Imagine the world without sound. That is what life was like for Michigan State University professor Nan Johnson after she lost her hearing at age 59 from the inheritance of a single gene. Kate March has the story.

Every time a toilet flushes, a shower runs or a sink turns on at Michigan State University, one can feel confident that MSU is doing its part to save the planet. This is all a part of the university’s efforts in the “Go Green” program, aimed at helping to conserve water and energy. Over the past ten years, the university has been implementing changes to conserve. Kate March has the story.

Opposing Story: The energy on campus is primarily generated from the coal plant. The plant relies mostly on coal for its source of fuel. MSU, however, has been in the process of becoming more energy efficient, working toward a greener way to produce energy and improve emissions. Cara Ball has the story on alternative energy. Click here for video to accompany the story.

You see them everywhere. Locked outside of your dorm and lecture halls, whizzing by you on the sidewalk, trudging through the sludge in the bike lane. Bicycles. But then, you catch a flash of color, maybe orange rims or bright green handlebar tape. Odds are, it was one of a growing fleet of fixed-gear bicycles zipping across campus. Jordan Travis has more.

Debates flow around Michigan State University campus year round, and students join organizations in support of causes, but usually that’s where the activism stops. But opponents of animal testing on campus have historically taken things farther. Ben Meissner has the story.

Holiday airline sales are normal this year in Lansing despite an unstable economy, but less MSU students went home due to high ticket prices. Elizabeth Carlson has the story.

The midnight showing of “Twilight” is comparable to the madness of “Harry Potter” premiers. As it was time for the movie to start, applause broke out when it started…and then again when Edward first came on….and then again. Jaret Bozigian said the movie did the book justice. Read here for his review.

Students who dine at Yakeley hall will soon be eating all-organic produce, courtesy of a solar-powered “hoop house” that will be maintained at MSU’s Student Organic Farm year-round. Reporter Kaleigh Robichaud has more about the ceremony.

Reports across the nation show that demand for assistance from charitable organizations is on the rise, but donations are on the decline. In Grand Ledge, the story is no different, but the assistance programs have been able to stay open despite the tough economic times.

Opinion: Jacob Kanclerz had trouble gaining access to student athletes for a story, showing how alternative media can be limited in its principles of free press. This censorship affects journalists like us at all levels, and you can be assured that the same problems can occur right here at SpartanEdge. Read more.

There is a rich tradition associated with the Detroit Lions playing football on Thanksgiving Day, but more recently these games have become a losing tradition. The Lions are an NFL worst 0-11 this season, and as luck would have it, they’re set to play a tough team, the Tennessee Titans. John Kalmar has more.

Edgitorial: Here at Spartan Edge we remain independent. Nobody tells us what to write or how to write it, and nobody censors our words once we do write them. And we like it like that. In the end, we produce quality writing in a niche on campus that was unfilled until we came along – that of the multimedia-driven Web site. Click here for more.

Have you ever wondered what determines size? What makes some molecules smaller and others bigger? Or even how some people manage to pack a week's worth of clothes in a suitcase when you can only fit two days’ worth? Then there's the ever popular question: why do some people take up more room than others? Fear not! Here to answer all these questions and more is...dun da da da...Dr. Science!

MusicEdge: The All Time Low headlining tour was originally booked at St. Andrew’s Hall but was immediately sold out. After rebooking twice, Michigan’s own, Every Avenue performed with The Maine, Mayday Parade and All Time Low for a sold out crazy-up beat show on Nov. 21. Reviewer Shannon Oneil notes it says something when the opening band brings the same amount of energy as many headlining bands from different shows.

When OAR came to MSU last week, music wasn’t the only thing they brought. Their concert on Nov. 20 was just the finale to a day full of events as part of the Campus Consciousness Tour that sought to inspire environmental awareness and activism. Alisha Green has the story.

When one thinks of a riverboat, the next thought is usually not heavy metal. But on Saturday, Nov. 22, five local metal bands and the Michigan Princess made the most unholy music-venue union since David Hasselhoff and the Berlin Wall. Hundreds of metal-heads filled the boat. Ben Meissner has more.

Wanna write? create a video or shoot photography? blog? Web design? Email Amanda Peterka, spring 2009 editor-in-chief, at peterkaa@msu.edu for positions open this spring.