem 27 Winding curve 28 Scatterbrained 31 Kitchen cover-up 33 Marshal Dillon 35 Nurse a drink 36 Botanist Gray 37 Flaunt boundaries 43 Period 44 August sign 45 __ since (as of) 46 Tropical plant with brilliant flowers 49 Massive amounts 51 Musical sensitivity 52 N.A. country 53 Mushroom top 55 Periods of readiness 57 Find a scapegoat 61 Driving expense 62 Your majesty 63 Reluctant 66 Sandwich cookie 67 M.I.T. grad 68 Web-footed mammal

69 Nothing more than 70 Nerve fiber 71 Tablelands

DOWN 1 Moving shot 2 Tankard fill 3 Schooner features 4 Wild disorder 5 Cut in two 6 Latch (onto) 7 Brand symbol 8 Rambunctious 9 Itsy-bitsy 10 Spaceflight org.

11 More sore 12 Foreigner, in Latin America 13 Add herbs 21 Old Testament prophet 22 Try to get one’s goat 23 Interim worker 24 Jacob’s twin

29 30 32 34 36 38 39 40 41 42 46 47 48 49 50 54 56 58 59 60 64 65

Deadlock Magic incantation Bleached out In the past Profession Leaflet handout Hillary Clinton, __ Rodham Pigs out Bog fuel Misses the mark Tradition On land Carpenter, at times Man-lion figure Tack on snow Bewildered Play the ham Floating ice Therefore European capital Kind of pot or bag 60 min. multiples

ONLINE

Find more crossword puzzles at www.statenews.com/xword

Horoscope

By Linda C. Black

10 IS THE EASIEST DAY — 0 THE MOST CHALLENGING

Aries (March 21—April 19) — Today is an 8 — Don’t let a silly argument ruin your whole day. Agree to disagree and go and do something fun. Amazingly, this tactic can even help you get your point across.

MOTHER GOOSE & GRIMM By Mike Peters

Taurus (April 20—May 20) — Today is a 6 — You’re absolutely a master at the “fixer—upper” concept. You can do it with just about anything and make a tidy profit. It comes naturally. Be proud.

Gemini (May 21—June 21) — Today is a 10 — It’s a glorious day for romance, and just about anything else you want to do. You’re exceptionally lucky now. Go ahead and risk it.

Cancer (June 22—July 22) — Today is a 6 — All your place needs is a splash of color here or there. Maybe a new throw pillow or a vase of pretty flowers. Silk will do for either, by the way, if the roses aren’t blooming.

Leo (July 23—Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — You’re up against a problem you don’t quite know how to solve. One of your friends has a pretty good idea how to do this, however. Set your pride aside and make the call, and be thankful.

Virgo (Aug. 23—Sept. 22) — Today is a 6 — Your work is paying off, much to your delight. A big sale does more than help you pay the bills. It raises your status in your own eyes, and with other important people.

FRANK AND ERNEST By Bob Thaves

Libra (Sept. 23—Oct. 22) — Today is a 9 — Things that looked impossible yesterday now look downright easy. What’s even better is, they are! Launch new endeavors now, or simply enjoy yourself.

Scorpio (Oct. 23—Nov. 21) — Today is a 6 — Hide out in a comfortable place and put your feet up. Discuss your hopes and fears with people who can keep a secret. If you don’t know any, talking to a pet works, in private.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22—Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Get out and burn up some calories with enthusiastic friends. Talking things out is good, but mental exercise isn’t the only kind you need. Take a hike.

Capricorn (Dec. 22—Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Revive old business ventures now. It’s a good time to turn a profit. Push yourself, while the time is right. No procrastination.

MSU STUDENT

HOUSING CO-OP

One price for

Fun

Affordable

Housing

www.msu.coop

355-8313

Live in a Student Community

Aquarius (Jan. 20—Feb. 18) — Today is a 10 — Venturing farther out leads to a problem to be overcome. Luckily, you do that, with the help of a very dear friend. You’ve got a story to tell, but keep it to yourselves.

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE By Stephan Pastis

Pisces (Feb. 19—March 20) — Today is a 5 — You can find the money to make an overdue household improvement. This will greatly improve the quality of your life and the tempers of your family.

BIZARRO By Dan Piraro

PILED HIGHER & DEEPER By Jorge Cham

It’s the NUMBER ONE cancer killer.

NO MORE EXCUSES. NO MORE LUNG CANCER.

lungcanceralliance.org

6B Lifestyle | T H E STATE NE WS | TUE S DAY, JAN UA RY 29, 2008 | WWW.STATE N E WS.COM

Be green-friendly while grocery shopping

By Liz Kersjes THE STATE NEWS â– â–

For the environmentally minded shopper, walking down the supermarket aisle can seem morally conflicting or confusing.

But with a few guidelines and suggestions, you can make the best grocery shopping decisions for yourself, your wallet and the earth.

Organic vs. Local Assistant professor Phil Howard, who teaches in the Department of Community Agriculture, Recreation and Resources, defined organic food as food not produced with synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. He said some studies show pesticide residue is lower in organic food.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Standards Board, or NOSB, defines organic agriculture as a system that promotes biodiversity and soil fertility. Organic farming can’t ensure organic food is completely free of residue, but the methods minimize air, soil and water pollution, according to the NOSB Web site.

Howard said buying organic is a good choice for people in favor of supporting such farming techniques.

People trying to avoid certain chemicals can also buy organic, and know for certain their food is produced without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. “It depends on your values, what you want to support,� Howard said.

For hospitality business sophomore Emily Morris, eating organic food is the only choice. She said she can’t eat the salad mix in her residence hall cafeteria because the preservatives on it make her sick. “My mom always told me organic food is better for you,’ Morris said.

General business administration freshman Becky Johnson doesn’t buy organ-

ic food because she doesn’t believe in the claims of organic certification. “I don’t think anything is really organic,� she said. “They put chemicals on everything.�

Johnson’s parents are farmers who put chemicals on their crops. She said this helped influence her decisions.

It’s also important where food is grown. Howard said a lot of people try to look for locally-grown food because it hasn’t been transported great distances and the source farms tend to be smaller.

Packaging professor Susan Selke said while buying locally does make sense, the effectiveness is a matter of time and place. “Fresh vegetables are good for you, but you won’t be able to buy many locally grown vegetables this time of year,�

Selke said. “As with many things, there are tradeoffs.�

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Another aspect of food production is how it’s packaged and sold. In a culture of convenience — where milk is sold in single servings — it may seem more environmentally friendly to avoid excess packaging.

Buying less processed food, buying food in bulk, reusing containers, and bringing containers from home all can help reduce a shopper’s environmental impact, Howard said.

But Selke said the issue isn’t just about packaging, but the product. “You can get more product with less packaging when you buy in bulk, but if you don’t use all of that product before it spoils, you’re not really saving what you think you are,� she said.

Minimal packaging sometimes means food only has minimal protection against contamination, Selke said.

It’s nearly impossible to buy package-free food, but shoppers can look for packaging materials that are easi-

er to recycle. In East Lansing, clear glass is recycled but green glass is not. Although paperboard, the material cereal boxes are made of, is abundant in East Lansing, the city doesn’t recycle it because the value is too low.

Selke said packaging made with a single material is generally easier to recycle, but it depends on the community.

Going organic What “organic� terms mean 100 percent organic No synthetic ingredients are allowed by law. The production processes must meet federal organic standards and be independently verified by accredited inspectors.

Organic

Paper or Plastic?

In the perpetual debate about which type of grocery bag is more environmentally friendly, the answer may be neither or both — it depends.

While plastic bags are made of polyethylene — a petroleum or natural gas-based plastic — and are not biodegradable, they’re cheaper to produce than paper bags and take up less space in landfills.

While it’s possible to recycle plastic bags, only about 5 percent actually are recycled.

Paper bags, however, have a broader environmental impact.

Most studies show more water is used to make paper bags than plastic, Selke said.

She said in states like Michigan, water probably wouldn’t be a deal breaker, but in drought-stricken areas, water use could be a more important production issue.

Morris’ mother always brought reusable cloth bags to the grocery store, a habit Morris has tried to pick up. “I always want to bring my own bags to the grocery store, but I never do,�

Morris said. “It’s harder to remember at school.�

Selke said she chooses to get plastic bags at the store, which she reuses as garbage bags. “One message I try to get across to students is it really is true that issues are complex,� Selke said. “If you run across someone who is absolutely sure one thing is the best for everything, that person probably doesn’t know what they’re talking about.�

At least 95 percent of the ingredients are organically produced.

D &.Ĺ”Äƒ Ă til

Ă Ä?Ę.Ä?2ĂŽĂ

THE STATE NEWS â– â–

They’ve been standing by their men from primaries to (they hope) presidencies. With the exception of Bill Clinton, these fierce potential first ladies aren’t only analyzed by their speeches, but also their physical presentation.

At least 70 percent of the ingredients are organic.

Thirty percent comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s approved list.

All-natural Describe meat and poultry without artificial flavoring, colors, chemical preservatives or synthetic ingredients. Claims aren’t verified by the USDA and the manufacturer or producer decides whether to use the label. No standard definition for the term exists for any other type of food.

When organic is worth it USDA tests showed after washing, some fruits and vegetables carried higher levels of pesticide residue than others.

The Environmental Working Group suggests buying organic versions of the following produce because of high pesticide levels in their conventionally grown counterparts: Apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach and strawberries.

L AYNE BAILE Y/MCT

LIONEL HAHN/MCT

Bill Clinton

Michelle Obama

As the husband of the only female candidate, Bill would be America’s first man.

He surprisingly beats out the other women with his simple yet stylish suit ensemble.

He hasn’t tried to hide his age by changing his snow white hair — he complements that feature with a cerulean tie.

The former president also earns points by smiling at the press — proving that a great mug can upgrade any outfit.

Fashion rating: ★★★★

Michelle Obama, wife of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., clearly didn’t graduate from fashion school. Her gown appears to have been dipped in the leftover water from a preschool watercolor project. Even worse, she dons a corsage of sorts made from tulle and her dress’s material. Her heavy earrings are a bold statement, and luckily she simmers down her dress with neutral makeup and a simple chignon.

Close, but no victory cigar.

Fashion rating: ★★

Fruits and vegetables that rarely have high pesticide residue include asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, kiwi, mangos, onions, papayas, pineapples and sweet peas.

SOURCE: USDA, CONSUMER REPORTS

Visit eatatstate.com for detailed information and prices on meal plan options

By Thea Neal

Made with organic ingredients

Seafood is a source of contention. The USDA hasn’t developed organic standards for seafood. Wild and farm-raised fish can be labeled organic despite the presence of contaminants.

