Maybe it all started a few years ago with Bill Clinton. The nation got a glimpse of politics at its worst, when our then-president addressed the nation about serious and inflammatory issues, and didn’t actually say anything at all. He became the master of saving his own butt, and our country didn’t fall for it.

Or maybe it started a long time before that.

Our community here at MSU is no different than our nation as a whole. We have a government, we have private citizens, and yes, there are conflicts and rifts between them. We too have witnessed our own university government dance around issues, without actually committing itself to anything. We too, will not be fooled.

There have been activist groups in the news as of late, who have put requests to our administration for action. Groups fighting for an end to sweatshops, fighting for the environment and fighting for equal rights and representation.

These are not selfish issues. These are issues that affect every single person in this university, as well as our community. Yet our school administrators dance around the point and put the issues on a political back burner.

President M. Peter McPherson: You cannot put 45,000 passionate students on a back burner for ever. We will boil over.

Earlier this month, McPherson gave the State of the University Address. He said things were going great.

Well, sir, here’s my State of Your Presidency address: Examine history, Mr. President. No rulers who lack the support of those they govern can last for long. Your students don’t want you to bow to their every wish. We want you to listen. We want you to take a stand on issues, not to avoid them. We want you to act like a leader.

Ethan Smith
forestry senior