Photo by Kurt Stepnitz Holiday cheer on display A 16-foot tree made entirely of poinsettias is on display at the greenhouse conservator of the Plant and Soil Sciences Building. The annual free holiday open house is today from 5 to 8 p.m. The event will feature a visit from Santa, decorating demonstrations, a performance by the Wardcliff School children’s choir and a plant sale.

VOL. 36, NO. 8 - DEC. 9, 2004

Commencement ceremonies set

MSU's 2,737 candidates for degrees will mark a milestone in their educational careers with commencement ceremonies Dec. 10 and 11. (Full story)

Kalamazoo student wins Marshall Scholarship

Bhooma Aravamuthan of Kalamazoo is the recipient of a Marshall Scholarship for 2005 and the opportunity to study in the United Kingdom. (Full story)

McPherson goes to Washington

Peter McPherson will move to the Washington, D.C. area in January to work on various projects related to international development and education, he said recently. He will leave the MSU presidency Dec. 31 as president emeritus after serving in the position for 11-plus years. (Full story)

Network shutdown tied to repairs

On Dec. 29, the Computing and Networking Services (ACNS) unit will shutdown the Computer Center for equipment renovations. (Full story)

MLK celebration to include variety of campus activities

MSU is building new traditions with the 25th annual commemorative celebration honoring Martin Luther King Jr. (Full story)

Provost search committee seeks input from campus

MSU's search for the new permanent provost is officially underway and nominations and applications are being accepted by the university's search and rating advisory committee. (Full story)

Faculty Conversation with Brenda Sternquist, professor of international retailing, Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Retailing

(Full story)

Spartan holiday shopping options abundant

If you are looking to find that perfect gift for that special someone this holiday seasion, MSU has a variety of shopping options. (Full story)

Three 'U' faculty members selected as IEEE fellows

Three MSU professors have been seleted as fellows of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. (Full story)

State Senate, Michigan Farm Bureau honor McPherson for contributions

President Peter McPherson has been honored by the Michigan Farm Bureau for his contributions to the state's agriculture industry. Also this week, McPherson was honored by the Michigan state Senate for 11 years of leadership at MSU. (Full story)

Linguist receives award from the Republic of Poland

Dennis R. Preston, University Distinguished Professor of linguistics, was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland on Nov. 26 in Warsaw. (Full story)

College of Osteopathic Medicine earns $1.5 million grant

The MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine will use a $1.5 million grant from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations to fund a professorship dedicated to furthering biomedical research in the area of the neuromusculoskeletal system. (Full story)

MSU law team wins national championship

The MSU College of Law Moot Court Team was awarded first place in the Annual National Entertainment Law Moot Court Competition on Nov. 12-14 at the Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, Calif. This is the second consecutive year that an MSU law team has captured the championship at the event. (Full story)

Programs announce grants for collaborative research

Nearly $480,000 in grants will be awarded to MSU faculty for 2004-05 as part of an annual competitive grant program focusing on collaborative research on children, youth, family and community issues. (Full story)

Winning student essays show international views

Coming to the United States from another country can be exciting, thrilling ... and sometimes scary and lonely. (Full story)

Committee seeks ways to increase voice on issues

Presidential searches, college restructuring and ways to strengthen faculty input are among topics to be addressed by the Ad hoc university Committee on Faculty Voice. (Full story)

MSU Museum director, curator honored

The American Folklore Society, the nation's leading professional organization for folklorists, has announced that Kurt Dewhurst and Marsha MacDowell of the MSU Museum have been named the 2004 recipients of the Americo Paredes Prize. (Full story)

State of the Payroll Address for Year 2005

(Full story)