M>;DÄĽOEKÄĽ:?D;ÄĽ?DÄĽJ>;ÄĽH;I?:;D9;ÄĽ>7BBIÄŹÄĽ =;JÄĽ=H;7JÄĽ<EE:ÄŹÄĽ9EDL;D?;DJÄĽ BE97J?EDIÄŹÄĽ7D:ÄĽ;NF7D:;:ÄĽ>EKHIÄ­

SIZING UP POTENTIAL FIRST LADIES

BRIAN BAER /MCT

BRIAN BAER /MCT

Ann Romney

Janet Huckabee

Ann Romney, the wife of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, looks just like your friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mom â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the one who would pick you up from soccer practice.

Simple hair and makeup keep Ann from looking overdone, but she misses the boat with the blue pastel blazer, which turns her from soccer mom to outdated kindergarten teacher.

Ann also threw on her hooker boots for the photo op in Iowa â&#x20AC;&#x201D; making her stand out in a field of corn.

And not in a good way.

Fashion rating: â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;

As if it werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bad enough her name is Janet Huckabee, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make the Republican Party look good. Janet could be a human Muppet, complete with that noose of fabric of God-knows-what around her neck. She also needs to work on learning her angles, as double chins never look good on anyone. Covered from head to toe in black, Janet is a blob on the arm of her husband. Also, with her husband being a potential president, why didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t anyone tell Janet that her purse was a different color than her outfit?

Fashion rating: no stars

Section C | The State News | www.statenews.com | East Lansing, Mich. | January 29, 2008

Tuesday

You’ve been in the community for a while, and now you’re deciding to stay on campus or move into East Lansing...

WELCOME HOME. Spring 2008 Housing Guide

2C Housing guide | TH E STATE NE WS | TU ESDAY, JA N UA RY 29, 2008 | WWW.STATE N E WS.COM UNIVERSITY

CITY

On-campus housing sign up under way, continues in spring

Renters significant portion of E.L.

By Abby Lubbers THE STATE NEWS

By Kelly House

Living on

THE STATE NEWS ■■

While many students living off campus next fall made housing arrangements months ago, the process is beginning for those planning to return to the dorms.

On-campus housing sign up for fall 2008 began Jan. 14, when students who wished to maintain their current room for the upcoming school year were able to renew their contract.

Beginning today, students can switch to another room within their current hall, and from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1, those who want to switch halls can take any open room on a first come, first serve basis.

Angela Brown, director of University Housing, said students should keep in mind their leases will last the entire school year before signing a contract.

“Make sure this is the direction you want to go,” Brown said. “We certainly would like to have you continue to live with us next year, but students need to understand that it is a year commitment.”

Brown said it also is important for students to know exactly where they want to live and who they want to live with, because space fills up quickly with nearly half of all residents returning to the dorms for another year.

“We get about a 45 percent return rate of students,” Brown said. “We’re also looking at approximately 7,000 freshmen to come into the halls for next year.”

Brittany Klaus, a kinesiology freshman, said she and a friend from across the hall plan to move from the fourth floor of North Case Hall to the second floor.

■■

University officials have not finalized the cost of room and board for the 2008-09 school year.

The cost for a double room this year was about $1,570 a semester. Designated single rooms were an additional $1,270, while permanent singles were an additional $780.

SOURCE: MSU

Klaus said her main motivation to live on campus for a second year is the easy access to food in the cafeterias.

“My friend and I are cheerleaders, so it’s just a lot easier with our crazy schedules,” Klaus said. “It’s close to everything we need, too.”

Mary Lou Heberlein is the hall manager for Mason-Abbot and Snyder-Phillips halls. Because of a recent face-lift to the building, Snyder-Phillips is one of the most highly requested halls on campus. Heberlein said she expects to see students lining up to secure a room in the halls as soon as lease signing becomes available.

“We don’t let them camp out overnight, so the building opens at 7 a.m. and they can start signing up at 8 a.m.,” she said. “It’ll be very busy because both MasonAbbot and Snyder-Phillips are very popular.”

For students who want the perks of living on campus, but could do without the cramped spaces of the dorms, University Village Apartments are an alternative to off-campus apartments. Although all units for the coming year are full, students still can place themselves on a waiting list in case a spot opens, Brown said.

CHECK OUT THE STATE NEWS ONLINE:

www.statenews.com

Renters account for 68 percent of East Lansing’s occupied homes.

And every year, MSU students move from the dorms into apartments, townhouses and rental homes.

Larissa Kimmer, a fi nance freshman, is looking to join those ranks in fall 2008. She and three friends will be moving into a house near the northeast corner of campus.

That doesn’t mean she won’t miss some conveniences of living on campus.

“It’s nice to have meals right here, you can go (eat) whenever you want,” she said. “I’m a little worried about needing everything they don’t supply at the dorms.”

For students interested in having their own place, A nnette Ir win, East Lansing’s operations administrator for Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Conservation, said students need to know they have additional responsibilities.

“You’re going to have to be willing to do some of your own yard work, divvy up bills and pay attention to your surroundings,” she said.

“You may be living next to students, maybe not.”

But before mov ing day comes, students need to sort out their housing options, and that typically involves signing a lease.

Students should never sign multiple leases, Irwin said.

Prospective renters might think they can guarantee their best housing option by signing two or more leases, but this leads to problems, since leases are legally binding documents.

“Once you’ve signed it, you’ve made a commitment and can’t walk away from it,” she said.

Irwin also said students

STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO

Then-advertising junior Megan Schneider, left, and then-finance junior Colleen Kennedy study at their East Lansing rental property last spring. Both said they wanted to move off campus after freshman year.

“You’re going to have to be willing to do some of your own yard work, divvy up bills and pay attention to your surroundings.

You may be living next to students, maybe not.”

Annette Irwin, East Lansing’s operations administrator for Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Conservation

should carefully read their lease before signing it. The MSU College of Law has a free Rental Housing Clinic available to review leases. ASMSU also has legal services available to student tenants.

When moving to a home in East Lansing, students are expected to take care of the property and follow city ordinances.

“There are a whole lot of issues involved in k nowing what requirements there are in maintaining a household,” said Howard Asch, East Lansing’s director of Code

Enforcement and Neighborhood Conservation.

Parking in the yard and litter are some of the most common complaints from permanent residents.

“When you’re living in your home, it’s your responsibility to pick up the newspaper, take the trash to the curb on the right day and park in the driveway,” Irwin said.

But renters need to do research to avoid tak ing on more than what they planned.

“It seems like every year there are people surprised

with the condition of their apartment,” Asch said. “If someone goes through an apartment or home, chances are that’s what it’s going to look like when they move in.”

W h i le la ndlords m ight promise upgrades, students need to get those arrangements made in ink.

“If it’s not in the lease and not in writing, don’t count on it,” Irwin said.

Asch also suggested students get reviews of a landlord, especially if the landlord owns multiple properties.

Regardless of the paperwork and technicalities, a large number of MSU students choose to move into East Lansing’s neighborhoods each semester.

“Consider what sort of lifestyle you’re expecting, and find a neighborhood that supports that kind of lifestyle,” Asch said.

WHY RENT WHEN YOU CAN OWN?

Federally insured by the NCUA

Invest in your future today

“The best card in my wallet with no hidden anything”

Are you in School for another two or more years?

Do you have a sibling, cousin, friend or neighbor going to MSU now or sometime soon?

Would you prefer to walk to campus?

Are you tired of parking tickets or paying for on-campus parking?

I’ve received many credit card offers, but none are as good as my MSUFCU VISA Card. It’s the best card to carry. Other cards claim to be premium cards, but always read the fine print. Cards with cash advance fees and high interest rates when you miss a payment are not looking out for your best interest.

My MSUFCU VISA offers: • A low-fixed 12.90% APR* for purchases • No annual fee • No balance transfer fees • 25-day grace period It’s the best credit card to carry, no question. Discover for yourself why more Michigan State University graduates carry an MSUFCU VISA card. Apply for yours today!

-Taylor D., Chicago, IL * Balance Transfer APR and Cash Advance APR is a fixed-rate of 12.90% APR. Fees that may apply include: Late payment fee, over-the-credit-limit fee or return convenience check, each occurrence is $25. International transaction fee - 1% of ATM and pin-based POS, 3% for all other transactions (calculated after the transaction has been converted to US dollars).

(517) 333-2424 • 800-MSU-4-YOU • www.msufcu.org

-the financial institution of the MSU community-

CRESCENT OFFICE EAST LANSING UNION 600 East Crescent Rd. MSU Campus 523 East Grand River MERIDIAN WESTSIDE SOUTH LANSING 1775 Central Park Dr. 200 E. Jolly Rd. 653 Migaldi Ln.

Do you like the idea of having a park for your back yard?

If you answered YES to any of these questions you owe it to yourself & your parents to visit West Village Condominiums

Flats from the $100’s and Townhomes from $260 MODEL OPEN

Tuesday - Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday 12noon-4pm CATA bus stop w/in 1 block

Parking Included

Walk to Campus

Rental license included on Flats

517.351.5700

www.westvillagecondos.net 352 West Grand River, East Lansing, MI 48823 in Downtown East Lansing 1 Source Real Estate 616.813.8131

Housing guide

Finding a home

WWW.STAT E NE WS.CO M | T HE STAT E N EWS | T U ESDAY, JA N UA RY 29, 20 0 8 |

“Living in East Lansing is all about finding the right place for you. I’ve found mine, and hopefully you’re on your way to finding yours.”

KRIS TURNER

Bouncing around E.L. teaches lessons Living away from home seems like a simple concept, but it’s not.

When you fi rst arrive on campus, there are no bills or grocery store trips to deal with. You spend your days wandering by Sparty or admiring the green-

ery near Beaumont Tower.

But when you do make the transition to living off campus, it’s like walking into a whole new world.

East Lansing is a complex city, fi lled with many different types of people, not just students. Suddenly, you are responsible for taking out the trash, paying bills and keeping the noise down, or you face a noise violation.

I began reporting on East Lansing before officially living in it. I learned about the city and thought I was prepared to handle living in a rental home (I was 18 when I moved into my first house and was ecstatic).

The freedom of living off campus was great during the summer of 2005. I had friends over, cooked and threw a ton of parties. I assumed it would be the same during the school year, and I was wrong. Little did I know that going to class would become “nearly impossible” for my 19-year-old self.

I hated trekking through the snow (I lived on Virginia Avenue, far away from campus).

I hated shoveling snow from the sidewalk and driveway.

To top it off, I began to not like living with my roommates. They fought and were up at all hours of the night.

That spring, I decided to take an internship

and move home, fleeing from the hellish living situation I had so begrudgingly begun to call home.

Putting that living situation behind me, I began to focus on where I wanted to live when I returned to my beloved “EL” for a summer of fun. That summer, I discovered I love living in a big house with a bunch of guys.

Boys, at least in my experience, are low-maintenance roommates. They don’t leave long hair or tampons in the bathroom (something that grosses me out to this day).

