Tuesday, December 24, 2024

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Commentary

COMMENTARY

MSU should not welcome PETA based on past actions

Students Promoting Animal Rights, or SPAR, the MSU animal rights group, is hosting a speech by Dan Mathews, the Vice President of PETA. There was an article in The State News about it, and I see the event advertised everywhere in sidewalk chalk. It looks like Mathews is getting the hero’s welcome.

COMMENTARY

CHICANO/Latino students deserve explanation

As a Chicano/Latino Studies graduate, class of 2001, I demand to know why the recommendations of the advisory committee and the situation with the CLS director have not been resolved. The people have spoken their dissatisfaction with the current director of CLS, Dr. Sheila Contreras, and I’m having a hard time understanding why she hasn’t been removed from her current position.

COMMENTARY

Domestic policy must take priority

As our country got off to its rough beginnings and transitions in government, our foreign policy was to stay away from foreign affairs and focus on domestic reforms. However, that same foreign policy has evolved into a global encompassing policy pertaining to all interests except our own. Our once-isolationist tendencies seem to have dissolved and we now are involved all over the world with no signs of slowing down, despite our decaying domestic situation.

COMMENTARY

Extending unemployment benefits right choice

As the United States has trudged through this recession, it has been no secret that our own state has been hurting the most in a lot of ways, especially when it comes to unemployment. Almost 450,000 Michiganians currently are reaping unemployment benefits, and if a new plan passes in Congress soon, Michigan’s unemployed might see an extension to their benefits.

COMMENTARY

Columnist gives advice to parents

In light of the recent uproar by some parents about President Barack Obama’s reading of a speech to America’s schoolchildren on Tuesday, I decided to draft a counter-speech to any parent who kept their child from going to school out of fear that they would be indoctrinated by “socialist propaganda.” The full text of my counter-speech, in case you missed it, is printed below:

COMMENTARY

Jones resignation unfortunate, understandable

For those who have missed the news, White House environmental adviser Van Jones announced his resignation Saturday. It’s a resignation we find understandable. Jones didn’t want to take away from the real work that President Barack Obama’s administration is trying to accomplish, a sentiment we find admirable.

COMMENTARY

Leaders must live up to obligations

Of the millions of books, articles, lectures and Web sites that aim to define leadership and how one best demonstrates such, there are a few simple themes that emerge time and time again.

COMMENTARY

Conservative faculty seek to protect America's freedom

Freedom is the foundation of America and freedom is what makes America the greatest nation on earth. Freedom in America is defined and governed by the civil rights of individuals who are independent of and superior to generic identities such as race, gender, ethnicity, religion or national origin.

COMMENTARY

Shortened Welcome Week disservice to students

My first Thanksgiving as a college student holds many lessons for me. Finding that getting home actually costs money and learning that the dreaded “freshman 15” might not be from a college diet but the gorging of home-cooked meals — after months of subpar cafeteria food — and discovering the value of a mom willing to do laundry for free are just some of those lessons.

COMMENTARY

Respect needed for true dialogue

As an opinion writer, I see it as partly my duty to stay on top of the latest controversies, both local and national. All the “hot gossip,” so to speak. So, for my first column of the year, I wanted to write on something big and topical: health care reform. Thrilling, I know.

COMMENTARY

New Welcome Week accomplishes MSU's goals

One year ago, surviving Welcome Week might have meant you didn’t vomit in the street or have a run-in with the East Lansing Police Department. This year, however, it might just mean you made it to class prepared.

COMMENTARY

Options needed in health care solution

As many students lazed away the summer in bikinis and swim trunks, men and women in suits worked around the clock in Washington, D.C., to debate one of the most important issues in our nation’s recent history: health care.

COMMENTARY

Apartment complexes exploiting students

I am a first-year law student at this great institution. About six months ago, I began to do everything that I felt would prepare me for a successful start at the MSU College of Law. I went to an admitted candidates session where I met the new dean of the law school as well as several professors. I asked questions of both the financial aid office and the admissions office. I was even offered a full scholarship to the College of Law as part of the King’s Scholars Program.