COMMENTARY
East Lansing needs to accept its true identity
East Lansing always will be a college town. It has been since MSU’s founding and will continue to be as long as the university is open.
COMMENTARY
Blizzard shows privatization is not the root of all evil
In his end of fall semester column Be wary of more privatization (SN 12/8), author Joel Reinstein rants about the perils of privatization of government services and asserts that the private sector doesn’t care if it destroys this country.
COMMENTARY
Out of tragedy springs dialog
You might have heard, but if you haven’t; there are some pretty intense things happening in the southwest part of the country. And the fallout from is spreading.
COMMENTARY
Waiving points on license good, paying for it: bad
For the most part, it’s a good thing that recently passed state legislation gives usually safe drivers a break from potential insurance hikes after their first minor traffic offense.
COMMENTARY
Sometimes ‘funny’ can go wrong
I am sure that if I polled the entire population of MSU I would find a vast array of answers to what was accomplished during the nearly four weeks we had off from 2010-11.
COMMENTARY
Although harsh, ‘N-word’ has place in literature
Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn” has a new character. “Nigger Jim” now will be “Slave Jim” in a new version of the classic novel.
COMMENTARY
Time for paper to think digital
I feel this is usually the column that talks about needing more columnists and more letters. We do — we always do. Even when I have enough, there needs to be more. The page needs as many views on as many topics as possible. As one of the fundamental tenets of democracy, I’m of the opinion this page should reflect that ideal.
COMMENTARY
Transparency essential for Michigan’s recovery
It’s a new year, new semester and a fresh face is now the head honcho in Michigan. Newly elected Gov. Rick Snyder is hoping to revive Michigan’s downtrodden economy with job creation, more bipartisan politics and a balanced two-year budget without increasing taxes.
COMMENTARY
Unfair blame placed on antibiotic use in animal production, farmers
In the letter, “Overuse of antibiotics might compromise human being’s health,” (SN 12/7), Margaret Marciniak makes some biased claims and raises unnecessary fear about the use of antibiotics in production animals.
COMMENTARY
Union quiet lounge should be available for all students
This is a reply to the letter “MSU’s Women’s Lounge a relic of past discrimination” (SN 12/3). Thirty years ago as an undergraduate at MSU, I valued the Women’s Lounge as the quietest place in the Union. It was a place where I could do some serious work on a paper or even catch a much-needed nap.
COMMENTARY
Relationships still a bit rocky
Usually, the end of the semester column is about carrying on and enjoying the break. However, this time, I want it to be about what comes next. In the most basic sense, this page is about news analysis, which is crucial in a 24-hour news cycle where things are event — and not issue — oriented. In that world, the editorial page becomes a place to parse and analyze the events covered in the paper.
COMMENTARY
Acquire knowledge, disregard distractions
It’s 3 a.m. the night before your must-pass final. A sea of Red Bull cans, candy wrappers and note cards pile up and barricade you into a frenzied hole of hopeless PowerPoint slides.
COMMENTARY
Be wary of more privatization
Our incoming governor Rick Snyder has spoken in glowing terms of “public-private partnerships.” It’s a euphemism that more than deserves scare quotes. To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, it’s not unlike a partnership between a wolf and a sheep. In exchange for the sheep’s tax dollars, the wolf provides the badly needed service of devouring the sheep.
COMMENTARY
Lansing's marijuana moratorium comes a little late
There will be no medical marijuana dispensaries opened in Lansing until Lansing’s City Council can figure out proper licensing and regulation. That’s the responsible action for a governing body to take. Unless, of course, there already are almost 70 dispensaries currently operating that would not be subject to some of the new potential regulations.
COMMENTARY
State News talks big, falls flat
I was puzzled to read this week’s State News editorial “Student action needs to find jolt of inspiration” (SN 12/6), which seemed to actually (gasp) encourage student activism! The State News editorial board writes that “one of the greatest worries of our generation is that despite being at critical junctions for a multitude of important issues … students have shown what seems to be apathy, but is probably closer to complacency.”
COMMENTARY
When it comes to WikiLeaks, post what you feel
WikiLeaks’ recent disclosure of thousands of U.S. diplomatic cables has caused many to wonder what it all means: Why is the government hiding this information? How does its release affect the U.S.? Is it legal? Is Julian Assange a traitor?
COMMENTARY
Overuse of antibiotics might compromise human being' health
In a letter to the editor published Oct. 31 (“Zoology students’ letter was misleading, accusatory?” SN 10/31), Joel Sparks failed to mention some very important points. The numbers of drug-resistant infections have increased in the past two decades and are killing about 70,000 Americans a year.
COMMENTARY
Inane BCS formulas strip Spartans of rightful place
In East Lansing these days, there’s no shortage of people with gripes about the Bowl Championship Series, or BCS, and its role in keeping our football team from a BCS bowl game. Rarely, though, is there coverage of how we came to be the lowest ranked BCS team out of the Big Ten co-champions behind Wisconsin and the Ohio State University.
COMMENTARY
Education is our greatest asset
I view my four transformative years at MSU as the utmost privilege, but I’m feeling a little entitled to a bigger Pell Grant after delving into the world of private student loans.
COMMENTARY
Student action needs to find jolt of inspiration
Perhaps one of the greatest worries of our generation is that despite being at critical junctions for a multitude of important issues — climate change, health care, higher education, renewable energy, etc. — students have shown what seems to be apathy, but is probably closer to complacency.