After my summer on Evergreen Avenue, I decided to move back to the dorms so I wouldn’t have to worry about food (the best diet plan is living off campus) and getting to class. Being my junior year, I discovered I could no longer share a room with someone. I need my space, and working at

The State News for 50 hours a week is something that drains me and I need to come home to an empty room.

Despite the convenience of the dorm, it wasn’t for me anymore.

That summer, I moved in with a friend who I also worked with. That situation was good, but I missed living with many people. I longed for the summer before, when I had a house full of party-hungry roommates.

I did another internship in the fall and moved to Washington, D.C. That was an experience in itself. I didn’t like the fabric of that city — it felt small and not as fun as New York. It also lacked the sense of community East Lansing has. There’s something about being a Spartan that unites the community.

When it came time to look for a place to live this semester, I knew what I wanted.

3C

A big house, close to campus with male roommates.

After scouring allmsu.com, I fi nally found an advertisement that described what I was looking for. My big house and roommates are amazing.

I’ve lived in a lot of places, loved a few and hated some. Living in East Lansing is all about fi nding the right place for you. I’ve found mine, and hopefully you’re on your way to fi nding yours.

Please recycle this newspaper

Apply Online at www.thesterlinggrp.com

(866) 666-5139

(866) 497-2249

(866) 220-3248

(866) 518-9572

4C Housing Guide | TH E STATE NE WS | TU ESDAY, JA N UA RY 29, 2008 | WWW.STATE N E WS.COM CITY

PA R TI E S

SNOWY SIDEWALKS LEAVE E.L. RESIDENTS WITH FINES

GET DOWN, KEEP THE PARTY ALIVE Students have a good time while controlling noise, craziness

By Brian McVicar THE STATE NEWS ■■

After being hit with several inches of snow while students were on vacation, the city of East Lansing issued six tickets and 37 warnings for failure to shovel sidewalks during winter break.

The cit y requires that residents shovel the portion of the sidewalk on his or her property within 24 hours of the end of a snowstorm or risk being issued an $85 ticket.

Issuing students a warning before a violation is standard practice for the city, said Juli Liebler, East Lansing deputy police chief.

“You get a warning, and if you don’t clean it within 24 hours, you get a ticket,” Liebler said.

“We don’t want people to have to walk through the street.”

East Lansing Parking and Code Enforcement, or PACE, regularly issues six to 10 tickets after a snowstorm, Liebler said.

Warnings typically are issued when neighbors complain about sidewalks that are not safe for walking or when PACE officers notice snow hasn’t been removed, Liebler said.

Matt Hagan, an agent for Hagan Realty, which rents more than 100 properties in East Lansing, said his business sends students a letter before winter break telling them they are responsible for removing any snow that falls on their sidewalks.

If students are unable to remove the snow, Hagan will remove it for up to $10.

Hagan said employees drive past the properties his company owns after a snowstorm to find out which areas need shoveling.

While his company’s fee may bother some tenants, it’s less than what they could wind up paying if they are issued a ticket.

“I think it’s in their best

By Alesa Mackool THE STATE NEWS ■■

Nothing breaks up a party quicker than a police offi cer knocking on a door.

Noise is the biggest problem when it comes to MSU partying, East Lansing police Capt.

Kim Johnson said.

“Mainly, it’s too loud,” he said. “The way the (noise) ordinance reads, anytime a neighbor is being disturbed, they can call the police. It’s best to tell your neighbors you’re having a party and keep the party small.”

Johnson added that noise complaints are less frequent during the winter because people tend to stay inside. In the fall, when many students are new to the city and on the streets trying to fi nd parties, there are more violations, he said.

Being knowledgeable about East Lansing’s laws is important if you are throwing a party.

For instance, it’s not illegal to have a keg, but it is illegal to charge for cups or entrance without a liquor license, said Asmait Tewelde, ASMSU legal services director.

It ’s best not to have a common source of alcohol, she added.

Little mistakes can mean the difference between a great night and a hefty fine. Stay off public property, such as sidewalks, and stay on a front porch, Johnson said.

Sometimes students look for ways around the rules.

Last year, accounting sophomore Sarah Ghesquiere’s Armstrong Hall floormates came up with some slang to avoid getting in trouble for dorm-room partying.

“We had a girl on our floor who got written up when a (mentor) heard someone saying ‘Take that shot’ through the

STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO

Paul Shoemaker, a resident of Lansing and student at Lansing Community College, clears a wider path in front of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority house in January 2005.

Snow fines Students and residents have 24 hours after a snowfall to shovel their sidewalk.

If the snow still has not been removed, the city can issue the student or resident an $85 ticket.

SO U RCE : CIT Y O F E A S T L AN S I N G

interest to have us do it,” he said.

“Yes, it’s $10, but it’s saving them a bigger fine.”

A s h le y C l a b u e s c h , a telecommunication, information studies and media senior, said she wasn’t issued any tickets during break because she pays a friend to shovel snow outside of her Charles Street residence.

By paying a friend to do her shoveling throughout the year, Clabuesch said she and her housemates save time that could be used for studying or other activities.

“It’s really convenient for us because nobody wants to get out and shovel when there’s a foot of snow,” Clabuesch said.

@

college park communities

Sign a lease for a 2 or 4 bedroom and

receive a

a $1000 rent credit.

®

2501 Abbot Rd Rt. 26 | East Lansing, MI 48823

888.821.5532

Hosting a party Know the laws on and off campus regarding drinking.

Let your neighbors know you’re having a party.

Designate sober “party monitors” to monitor noise levels, interact with the police and neighbors and make sure people get home safely.

Understand the host is liable for anything that happens as a result of the party.

Know all of the people attending the party in order to avoid thefts and fights. Introducing yourself to everyone will remove any sense of anonymity a person might have.

SO U RCE : O LI N H E ALTH CE NTE R

“One of the most frustrating parts for the police is when we show up to a party and nobody knows who’s in charge.”

Capt. Kim Johnson, East Lansing police

door,” Ghesquiere said. “From then on, nobody said anything about drinking. Instead of, ‘What are you drinking tonight?’ people asked ‘What are you poopin’ tonight?’”

If the police do make an appearance, it’s best to cooperate and tell the truth, Tewelde said.

“During tailgate season, we had quite a few problems with students false IDing,” she said.

“They’d give fake names or fake ages to the police.”

It’s also helpful to demonstrate some order and responsibility, especially if it is your party, Johnson said.

“One of the most frustrating parts for the police is when we show up to a party and nobody knows who’s in charge,” he said.

Johnson suggested designating a sober host to meet the officers in case things do get out of hand.

Sometimes students call the police on their own event, he added.

“The people hosting the party can call the cops for help clearing people out or quieting things down,” Johnson said. “We take our hats off to them.”

He said if a host calls the police, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will be ticketed.

Tewelde said the most common party-related charges ASMSU legal services deals with are minor in possession and noise violations. ASMSU provides free legal counseling for MSU students.

ASMSU is MSU’s undergraduate student government.

The service’s attorneys cooperate with the prosecutor to get charges reduced to civil infractions, Tewelde said.

ASMSU lawyers only can help if the student pleads not guilty, she said.

Please recycle this newspaper

Housing guide

WWW.STAT E NE WS.CO M | T HE STAT E N EWS | T U ESDAY, JA N UA RY 29, 20 0 8 |

5C

6C Housing guide | TH E STATE NE WS | TU ESDAY, JA N UA RY 29, 2008 | WWW.STATE N E WS.COM ALCOHOL

EAST LANSING

Underage drinkers can avoid legal troubles, fines

By Marilyn King THE STATE NEWS ■■

Most people know drinking is bound to happen at college, but it’s not always legal.

“Don’t drink alcohol if you’re under 21,” East Lansing police Sgt. Carl Nowak said.

“That’s the bottom line.”

But on a campus of more than 46,000 students, it’s likely some underage students will drink.

Enter minor in possession, or MIP, laws. On first offense, a person younger than 21 in possession of alcohol can be charged with $100 and community service in addition to a required screening and assessment of substance abuse.

Getting an MIP can be inconvenient in other ways as well. Spanish freshman Megan Sova got an MIP in October and still is paying for it.

“I paid $300 and I have to call into the probation office every day,” Sova said.

Sova also has had to go into the police department every three days to take a Breathalyzer test.

Not making a scene when drinking can help lessen the odds of being charged with an MIP. Fights, public urination and rowdy behavior often alert police, MSU police Sgt. Randy Holton said in an e-mail.

“Generally, minors we have contact with are those who have brought their alcohol to our attention by their behavior,” he said.

Being agreeable can help the situation, too.

Psychology junior Stephanie Laut, who was charged with an MIP in July, said she would have done things differently if given the choice.

Underage drinking Michigan law states a minor in possession of alcohol can be fined up to $100 and be required to attend substance abuse treatment or do community service on a first offense. If the minor is younger than 18, parents will be notified.

Because of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union in August 2005, Michigan police officers are not allowed to force a minor to take a Breathalyzer test without a search warrant.

The Open Alcohol Ordinance states that even if you are older than 21, if you have open alcohol in any public area you are at risk of being charged a fine. A broken seal counts as an open beverage.

Minors can be held at the police station until there is no longer alcohol in their system. When they are released, they are given a ticket to appear in court.

SOURCE: MSU POLICE

“When a student is drinking to the point where they could potentially harm themselves or someone else, age doesn’t really matter.”

Lesley Bergguist, president of Spartans Against Drunk Driving

STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO

Troy Brya, left, of the East Lansing Fire Department, 1700 Abbot Road, and Greg Tracy, a fire captain, inspect a house in summer 2005. Tracy said his job is stressful, but he works at the fire department because he is “around the funny guys.”

Renters practice fire safety, keep safe

By Justin Harris THE STATE NEWS ■■

Laut was charged after she walked away from police officers.

“I wouldn’t have walked away, but they overreacted,” Laut said.

MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor agrees being respectful helps.

“It’s always best to be compliant,” she said.

This doesn’t mean that if you’re drinking underage you will suffer the consequences. Some minors caught with alcohol are not charged.

“We can be very lenient, it just depends on the cooperation of the people who answer the door at the party,” Nowak said. “Thousands of people a year get off with just a warning.”

Some students feel t hat lenienc y w it hin t he system is not a good idea,

however.

“When a student is drinking to the point where they could potentially harm themselves or someone else, age doesn’t really matter,” Spartans Against Drunk Driving President Lesley Bergguist said.

Although underage drinking is going to happen, taking the necessary precautions can help make a party safer and more enjoyable.

McGlothian-Taylor recommends taking responsibility for the actions of yourself and your friends if drinking.

“They should not leave their drinks unattended or accept drinks from anyone they don’t know,” she said.

“Leave with your friends, not with people you just met.

People should make sure that their friends are safe.”

Allie Vukov doesn’t take chances.

