Thank you, City Council, for passing yet another student-related ordinance the very minute that most of the affected population leaves for the summer.

Thank you even more for making the MSU population that is solely responsible for building this town, have an ever-dwindling opinion of you. "Get out and vote in East Lansing," you say. Make our voices heard.

It's hard to do that when the issues we care about are brought to the table when we have left for the summer.

Upset that you didn't get one of Gov. Granholm's "Cool Cities" grants? Maybe you should stop driving out the very population you are trying to attract. If you say that it's not your intention, you have some explaining to do.

Just trying to attract young families to the area? I hope that if, as permanent residents, they have a super bowl party where beer is provided and the surround sound is on too loud, they too get slapped with a $1,000 fine. But who are we kidding?

Since I came to MSU as a freshman, I have seen the home-gown rift in East Lansing pushed farther apart, with each new ordinance passed. Our relationship with the city's police - which wasn't great to begin with - is now downright dreadful. What exactly are you trying to accomplish by alienating 40,000 of your city's most important residents?

News flash to you: We actually are residents of this city, not just a group of hooligans who come and go like locusts, ravaging the town for everything it's worth.

So to the City Council, you're welcome. You're welcome for the low crime rate, cheap housing costs, and for attracting new businesses and a diverse tourist population every year. But don't worry about thanking us. We'd never even dream of expecting it.

Michelle Greene
journalism senior