Monday, December 23, 2024

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Commentary

COMMENTARY

Government spending must be mindful of growing debt

To get out of this recession, the government needs to do more to create jobs, help struggling state and local governments such as those in Michigan and help homeowners avoid foreclosures, said Robert Kuttner in a talk in the Worldview Lecture Series on Monday night.

COMMENTARY

Health care bill discussions should be public

One would be forgiven for giving up on the idea the U.S. ever will pass health care legislation. It’s the fight that just won’t end. However, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. The question is whether that light is a solution or yet another train coming to run the whole process down.

COMMENTARY

Dignity has place on Halloween

It might seem a bit early for a Halloween-related column, and it probably is. But while in line at Starbucks a few days ago, I overheard a conversation from a fellow female student about her Halloween costume plans.

COMMENTARY

ASMSU needs to refocus, represent students

Last week, The State News published an editorial praising ASMSU’s recent accomplishments — most notably its attempt to start a need-based leadership scholarship and efforts to testify in favor of a student medical amnesty bill.

COMMENTARY

Free speech should be balanced with civility

Last year, when Jared Rapp confronted a university parking officer about a parking ticket, he likely didn’t intend for it to lead to a long lawsuit about his First Amendment rights. But, for better or for worse, that’s what happened.

COMMENTARY

False impressions can be harmful

Throughout the years, I have heard every conceivable complaint against the police departments in the area. Students complain continuously about how they are treated by the police and how they, the students, have no respect for anyone in a uniform.

COMMENTARY

Teaching assistants crucial to performance of MSU

The recent articles about “untracked” teaching assistants, or TAs, on campus missed the larger picture. Heather Guenther and the State News editorial board emphasize the lack of centrally-tracked data about TAs on campus but ignore both the localized relationships between TAs and their faculty of record (or “mentors” as Guenther calls them) as well as the unique advantages offered by TA-taught courses.

COMMENTARY

Art too obsessed with suffering

Some of the more appreciated lyrics of our generation are those of Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes. These lyrics include, “I scream for the sunlight or a car to take me anywhere, just get me past this dead and eternal snow, because I swear that I am dying, slowly but it’s happening.”

COMMENTARY

Art plan can bring prosperity to Lansing area

When money is tight in government, the arts usually are cut right away. Considered expendable and unimportant, art, music and other cultural programs often are the first to see the chopping block in favor of more “valuable” programs or services.

COMMENTARY

City attorney responds to column's accusations

On Sept. 15, I reported to the East Lansing City Council on a favorable outcome in the case of Phil Bellfy v. East Lansing Historic District Commission. I recently read a guest column published in The State News, City misrepresents outcome of lawsuit (SN 10/5), wherein Mr. Bellfy claims I misrepresented the outcome of this lawsuit in my report to council, misinterpreted the decision and simply lied to City Council in my report. That accusation is absolutely false and I would like to set the record straight.