The Kappa Kappa Gamma president and communication sophomore knows where the fire extinguishers are located. She knows the smoke detectors are functioning. She knows the fire escape plan. When it comes to fire safety, she’s prepared.

“We have a lot of precautionary measures and procedures,” Vukov said. “It’s a big, old house and I have to make sure in the event of a fire, everyone knows what to do.”

For Vukov, fire prevention and safety are of the utmost importance. While the threat of a deadly fire might seem remote, college students have reason to be cautious.

About 80 percent of fires involving college students nationwide occur in off-campus housing, East Lansing Fire Marshal Bob Pratt said. According to Campus-Firewatch.com, 14 college students

across the country died during the current school year as a result of fires.

Pratt said most house fires are the result of at least one of four common characteristics: drinking, careless disposal of smoking materials, malfunctioning smoke detectors or the lack of a sprinkler system.

“The number of fires we see off campus is much more than the number on campus,” Pratt said.

“Most dorms are made of brick so a fire can’t spread. But a lot of offcampus housing is made of stick and wood.”

Sean Strauss, an advertising junior and president of Pi Kappa Alpha, said he’s made it his responsibility to ensure the safety of his brothers.

“I’ve been president for about three weeks now, and we’ve already put $1,000 into our fire prevention system,” Strauss said.

“The brothers understand the threat and we do all we can to prevent a fire.”

While Strauss and Vukov have made sure their houses are safe,

Ed Comeau, the publisher of Campus-Firewatch.com, said college students are one of the most challenging demographics to reach.

For many students, the threat of a fire is remote and not of great concern.

Accounting senior Megan Miller lives in a rental home on Albert Avenue and is aware her smoke detectors work.

“We know the smoke detectors work because the (landlords) come over whenever they go off,” she said.

To stress the importance of fire safety, Comeau said he’s trying new ways to engage college students. In April, Comeau will release an educational video called “To Hell and Back.”

Both Pratt and Comeau agree college students care about fire safety, but sit comes down to educating them.

“For many students, when they realize there’s a gap in their knowledge, they want to know more about the subject,” Comeau said. “They’re very receptive to the message.”

Feeling like you’re

stuck e

m a s he t in

BORING PLACE

to live?

THEN...

Come check out our spacious apartments at the best place to live in all of E.L. !

Amenities including workout facility, free tanning, your own parking spot, and fully furnished apartments for starters.

We only have a few two, three, & four units left! Don’t miss out on your chance!

(517) 337-1700 www.campusvillage.com

Housing guide

WWW.STAT E NE WS.CO M | T HE STAT E N EWS | T U ESDAY, JA N UA RY 29, 20 0 8 |

7C

8C Housing guide | TH E STATE NE WS | TU ESDAY, JA N UA RY 29, 2008 | WWW.STATE N E WS.COM

Living alone MATT FLINT

State News reporter enjoys solitude Certain liberties are granted to college students when they move away from home.

Privileges students have always dreamt about are commonplace — late nights with no curfews or check-in times, drinking beer at will or

bringing your significant other back to “your place.”

These initial thrills of living on your own eventually fade. When this happens, you might need to take a moment to appreciate the fi ner points of independent living that are often taken for granted.

Such as: Standing with the fridge open Although a small right to gain, being able to stand in front of the refrigerator for an unlimited amount of time is very satisfying.

Admittedly, the contents of my fridge usually only consist of a half-empty carton of soy milk, leftover Chinese food from Rice Kitchen and a piece or two of anonymous fruit. However, being able to peruse the selection with great leisure and without being reminded

Don’t want to watch “Dr. Phil” or the local evening weatherman? No problem — in the kingdom of your own living room, you can exercise dominance over the remote by channel surfing right past. of the wasted energy or escaping temperature is a gratifying experience.

Coed parties anytime In the pre-college days, it seemed only milestone events such as birthdays or graduations warranted these boy-girl get-togethers.

Now, virtually any excuse will do to invite a group of friends over. At any hour of any day of the week lurks the potential for celebration.

Presidents’ Day, the end of midterms or even having a good hair day are all viable reasons to invite people over.

• Spacious two bedrooms

• Free heat and water

• High-Speed Ethernet Avail.

• Newly remodeled

• Furnished and Unfurnished

kitchens and baths w/

• Next to Eli Broad & DCL

built in microwaves

• Covered parking

• 24-hour maintenance

Authority of the remote control Things like cartoons, made-for-TV movies and marathons of syndicated sitcoms should only be interrupted in cases of extreme emergency. Living away from home turns the average 20-something into the reigning emperor of the TV set. Don’t want to watch “Dr. Phil” or the local evening weatherman? No problem — in the kingdom of your own living room, you can exercise dominance over the remote by channel surfi ng right past.

“Under my roof, you obey my rules” People living in the dorms might not have had an opportunity for this yet.

A move to an off-campus residence — especially a house — allows this phrase to be invoked ad nauseam.

Attempting to exert authority over your roommates, however, might not be very successful if you each pay equal amounts of rent. Try saying it to pets, household insects or any inanimate object found around the house.

If you come home from class or work frustrated and exhausted, yelling this ageold phrase gives you a sense of control and empowerment.

Avoidance of any acquaintances from the past Hometowns have an abundance of people waiting

to ask you how you’ve been doing, what you are studying in school and what your plans are for the future.

They will corner you at the grocery store, on the street or just about anywhere.

On your own, you will no longer dread the endless small talk.

No embarrassing photos Parents save things — mementos like childhood photos hang on the wall or sit on the shelf for decades.

Living at home means guests can casually browse embarrassing baby snapshots, gradeschool class photos and an extensive documentation of your awkward stages.

On your own, though, embarrassing photos are limited to the worldwide network on Facebook.com.

Wait — is this really better?

Housing guide

WWW.STAT E NE WS.CO M | T HE STAT E N EWS | T U ESDAY, JA N UA RY 29, 20 0 8 |

LIFESTYLE

QUICK CAMPUS FOOD IDEAS

STUDENTS LIVE IN STYLE DESPITE CONSTRAINTS

By Maggie Lillis and Thea Neal THE STATE NEWS ■■

You’re a college student, which means — unless you’re lucky — you’re probably broke. So when everyone else bears the winter weather to grab grub, you can stay cozy at home and still get that restaurant-style flavor.

By Whitney Gronski THE STATE NEWS ■■

Outfitted with a funky green futon and a slew of secondhand treasures, Lauren Lundin says her West Shaw Hall dorm wouldn’t feel like home if she hadn’t added her own flair.

“I’m an art education major and my surroundings are important to me,” she said. “I can’t concentrate if I don’t feel at home.”

Describing her personal style as “eclectic and retro,” Lundin said she is inspired by the atomic era of the 1950s.

Lundin has filled her room with vintage-looking fabrics, unique wall hangings and a collection of quirky lamps she finds at garage sales throughout the summer.

Using techniques she learned from her father, she rewires the lamps, which she said average about $9 in price, and brings them back to life so she can use them safely in her dorm room.

This year, Lundin decided to sign up for a single room because of her schedule.

“With my emphasis on painting, I wanted a single because of the weird hours I come back,” she said.

Since she has a single room, Lundin is able to do as she pleases when it comes to personalizing the space.

With a roommate, it’s not always that easy.

Some students decide to forgo the dorm experience altogether because they don’t want a roommate. Herb Vasquez, a mathematics junior, chose not to live on campus and moved into a studio apartment on Abbot Road.

“It’s much cheaper and money was the biggest reason (I moved off campus),” Vasquez said. “But it’s good to not have a roommate because you have more privacy and it’s just your space.”

Dean Matsudo, a Shaw Hall manager, said communication with your roommate before you move in is essential.

“The critical thing is talking to your future roommate.

9C

# CAESAR SANDWICH Have a craving for Pita Pit, 219 E. Grand River Ave., but don’t want to get your butt out of bed? Delight yourself with a Caesar sandwich.

You’ll need: -Grilled chicken strips -Romaine lettuce -Caesar dressing -Sliced sandwich bread -Parmesan cheese

To make: In a medium-sized bowl, throw together chicken strips, romaine lettuce and parmesan cheese. Coat with your desired amount of dressing. Spoon on top of your sandwich or place in a tortilla, and voila! Pita Pit at home.

# QUESADILLAS

HANNAH ENGELSON/THE STATE NEWS

Art education junior Lauren Lundin does homework Wednesday afternoon in her single room in West Shaw Hall.

Doing it well Don’t paint your room or drill holes into the walls. These things aren’t allowed in any residence halls.

Do use removable hooks to hang things like framed pictures.

Don’t create a fire hazard with candles, incense or any cooking equipment other than a microwave.

Do invest in things that will last throughout your college career.

Don’t put contact paper on the floor.

Do cover your floor with portable carpets or rugs to make your space feel more like home.

SOURCE: MSU

Make sure you consult each other (before moving in),” Matsudo said, adding that he has seen some roommates go as far as to buy matching bedding and window treatments.

He suggested taking ownership of big items like refrigerators and not splitting the cost to avoid arguments.

Once it’s decided what each person should bring, Matsudo

said to consider what hall you’ll be living in before you buy any furniture. Snyder-Phillips, Hubbard, Shaw, Holmes and Case halls all have beds that can be converted to lofts, a feature that will save you from having to invest in one of your own.

Although personalizing your dorm might seem like it’s all about appearance, Matsudo also said making your room feel

more like your home can help you adjust.

“Bring your favorite pillow.

Bring the things that make you feel at home, like pictures of your family,” he says.

Matsudo said switching your computer’s screen saver from something generic to a photo slide show of your friends and family is one of the more popular ways students display their treasured photos.

Lundin said she likes living in the dorms and has lived in Shaw Hall since her freshman year. She has been tempted to move off campus for her senior year but instead has decided to move to Snyder-Phillips Hall. She says living on campus is more convenient than driving or taking the bus every day.

“Plus, Sny-Phi has really good food,” Lundin said.

If you can’t afford quesadillas and black bean salsa from Flats Grill, 551 E. Grand River Ave., you could gather the ingredients and make it yourself. (The recipe calls for a lot but it makes a ton.)

You’ll need: - Large tortillas - Grated cheese - 1 chicken breast - Whatever veggies you want

To make: Preheat an oven to 350 degrees. Cut the thawed chicken breast into small cubes and brown in a frying plan. As that cooks, put a tortilla on a baking sheet and spread a layer of cheese over it. Sprinkle the chicken over the cheese when it’s done cooking and place a second tortilla on top.

Bake for 10 minutes, flip it and bake for another five minutes.

# BLACK BEAN SALSA What’s a quesadilla without something to dip it in?

You’ll need: - 12-ounce can of whole kernel corn, drained - 15-ounce can of black beans, drained and rinsed - 1 red pepper, chopped - 1 medium tomato - 1⁄2 green pepper, chopped - 1⁄2 red onion, chopped - 1 clove of garlic, minced - 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped The dressing for the salsa

- 3⁄4 cup Italian dressing - 1 tablespoon of lemon juice Optional ingredients to taste (Really, who has this stuff in a college pantry?).

