Monday, November 11, 2024

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Commentary

COMMENTARY

Breslin, McNamara provide balance to board

There are two open seats on MSU’s Board of Trustees, with two Democratic and two Republican candidates running for election. No matter who wins, the majority of board members will be Democrats. Even if that is the case, MSU needs to be made priority.

COMMENTARY

Ban on 'Four Loko' would be crazy

Nine college students in the state of Washington ended up in the hospital earlier this month. Allegedly, they were so sick hospital employees believed they had been drugged. But as it turns out, they had not been drugged at all but had been drinking Four Loko — and evidently way too much of it.

COMMENTARY

Whitmer's views on education, jobs practical

MSU law student Kyle Haubrich said he thinks people need a choice in this year’s state Senate race in the 23rd District, which includes MSU and East Lansing. He’s right, but in the contest between Haubrich, a Republican, and state Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, going with the hometown girl is the best bet.

COMMENTARY

Columnist's restrictions on speech would be harmful

In his Oct. 26 column “Terror speech is not free speech” (SN 10/26), Craig Gunn expresses some opinions that I find, quite frankly, rather alarming. But that is his right. Our First Amendment rights give everyone the opportunity to state their opinions on any number of subjects — including the opinion that others should not have this right.

COMMENTARY

Improperly used antibiotics threaten humans and livestock

A pressing issue in the scientific world many people are unaware of is the overuse of antibiotics in feed animals. Approximately 80 percent of antibiotics produced in the U.S. each year are used for preventative measures to keep livestock from becoming ill, according to a study published in 2002 by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

COMMENTARY

Time to lose sense of entitlement

There are few things we agree on in American politics. Much of that is a good thing. Our Founding Fathers crafted our democracy so opposing viewpoints would need to compromise in order to move forward.

COMMENTARY

State News, letter writer lack perspective, objectivity

I am writing to express my disagreement with a recently published letter (“Protestors at Friday’s Izzone Campout were in the wrong,” SN 10/26), regarding the demonstration held by the Coalition Against Sexual Violence at the Izzone Campout last Friday, as well as my frustration with The State News’ uneven coverage of the event.

COMMENTARY

Students need more education about loans, debt

For the first time, student loans have surpassed credit card debt to become the No. 1 source of debt held by Americans. With a combination of fewer college graduates getting jobs and unemployment at 8.7 percent, repaying student loans six months after graduation might be difficult for most.

COMMENTARY

Terror speech is not free speech

While watching a news blurb on the degenerate characters at the heart of the controversy over groups of “religious” barbarians arriving at military funerals in order to protest homosexuality in America, I started to think carefully about the issue of freedom of speech and what it really means.

COMMENTARY

To stand apart, don't 'slut it up'

Halloween, originally called Samhain, was a Celtic celebration to mark the end of summer. Children and adults wore masks and costumes to honor their ancestors while simultaneously protecting themselves from harmful spirits.

COMMENTARY

MSU should take an active role in drug education

More than 13 percent of MSU students reported illegally using Adderall or other unprescribed stimulants within the past year. That seems like a relatively small percentage of students, but when compared to the 93 percent increase of students nationwide abusing prescription drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin between 1993-2005, the number is much more startling.

COMMENTARY

To avoid gutters, compromise is key

Remember the art of compromise? Remember back in the day when people and politicians actually were able to come together and somehow figure out a way to come to some sort of reasonable agreement?

COMMENTARY

Art turns shame into strength

In the past, tattoos were applied for various reasons; the embodiment of magical protection, a relief from pain, a declaration of vengeance, victory, religious belief or humiliation.

COMMENTARY

Goldsmith's column offered little besides sensationalism

I fear Mitch Goldsmith’s article, “Column ignored price of hunting” (SN 10/19), was sensationalist, at best. While he noted that staff writer Laura Fosmire “relies on the myth and romanticized conceptions of hunting” for the lack of her family background, I come from a long line of individuals who hunt as well as others who do not.