- 1⁄2 teaspoon of chili power - 1 teaspoon of hot pepper sauce - 1 tablespoon of cilantro To make: Mix all of the ingredients together and add what you like for taste.

10C Housing Guide | TH E STATE NE WS | TU ESDAY, JA N UA RY 29, 2008 | WWW.STATE N E WS.COM

NET WORKED

A RBOR G LEN 517.507.3686

DOVER â&#x20AC;&#x2122;S C ROSSING 517.507.4179

K NOB H ILL 517.507.3691

NET WORKED

t :PVS 0XO 8BTIFS BOE %SZFS t $BUIFESBM $FJMJOHT t (BT 'JSFQMBDFT

t "MM 4FBTPO )PU 5VC t /FX ,JUDIFOT BOE t $BSQPSU *ODMVEFE #BUIT "WBJMBCMF t $MVCIPVTF XJUI 'SFF t 'JUOFTT $FOUFS 8J 'J

731 A PARTMENTS

t BOE #FESPPN "QBSUNFOUT GPS VQ UP 1FPQMF t 'VSOJTIFE "QBSU NFOUT "WBJMBCMF t /FX ,JUDIFOT BOE #BUIT "WBJMBCMF

NET WORKED

t )JHI 4QFFE &UIFSOFU "WBJMBCMF t -BSHF #BMDPOJFT t 0O 4JUF -BVOESZ t -PDBUFE JO 2VJFU 3FTJEFOUJBM $PNNVOJUZ

t BOE #FESPPN "QBSUNFOUT GPS VQ UP 1FPQMF t 1BSUJBMMZ 'VSOJTIFE "QBSUNFOUT "WBJMBCMF t #BMDPOJFT t )FBU BOE 8BUFS

*ODMVEFE t /FX ,JUDIFOT BOE #BUIT "WBJMBCMF t 0O 4JUF -BVOESZ t 1JDOJD "SFBT XJUI (SJMMT

517.507.3684

B URNT TREE

t BOE #FESPPN "QBSUNFOUT GPS VQ UP 1FPQMF t *O )PNF 8BTIFS BOE %SZFS "WBJMBCMF t $FOUSBM "JS

t /FXMZ 3FNPEFMFE ,JUDIFOT BOE #BUIT t 8PPE #VSOJOH 'JSFQMBDFT t $PWFSFE 1BSLJOH t 1BUJPT BOE #BMDPOJFT

517.507.4180

t #FE #BUI 5PXOIPNFT t %PH 8BML "SFB t *O )PNF 8BTIFS BOE %SZFS t 1SJWBUF &OUSBODF t )VHF $MPTFUT

t #BSL 1BSL BOE 1BWFE /BUVSF 5SBJM t /FX ,JUDIFOT BOE #BUIT "WBJMBCMF

t %JTIXBTIFS BOE .JDSPXBWF t $FOUSBM "JS t 'VSOJTIFE "QBSU NFOUT "WBJMBCMF t 'SFF VTF PG %PWFS T $SPTTJOH "NFOJUJFT

T HE P INES

V ALLEY FORGE

t 4QBDJPVT BOE #FESPPN "QBSUNFOUT GPS VQ UP 1FPQMF t #VJMU *O %JTIXBTIFST BOE .JDSPXBWFT t 0O 4JUF -BVOESZ

t $PWFSFE 1BSLJOH t *OUFSDPN "DDFTT t 2VJFUFS $PNNVOJUZ JO B (SFBU -PDBUJPO t 'SJFOEMZ 1SPGFTTJPOBM 0O 4JUF 4UBò

C OLLINGWOOD

517.507.3504 t 4QBDJPVT BOE #FESPPN "QBSUNFOUT t /FXMZ 3FNPEFMFE ,JUDIFOT BOE #BUIT t 0O 4JUF -BVOESZ t )FBU BOE 8BUFS *ODMVEFE

t *O )PNF 'VMM 4J[F 8BTIFS BOE %SZFS "WBJMBCMF t "NQMF 1BSLJOH t #VJMU *O %JTIXBTIFST BOE .JDSPXBWFT

N ORTH POINTE 517.507.4170

t )FBU BOE 8BUFS t /FX $MVCIPVTF *ODMVEFE $PNJOH JO A t *O )PNF 8BTIFS BOE t $BSQPSUT "WBJMBCMF %SZFS "WBJMBCMF t BOE #FESPPN t "DSPTT GSPN .46 "QBSUNFOUT GPS VQ .FE BOE 7FU 4DIPPMT UP 1FPQMF t #FBVUJGVM /FX t /FXMZ ,JUDIFOT BOE $MVCIPVTF XJUI -BSHF #BUIT "WBJMBCMF 4DSFFO 57 #JMMJBSET t )FBU BOE 8BUFS BOE 'JSFQMBDF *ODMVEFE

B ERR YTREE

517.507.3685 t 4QBDJPVT #FESPPNT GPS VQ UP 1FPQMF t $PWFSFE 1BSLJOH t &YUSB 4UPSBHF "SFBT t )VHF $MPTFUT t 2VJFU $PNNVOJUZ t $FOUSBM "JS

t )FBU BOE 8BUFS *ODMVEFE t /FXMZ 3FNPEFMFE ,JUDIFOT BOE #BUIT "WBJMBCMF t 0O 4JUF -BVOESZ

NET WORKED

t 4QBDJPVT BOE #FESPPN "QBSUNFOUT GPS VQ UP 1FPQMF t /FXMZ 3FNPEFMFE "WBJMBCMF t #VJMU *O %JTIXBTIFST BOE .JDSPXBWFT

C APITOL V ILLA 517.507.3502

t 4QBDJPVT BOE #FESPPN "QBSUNFOUT GPS VQ UP 1FPQMF t 2VJFU 3FTJEFOUJBM /FJHICPSIPPE t 0O 4JUF 1BSLJOH

t -BVOESZ 3PPN XJUI 'SFF 8J 'J t *OEPPS #JLF 3PPNT t )FBU BOE 8BUFS *ODMVEFE t 1BSUJBMMZ 'VSOJTIFE "WBJMBCMF NET WORKED

t &BTZ "DDFTT UP 'SBOEPS BOE &BTU XPPE 5PXOF $FOUFS t 0O 4JUF -BVOESZ t "JS $POEJUJPOJOH

t #FESPPNT GPS VQ t )FBU BOE 8BUFS UP 1FPQMF *ODMVEFE t /FXMZ 3FNPEFMFE t #VJMU *O %JTIXBTIFST ,JUDIFOT BOE #BUIT BOE .JDSPXBWFT t "JS $POEJUJPOJOH t 1BSUJBMMZ 'VSOJTIFE t 0O 4JUF -BVOESZ "WBJMBCMF

C AMPUS H ILL

517.507.3695

517.507.3023

GLENWOOD APARTMENTS

O AKBROOK M ANOR

IPVTF XJUI 'SFF 8J 'J #JMMJBSET -BSHF 4DSFFO 57 BOE .PSF

517.507.3694

517.507.8455

WOODBROOK V ILLAGE

t *O )PNF 8BTIFS BOE %SZFS "WBJM BCMF t 'BCVMPVT $MVC

517.507.4608

517.589.4288

A BBOTT POINTE

t /FX ,JUDIFOT BOE #BUIT "WBJMBCMF t )PU 5VC t %PH 8BML "SFB

517.589.4282 t #FESPPNT GPS VQ UP 1FPQMF t 0WFSMPPLT UIF #FBVUJ GVM 3FE $FEBS 3JWFS t /FX ,JUDIFOT BOE #BUIT t "NQMF 1BSLJOH

t 0O 4JUF -BVOESZ t )FBU BOE 8BUFS *ODMVEFE t %JTIXBTIFST BOE .JDSPXBWFT "WBJMBCMF t 1BSUJBMMZ 'VSOJTIFE NET WORKED

t BOE #FESPPNT GPS VQ UP 1FPQMF t 2VJFU 3FTJEFOUJBM $PNNVOJUZ t /FYU UP 1BUSJBSDI 1BSL

t 0O 4JUF -BVOESZ t "JS $POEJUJPOJOH t )FBU BOE 8BUFS *ODMVEFE t 0O 4JUF 1BSLJOH 'BDJMJUJFT

t #FESPPNT GPS VQ UP 1FPQMF t 2VJFU 3FTJEFOUJBM $PNNVOJUZ t 1JDOJD "SFB XJUI (SJMMT t ,FZFE &OUSZ t 0O 4JUF -BVOESZ

WOODSIDE

517.507.4170

t "JS $POEJUJPOJOH t )FBU BOE 8BUFS *ODMVEFE t )VHF #BMDPOJFT t 0O 4JUF 1BSLJOH

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your Thing? Let the Pics Lead you to Your Perfect Home!

My Fav Location

8JUIJO 8BMLJOH -PDBUFE PO %JTUBODF PG $"5" #VT .46 3PVUF

My Fav Friends

$BU 'SJFOEMZ

%PH 'SJFOEMZ

My Fav Things to Do

'JUOFTT $FOUFS 4BOE 7PMMFZCBMM 4XJNNJOH 1PPM $PVSU NET /FUXPSLFE "QBSUNFOUT XJUI )JHI 4QFFE &UIFSOFU "WBJMBCMF WORKED

BasketBall Preview New

2008

arena.

New

Coach.

New

Plan.

November 6, 2008

BEST OF

jackcentral.com

Go to

NAU Until March 12

Vote Now! 2008 For the BEST Place to have Sex on Campus, the HOTTEST Professor, BEST Dance Spot, BEST Place to have a PowerHour & Many More!

L k_\

jackcentral.com

umberjack

Specialty Publication Division

Vanguar d 2008 EDITION A student-run newspaper established 1946

Illustration by Jeff Hammond / Vanguard

8

Monday, February 11, 2008

Valentines Day Guide 2008

Monday, February 11, 2008

9

Spartan Daily

SPECIAL SECTION Thursday, Th d OOctober t b 99, 2008

Monday, M d October O t b 13, 13 2008

STILL STANDING

TALL 40 YEARS LATER

On October 16, 1968, two men stunned the world with a simple gesture. On the medal stand at the Olympic Games in Mexico City, after winning gold and bronze respectively, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their hands to the sky in a salute to black power. Forty years later, their protest has become one of the most remembered images of the Olympic Games as an enduring symbol of defiance in the face of racism.

The story of the protest

Forty years later

B2

B3

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SJSU track team: whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left

B4

Profiles: The men behind the fists

B5

Bud Winter Field

B7 Photo Phot Ph oto Illustration by Matthew Mountf Mountford for ordd

B2

[HISTORY]

STORY // JON XAVIER

SPECIAL SECTION

SPEED, POWER, DEFIANCE

It was Oct. 16, 1968. Mexico City. SJSU alumnus and Olympic athlete Tommie Smith had just run the most important 200 meters of his life.

Coming off a muscle pull in an earlier qualifier, it wasn’t even certain that Smith would be able to compete, let alone win. But 10 seconds into the race, coming from far back in the pack, Smith began to make his move. At 14 seconds, he was neck-and-neck with fellow SJSU student John Carlos, vying for the lead.

And then he really opened up.

Carlos had just enough time to glance at his teammate as Smith blazed past him, both arms raised in triumph. Tommie Smith had won Olympic gold, shattering the previous world record with a time of 19.83 seconds.

It was the first time that anyone had run the 200-meter in less than 20 seconds, and it was a record that would remain unmatched until 1979. But along with John Carlos, Tommie Smith was about to do

something even more memorable.

He was going to raise his fist.

Smith and Carlos graciously accepted their medals, Smith allowing himself another celebratory arm pump as he stepped onto the podium. But then, as the “StarSpangled Banner” began to play and the flags were raised, the pair’s expressions became serious.

Each man bowed their head and raised their fist: Smith his right, Carlos his left. Each wore a single black glove. Each had feet bare save for black athletic socks. Carlos was wearing a string of beads around his neck in addition to his bronze medal. Smith carried a box in his left hand containing an olive branch.

All three men on the podium, including second-place sprinter Peter Norman, wore pins emblazoned with the logo of the Olympic Project for Human Rights, a movement by black athletes to raise awareness about the plight of black people all over the world.

Started on the campus of San Jose State by sociology professor Harry

Edwards and student Ken Noel, the project had originally planned to boycott the Olympics entirely.

But when a vote by the athletes involved in the project failed to pass the motion to boycott, it fell to the athletes themselves to decide what, if anything, they were going to do at the games.

“I was surprised at the magnitude of what they did,” Noel said.

“They took it a lot further than anything I expected them to do. I think they took it a lot further then I would have thought to do myself if I had been there.”

“I thought it was beautiful,” Edwards said.

Not everyone agreed. The next day, International Olympic Committee President Avery Brundage called an emergency meeting on the protest.

The committee voted to expel Smith and Carlos from any further Olympic activities and recommended that the U.S. Olympic Committee send the two sprinters home. The USOC initially refused,

A photograph of Tommie Smith being interviewed by Spartan Daily Courtesy of Lloyd LaCuesta reporter Lloyd LaCuesta at San Jose Municipal Airport after Smith and John Carlos’ protest.

A note from Tommie Smith to Lloyd LaCuesta was written on the photograph. according to Olympic historian C. Robert Paul Jr. That night, the USOC sent Jesse Owens, a black athlete who had attained international fame in track and field at the 1936 Olympics, to talk to Smith and Carlos, according to a 1968 article in Life magazine.

Owens told them that the IOC was accusing them of violating the precepts of the games, and told them that the USOC was being pressured to send them home. He proposed that the athletes agree on a clear form of protest that wouldn’t offend anyone. But the athletes declined, insisting that they be given the freedom to express themselves.

The next day, Paul said, the IOC met again. This time the committee had a stronger message for its American counterpart: Expel Smith and Carlos, or the entire U.S. track and field team would be barred from competition.

The USOC complied, and Smith and Carlos were given 48 hours to leave the country by the

Mexican government.

Lloyd LaCuesta, then a reporter for the Spartan Daily, said he decided to meet them at the airport when they came back.

“It was a very interesting scene at the San Jose airport, because at that time the news media tended to be all white. So there was a bunch of old, white men standing around saying, ‘Do you know what he looks like? Do you know what he looks like?’” LaCuesta said. “These guys ran to the first tall, black person they saw get off the airplane.

And that wasn’t Tommie.”

“I saw Tommie coming, and we rushed over,” he said. “We started firing questions at Tommie and John. I remember Tommie didn’t really want to say anything, but I was being very persistent.”

“And John said to me ‘If you shove that microphone in my face, I’m gonna shove it down your throat.’ ... For the most part, they weren’t saying anything. I think they were kind of shell-shocked by the kind of media coverage they

were getting,” he said.

Media reaction was mixed. The Washington Post ran an editorial on Oct. 20, 1968, that said it was sad that Smith and Carlos felt the need to protest at the Olympics, and that no matter how right their sentiments were, “the time and place was wrong.”

Many other publications agreed, although many also decried the decision of the Olympic committees to throw them out of the games.

But the welcome home wasn’t all bad.

“I had two white students living above me at the time,” Carlos said. “And they had so much respect and admiration and pride for (me) that when I came home, despite any negatives that I might have seen on the way to my house, they had a big sign out, like a sheet hanging from their window: ‘Welcome home, John Carlos: San Jose State’s hero.’ That shaved off any rough edges I might have had.”

“I’ll never forget it as long as I live,” he said.

[TODAY]

STORY //ANDREA FRAINIER

SPECIAL SECTION

B3

40 Years Later...

When Tommie Smith and John Carlos bowed their heads and raised their black-gloved fists toward the sky at the Mexico City Olympics, their Black Power salute was embraced by some but resented by most at the time.

Years later, the two SJSU athletes are celebrated as heroes for their courageous stance against racial inequality in America.

“I think it’s amazing that these two historic figures were at this school,” said Kate Fisher, a junior occupational therapy major. “I think we can learn a lot about how they stood up for what was right.”

Niya Levi, a senior marketing major, said he was impressed with the Tommie Smith and John Carlos Statue when he first came to SJSU. “The Olympics didn’t really support them. Neither did America. But then to have San Jose State honor them is really cool,” he said.

Tommie Smith said the Statue represents where the fight for equality of SJSU athletes started.

“I come to the statue sometimes and no one knows who I am,” Smith said. “So I stand there and just look at it. … I cannot look at my face because that face represents what I felt at that time and that was a cry for freedom.”

When SJSU President Whitmore looks at the Smith-Carlos statue, he said he thinks about the history of the university and its concern for social justice.

“That and the Martin Luther King Library and now the Cesar Chavez arch — those are three statements that say a lot about the history of this institution and the culture and attitude of faculty and students here,” he said.

Even though hundreds of students walk by the Smith-Carlos Statue every day, many of them do not know the significance of Smith and Carlos’ Olympic stance.

“San Jose State has to do more to try and make students understand what this is all about,” John Carlos said.

When Kimberly Uweh, a sophomore chemistry major, walks by the statue, she said she doesn’t always think about its meaning.

“But every now and then I take that glance and think, ‘Oh yeah, that came from my school, someone who took a stance.’ … You don’t really find people in our generation that stand up for anything.

Most things are done for us.”

Colin Taylor, a junior civil engineering major, said he didn’t know much about the history behind the statue, but didn’t think today’s generation of students would take a bold stance like Smith and Carlos did.

“For the most part, most of us are afraid to step out and be different,” he said. “American culture is just to fit and be like everyone else.”

SJSU’s Instructional Resource Center’s copy of the HBO documentary “Fists of Freedom: The Story of the ’68 Summer Games,” which explores the events surrounding the ’68 Olympics, has only been checked out a total of four times.

“I don’t think it’s by accident that people don’t know what went on,” said sociology professor Preston Rudy. “That’s by design. That has to do with the way in which being a student in 2008 is very different from being a student in ’68.

The fees are higher, students have to work in ways that they didn’t

have to work in ’68, and therefore your life is taken up by stuff.”

Urla Hill, curator of “Speed City” at San Jose City Hall, is a former SJSU student who has dedicated her life to chronicling the university’s rich athletics history.

“I don’t trust San Jose State to do what they should do with that statue,” Hill said. “Freshman year, everybody needs to know what that statue is.”

Harry Edwards, a former professor of sociology at SJSU and student-athlete, co-founded the Olympic Project for Human Rights with Ken Noel in 1967 to protest the treatment of black athletes.

When asked what he wanted SJSU students to think when they walk by the statue, Edwards replied that he wouldn’t want those students to think anything.

“I would want them to ask one question, ‘What was that about?’ and then hit the libraries and start doing research,” he said. “If the students ask that question, I trust them to come to the right answers.”

It was an SJSU student that campaigned to honor Smith and Carlos. In 2003, SJSU alumnus Erik Grotz was a senior political science major who pushed for the university to commemorate the medal-winning athletes.

“The statues were there because they had a young man who was the student body president a few years back,” John Carlos said.

“He was in a class … and the professor just happened to mention to him that John Carlos and Tommie Smith went to school here. …

This individual was elated we went to school here, but even more so he was disappointed for the fact

Courtesy of AP Images Tommie Smith (center) and John Carlos (right) raise their arms in protest at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” there was no recognition that we attended San Jose State. He said it was almost like they were ashamed of us. And the statue is there as a result of his backing.”

Edwards said he thinks the Smith-Carlos Statues need to be put in context.

“Anytime you isolate something out and say ‘Well what does this mean?’ and don’t put it into context, it’s going to be meaningless and very soon it’s going to be forgotten. I put that on the university,” he said.

Smith also said he believes that the university needs to reinforce the meaning of the statue.

“There’s nothing on that statue that exemplifies why it was there or the need to continue the strife of excellence,” Smith said. “A plaque is needed to be oriented on that statue or around that statue to identify who these guys are, what they did and why the statue is there because it is a monumental statue that’s just sitting there.”

Rudy said he thinks the spirit of Smith and Carlos has been lost on

SJSU students.

“I think one of the things students at San Jose State could do as a way of commemorating that — they could revive that as an image of what it is to be in college, what it is to be an athlete, what it is to be a politically engaged athlete. These were not guys that were political in the sense that they weren’t running for student government, they weren’t involved in huge demonstrations. They were going about their daily life and doing that in a way that was politically aware.”

B4

STORY // ANDREA FRAINIER AND SELMA SKOKIC

[PRESENT]

SPECIAL SECTION

JUST A

CLUB? A member of the SJSU Track and Field Club clears a hurdle at San Jose City College.

Most of the San Jose community remains unaware of the history of the decrepit piece of land on the corner of Alma and Tenth streets.

That piece of land is Bud Winter Field, the practice space of some of the world’s fastest runners.

Lloyd “Bud” Winter was SJSU’s track and field coach from 1944 to 1974 and coached 37 world record holders, 102 NCAA All-Americans, 49 NCAA record holders and 27 Olympians, according to the SJSU Track & Field Web site.

“Bud Winter was one of the fin-

est creative coaches ever produced at the school or in the country,” Bob Poynter said in an e-mail.

Poynter was a sprinter for SJSU’s track and field team from 1959 to 1961. “He invented many of the techniques and drills that sprinters use today on a limited budget.”

“Speed City” was the nickname of San Jose during the 1950s and 1960s when SJSU was known for its world-ranked sprinters such as Lee Evans, Tommie Smith, John Carlos, Bob Poynter and many other athletes who participated in the program

until it was disbanded in 1988.

“Speed City before it was ‘Speed City’ was an incredible experience just being on that track team at San Jose State at that time,” said Robert Griffin, vice president of student services and institutional research at De Anza College and relay runner at SJSU in the late ’60s. “San Jose had put together a phenomenal track team both in an athletic performance but also in political philosophy based on the environment of the times.”

In 1988, three years after Winter’s death, SJSU cut the

RYAN KALEM / Contributing Photographer track and field program.

“The reason given was that the athletic department was in a half-million dollar budget deficit,” said Frank Jewette, a member of the SJSU track team from 1983 to 1986.

Along with the track and field program, SJSU cut men’s wrestling, women’s field hockey and men’s cross country.

The cutting of the track and field program has caused disappointment among former SJSU athletes.

“I think it was the wrong thing to do,” said Ernie Bullard, assis-

tant to Bud Winter and head track coach at SJSU from 1974 to 1984. “(Cutting the track and field program) was to save money. ... There is no income in track; it doesn’t pay for itself.”

Currently, Bud Winter Field is a ghost of its former self. The allweather track is filled with holes, while weeds and bits of trash litter the field area. The university uses the field as overflow parking during baseball, football and soccer games.

“I think it’s a travesty, a sin. It’s a shameful thing,” John Carlos said. “It’s a smack in the face to

Bud Winter and all he’s done for the school and for the city of San Jose that they would let his history go down to that level.”

According to Urla Hill, the curator of the “Speed City” exhibit at San Jose City Hall, a lot of the former track athletes have dropped their alumni memberships due to the current condition of the field. “They don’t really care about SJSU anymore,” Hill said.

Current students took it upon themselves to form the SJSU Track & Field Club and to honor the history associated with it.

[PROFILES]

STORY // ADAM MURPHY

SPECIAL SECTION

WHO WERE THEY?

JEFF KROOT / Courtesy of History San Jose John Carlos (left) and Tommie Smith hanging out at what is now known as Bud Winter Field, San Jose State College South Campus in 1969.

A simple gesture nearly 40 years ago inextricably tied gold medalist Tommie Smith and bronze medalist John Carlos together. For the rest of their lives, they would be known neither for their medals nor their numerous world records, but for their protest at the 1968 Olympic Games.

There was no great plan to make a statement to the world, said former SJSU professor Harry Edwards and organizer of the Project for Human Rights. Edwards was instrumental in influencing Smith and Carlos to take some kind of action during the Olympic trials, according to San Jose State alumnus and Project for Human Rights co-founder Ken Noel.

Smith and Carlos were not political activists, but athletes.

“Carlos and Smith are joined at the hip in history, they will always be together, but they couldn’t be more different,” Edwards said.

“Tommie Smith’s world as a child was one of hard work, the seventh child of 12 from a farming family that moved to Northern California when he was 6.”

Smith said his father prided himself on hard work. He said he carries that same kind of pride around with him at all times.

It helps explain the thinking of someone who would risk everything for what he felt was right.

“Dad and Mom were my backbone,” Tommie Smith said of his parents. “Their intrinsic attitudes of work ethic and non-secular beliefs kept me to do the right thing.”

Like Smith, John Carlos’ main influence was his family.

“My father was a serious-minded individual in regards to family protection, support, care,” Carlos said. “He would never solve your problems. He would give you some tools to solve the problem, but you had to be the man to step up to the plate to resolve those issues.”

Tommie Smith wore sunglasses in all of his events. He wore them not to stand out, but to hide.

“I try to convince myself that if I can’t see out too well, then nobody can see me very clearly, either,” said Smith in an interview with Frank Deford of Sports Illustrated in 1967.

The Olympians could not be more different, even on the stand.

Smith was shy and affable compared to a boisterous and confident Carlos. Smith’s posture on the Olympic pedestal was rigid

B5

GARY KELMENSON / Courtesy of History San Jose

Bud Winter (left) and John Carlos standing at the track in 1969.

and forceful, while Carlos was at ease, his body loose and relaxed.

“Carlos is a city guy, brash, boisterous and loud, outwardly aggressive. He wore his confidence out in the open. He had supreme confidence,” Noel said.

Carlos and Smith may differ in their personalities, but they share traits common to any Olympic athlete. “(They had) tremendous amounts of pride and courage.

Without that, how can you be as political as we were and perform as well as they did under those circumstances? They had self confidence and a willingness to sacrifice,” Noel said.

Neither ever lacked confidence on the track. Head coach Bud Winter made sure of that.

Winter trained fighter pilots dur-

ing World War II and used the relaxation technique learned in the Navy and applied it to his runners.

“I came to San Jose State to be coached by the best and achieve worldwide achievement. (Winter) was very instrumental in me graduating from college, since I was the very first one in my family to do so,” said Bob Poynter, a former San Jose State student athlete under Bud Winter.

Winter’s car he drove to practice was held together by string, and he conducted practice in a camouflage suit, according to Urla Hill, an SJSU graduate and curator of the Speed City exhibit in San Jose City Hall.

“Winter was a friend, a mentor and a great coach. He contributed to who I was on the track,” Carlos said.

Bud Winter was the track coach

while Ernie Bullard instructed all of the field events. “(Winter) was one of the really outstanding coaches ever. The San Jose State track and field program never had a big budget in any sport. He built quite a bit on very little. (He) was the mantel on why (the athletes) were there. Speed City was one thing, but on that team there were some outstanding athletes,” Bullard said.

Winter produced more than 102 All-Americans during his tenure at San Jose State, Poynter said. Winter also saw the team through the political turmoil of the late 1960s.

“It was like going down rapids in a canoe. The whole idea is to get to the bottom with everyone still on the canoe,” Bullard said. “None of it was easy. It was a complicated year, but we got through it.”

B6

[SYMBOLS]

STORY // JON XAVIER

SPECIAL SECTION

“My raised right hand stood for the power of black America.

Carlos’ raised left hand stood for the unity of black America.

Together they formed an arch of unity and power,” Smith said.

SALUTE

MEDALS

Tommie Smith and John Carlos wore a matched set of black gloves when they gave the raised fist salute: Smith had the right one, Carlos the left. Originally purchased by Tommie Smith’s wife because she thought it would be cold in Mexico City, the pair wore them because they didn’t want to shake hands with Olympic president Avery Brundage, a man they regarded as racist, when they received their medals.

Tommie Smith won the gold with a world-record-setting time of 19.83 seconds in the 200-meter dash. John Carlos took the bronze with a time of 20.10 seconds.

Although they were thrown out of Olympic Village by the International Olympic Commission after the event, and banned from ever competing again, they were never stripped of their medals.

BOWED HEADS

Smith and Carlos’ refusal to look at the flag while the American national anthem played was considered by many at the time to be unpatriotic and disrespectful. But for them it was a way of showing the solemness of the event.

In a 1993 Daily Telegraph story, Smith said “They say we demeaned the flag. Hey, no way man. That’s my flag . . . that’s the American flag and I’m an American. But I couldn’t salute it in the accepted manner, because it didn’t represent me fully; only to the extent of asking me to be great on the running track, then obliging me to come home and be just another nigger.”

BEADS

John Carlos wore a string of beads around his neck, which he described as being “for those individuals that were lynched or killed that no one said a prayer for, that were hung and tarred. It was for those thrown off the side of the boats in the Middle Passage.”

SILVER

The silver medal for the 200-meter dash went to Australian Peter Norman. His time of 20.06 seconds is still the Australian record for the event. Norman supported the protest and wore an Olympic Project for Human Rights pin as he stood on the podium as a gesture of solidarity. When Norman died of a heart attack in 2006, Tommie Smith and John Carlos were pallbearers at his funeral. He was left out of the statue at his own insistence.

BARE FEET Smith and Carlos took to the podium without their shoes, wearing only black socks as a way of protesting the poverty in which many blacks lived.

“We have kids that don’t have shoes even today. It’s not like the powers that be can’t provide these things. They can send a spaceship to the moon, or a probe to Mars, yet they can’t give shoes? They can’t give health care? I’m just not naive enough to accept that,” John Carlos said.

“I can understand now, since Peter’s gone, he left that vacancy so others could stand in his place, and that was quite awesome,” Smith told the AP in 2006.

Photographs by DEREK SIJDER / Spartan Daily Design by MATTHEW MOUNTFORD / Spartan Daily

[FUTURE]

STORY // ELISHA MALDONADO

SPECIAL SECTION

SPEED CITY SANCTUARY

B7

]

MAY NOT STAY The California State Universit Board of Trustees’ May apsity pr proval of a new sports complex on So South Campus has put a bump in th road for the SJSU track and field the or organization.

The city of San Jose intends to const struct the $14 million complex, which in includes soccer fields and additional pa parking, on top of the Bud Winter Fi Field.

While the track and field team w wants many things done to the track, th proposed deal is not among them. the “Originally, we were going to use the tr track,” said senior kinesiology major W William Brown, a track athlete, coach an co-founder of the SJSU Track and an Field Club, which was founded in and 20 “But the track is old.”

2006.

“There are holes in the track turf matting, and the plaque that commemorates the field to Bud Winter is slowly eroding away,” the track and field Web site stated.

In an effort to sway the city from going along with its plan, the Track and Field Club has been informing students, asking people to sign petitions and holding discussions with anyone willing to lend an ear, Brown said.

“Ten years ago, the school tried to do this. Students got pissed off and rallied (to save the field),” Brown said.

“We want to use the track. It is very important to our school. We were known as ‘Speed City.’ It was known as the place to come.”

And that, ultimately, is what Brown said the club wants: for people to come.

Few students know about the efforts to save the field. Brown said this is because he only found out in April, though he said the city “has been talking about this for three years.”

Nevertheless, Shauna Sherman, a junior justice studies major, said she is “kind of indifferent” to what they do with the field. She said she is one of those students who were unaware of the track and the proposed plans to build a sports complex. But, if she had to choose, she said she would “keep more of the history alive.”

This track is where Tommie Smith and John Carlos used to train, as well as fellow Olympians Ray Norton and

Robert Poynter, the SJSU track and field Web site stated. man Christian Mabalot, a freshman business marketing major, said he the thought the school “shouldn’t tear (the track) down.” at,” “I just signed a petition for that,” ple Mabalot said. “They’re a lot of people who still want it standing. That is $14 memillion that can be used for something else.”

That is what Brown would likee to see happen. cil“We want a multi-purpose facilhat ity,” he said, speaking of a project that low would make over the field and allow for other track and field sports. me.

“This is pretty much a trying time. id.

Once it’s gone, it’s gone,” Brown said.

B8

SPECIAL SECTION

The best accomplishments don’t occur during the game TOMMY WRIGHT In my life as a sports fan, I have been lucky enough to tune into many great sports performances. Joe Montana finding John Taylor in the end zone for the winning touchdown in Super Bowl XXIII, Michael Jordan’s “flu game” in the 1997 NBA Finals, Kirk Gibson’s pinch-hit, walk off home run in the 1988 World Series.

At the time, I saw those events as heroic (despite my aversion toward the Dodgers) but looking back, they didn’t have much meaning beyond the sports world.

I did watch Dave Dravecky’s courageous return to baseball after he was diagnosed with cancer. But it seems that sports currently lack the heroes who were present in the years before my time.

Roberto Clemente is someone who died 10 years before I was born, but I have always admired him for what he did on the field and off.

Clemente, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, died in a plane crash while bringing aid to victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua.

There are also the people who have broken barriers in sports. Most people have heard of how Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball in 1947. But the barrier in professional football was broken twice before Jackie Robinson played his first game in the major leagues.

From 1920 to 1933, 13 African-Americans played in the National Football League. But it took until 1946 for another African-American to get back into pro football. That year, Marion Motley, Bill Willis, Kenny Washington and Woody Strode all made their debuts.

It took until 1950 for the National Basketball Association to integrate. Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper and Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton brought down the barrier in the NBA. Billy Jean King, Babe Didrikson and Jackie Joyner-Kersee have all helped progress women in sports.

Other athletes made their mark by not participating.

Canadian boxers Sam Luftspring and Norman “Baby” Yak refused to attend the 1936 Olympics in Berlin due to the treatment of Jews in Germany under Hitler’s rule.

[OPINION]

WHERE IN SPORTS TO FIND PURITY

DAVID ZUGNONI

The 1951 University of San Francisco football team went undefeated during the regular season. The team was invited to bowl games, but with the caveat that it leave its two AfricanAmerican players behind.

The team stood together and chose not to attend.

But when you want to single out one particular moment, it is the protest of Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City that stands out as the most courageous event that transcended sports.

Smith and Carlos considered a boycott as well. The boycott of the ’68 games was called off in place of a different form of protest.

By choosing to attend the Olympics, Smith and Carlos were able to participate and receive medals for their performance.

But after they raised their fists in defiance, the two were suspended from the team and sent home. When they got back, they were denounced by the media, received death threats and struggled to find work.

Their silent protest for equal rights transcended sports. It is fitting that they are memorialized here at SJSU. Their protest was in the same vein of Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez, who both have structures named for them on campus as well.

Activism in sports is not completely dead.

Joey Cheek, a U.S. speed skater, organized Team Darfur to protest conditions in Sudan.

But Cheek had his visa revoked before he could attend the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

So the hope is not over for someone else to take a stand as Smith and Carlos did in 1968.

But until then, their protest stands above the 1980 U.S. hockey team’s upset of the Soviet Union, Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech, and any other event as the most important, heroic and courageous moment in the history of sports.

When I was a kid, my father brought me to plenty of high school basketball games at the Oakland Arena, now called Oracle Arena, and Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Most ventures were filled with fundamental basketball and devoid of the overzealous celebrations, taunts and working of the crowd common in modern American sports.

The high school players almost always conducted themselves with a great deal of discipline and respect for the game.

They came jogging out of the locker room in perfect lines and went through their warm-ups with soldier-like uniformity.

The starters would always shake hands with the opposing coach, an opposing player and the referees before the game.

Appreciating this type of purity was typical of my upbringing.

One year, Brandon Payton of De La Salle High School in Concord, brother of former NBA star Gary Payton, after winning the Division I Northern California championship, hung on the basket until the rim bent.

My father and I didn’t think highly of that.

Today I prefer a different type of purity.

The outcomes of sporting events mean nothing 99 percent of the time. Sports are just for fun.

Some work as the gateway to better economic conditions than many good people could otherwise hope for, and they are beneficial to millions of people who

play sports or watch sports, but sports should not hold authority over acceptable behavior.

Athletes who participated in the 1968 Summer Olympics were told the same thing as athletes who were part of the 2008 Summer Olympics: No political or social messages of any kind.

The Olympic committees made these demands to avoid bringing in outside elements to what is meant to be a pure celebration of sport.

But Olympic athletes have a unique distinction: They appear suddenly in the public eye for an extremely short period of time; they become famous instantly and then unknown just as fast.

Olympic athletes don’t get a bonus for winning medals; they aren’t employees. Some do advertisements leading up to or following their achievements, but most return to their previous lives, incomes and notoriety.

Almost all Olympic athletes will never again be as famous as they are for just a glimpse in time.

Telling these people not to use such an opportunity to speak their mind is stripping them of what could be their biggest accomplishment — bigger than winning Olympic gold.

Before raising his fist in protest of unfair conditions in America, Tommie Smith was just the fastest sprinter in the world. John Carlos was third fastest. They were just names in the record books.

But they chose to be more than that.

They chose to be honest.

While the 1968 Summer Olympics may not have been seen as pure by many, the hearts of Tommie Smith and John Carlos were pure that day.

Purity is honesty.

Purity is truth.

Purity is free.

Purity is free speech.

QA&

[INTERVIEW]

SPECIAL SECTION

B9

WITH

HARRY EDWARDS When Harry Edwards came to San Jose State as a student, he witnessed racism and neglect by the college. When he came back in 1966 as an instructor, nothing had changed.

So, he decided to change it.

Out of his efforts, and the efforts of the students who worked with him, the Olympic Project for Human Rights was born. Edwards talked to SJSU student media about the events of 1968. In the following excerpts, he discusses his own motivations, the political climate at the college in the ’60s, and the goals of the movement that ultimately led to Tommie Smith and John Carlos putting their fists in the air at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

Q: A:

How did you first get involved in activism?

I was among the first generation of Negro students at the time to enter integrated high schools in East St. Louis, Illinois. They integrated the elementary schools in 1955 following 1954, Brown v. Board of Education.

They integrated the junior high schools in 1956 and they integrated the high schools in 1957.

So I was among that first big flush of Negro students who went to East St. Louis Senior High School, and when I got there, one of the things that I found was that we were there but we were basically unwanted guests. They had no idea about how to teach us. They had very little to no knowledge of our culture. They had no idea about how we were prepared to come to school, how to even approach us.

The one area where we really had some degree of comfort was on the athletic field because once you get into that locker room and put on the football equipment or once you’re out on the track throwing the discus or running, the regimen is very clear. The only shortcut is hard work and the only goal is to win. So in that arena, we were comfortable but still not accepted.

It was very, very clear that as soon as the athletic event was over, we had no place in that area. So by the time I left high school, I was very much aware of what I was up against.

Q: A:

Harry Edwards speaks to SJSU student CARLOS A. MORENO / Spartan Daily media in front of the Tommie Smith and John Carlos Statue.

What was the atmosphere of SJSU like from 1966 to 1968?

It was extremely difficult.

Very few people in the general academic and social culture of this campus realized what Negro students went through, even athletes.

They were not aware of the day-to-day ongoing humiliation in terms of trying to rent an apartment, in terms of trying to find a barber shop that would cut your hair, in terms of going down to a restaurant where there’s not a table at a place – and you’re in Downtown San Jose and you’re trying to simply sit down and buy a meal and somebody comes to the door, “Can I help you?” “Yes, I would like to eat lunch.”

“We’re not open yet.” Then you’re half a block away and you see somebody else or another group walk right in.

Nobody was conscious of the degree of humiliation and outrage that Negro students went through on this campus. To go into an academic department and not be able to register in that major — nobody was aware of that. To walk down 11th Street, frat row, and have epithets screamed out of the windows. You’re walking and all of a sudden a beer bottle crashes on the sidewalk just behind you.

Nobody understood what that was about. And of course going to filing a suit, going to the police — you’re talking about 18-, 19-, 20-year-old students — that’s not what we did, assuming that we had access

to the judicial system. Nobody would take that seriously, a Negro student saying “I got a problem with the segregated frat row.”

We’d probably get the same response we got when we took this issue to the housing vice president here, which was to be laughed out of the place. It was just not taken seriously. It was assumed that we were simply privileged to be here.

Anything else: You’re over the top, you’re asking too much, you’re out of your place.

And the campus for the most part, and I’m talking professors, counselors, the administration simply did not get it. They didn’t understand the pain, the outrage, the anguish, the humiliation that even their star athletes went through in this environment.

It had been going on for years. It wasn’t just my generation. My generation was simply the first generation to stand up and confront the institution of the generations who accommodated the situation by helping each other out and helping each other get through it.

We determined it wasn’t an issue of getting through it. It was an issue of stopping it. Our perspective was not to try to figure out how to get around the rotten apples. Our perspective was to overturn the entire apple cart because that was the only way the situation was going to be corrected.

Q: A:

When did you first decide to boycott the Olympics and why?

The Olympic project for human rights got its name by virtue of the fact that after our experiences here at San Jose State, it became very, very clear that it was not an issue of civil rights, in terms of the housing, in terms of the access to a broad variety of majors, in terms of the kind of support systems that we needed in this environment and in terms of the daily humiliations and outrages that we dealt with both on campus and off in this community.

It wasn’t an issue of civil rights; we had civil rights issues because our basic human status was questioned. “You can’t major in this, that or the other because you don’t have the intellectual capacity.” “You can’t come into this housing and rent an apartment because we question your basic human status.”

And so the Olympic Project for Human Rights was named as such because we wanted, with the Olympic movement, to go beyond the civil issues that were involved and really begin to challenge the basic notion that somehow Negroes, as we were called at the time, were less than human in certain fundamental basic ways and therefore were not deserving of full and total civil rights.

We also understood that by putting the struggle at the level of human rights, it enabled us to go beyond the American

issues, because there were South Africa and Southern Rhodesia, which had run racist governments by constitutional design and were oppressing the majority of black people in those countries, and they too were concerned by Southern Rhodesia and South Africa being members in good standing, strongly supported by the United States and Britain and a number of other Western powers.

So this enabled us to link up with and to help to support them. It also enabled us to link up with and to help to support the student populations, in particular in Mexico, who were very much concerned about the corruption, about the total misappropriation of national resources and then ultimately about the amount of money that was being spent on the Olympic Games in Mexico City, while there were millions of people in Mexico’s population that were suffering mean at a very basic and fundamental level, food, shelter, medicine and so forth.

So, the human rights designation enabled us to move beyond issues of segregated housing in this country, racial discrimination in this city and enabled us to deal with these issues at their core, not just in this country but all over the world where we could make common calls with people involved in a similar struggle.

FallPreview An in-depth look at football season fashion trends See page 4

Pamper yourself with a pedicure from Elite Nail & Spa See page 4

The Cottages of Lubbock offers luxurious living See page 4

FIND THE PERFECT RING AT ROBERT LANCE JEWELRY See page 4