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.

COMMENTARY

Moving out leads to new beginnings

Forgive me if I seem a little sweaty writing this week’s column; it’s been a long day. I’ve been up since about 8 a.m. this morning, generally doing more organizing than actual work.

COMMENTARY

State should move to prevent poor teaching

There are a lot of strict ways a government can punish an organization. And to those who don’t know the context, those punishments often can seem unwarranted. But there are times when organizations repeatedly have ignored government wishes, which almost always means penalties will come.

COMMENTARY

Digital textbooks not without problems

The country’s slow transition to an entirely digital world has made its way into the education system, as more universities begin to offer online courses and digital textbooks for classes. President Barack Obama proposed funding online courses at community colleges as part of an effort to improve higher education, and it appears colleges nationwide soon might no longer need paper books. But that doesn’t mean this new technology won’t have some drawbacks.

COMMENTARY

Clunkers program immoral, not benefiting economy

I’m writing in response to the editorial “Clunkers program success proves need for extension”:http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2009/08/clunkers_program_success_proves_need_for_extension (SN 8/3). I would like to offer readers another opinion of the program. First, the article explains the program as a success, and hardly expands on what its original goals were.

COMMENTARY

U.S. economy needs major overhaul

We have found ourselves debating whether or not the government should take over our health care system and our industries; we should instead look to solutions that actually work and will give us the best chance to retain our world standing.

COMMENTARY

Mich. film incentives creating jobs, aiding economy

Despite the success of Michigan’s push to draw filmmakers into the state with incentives like tax credits, some in the state Legislature still aren’t pleased. After only a year with the country’s biggest tax credit to the film industry, there are opponents claiming that the credits cost the state too much and that spending should be capped.

COMMENTARY

MSU still deserves to be listed among top party schools

Through my three-plus years on and around MSU’s glorious campus, I’ve had many memorable experiences. From days wasted throwing a Frisbee to hours of studying in buildings all over campus to Durrell Summers’ dunk, every occurrence has been an unofficial proclamation of my pride in this university. To most of my friends outside of MSU, the real attractiveness lies in the stories created late at night.

COMMENTARY

Dogs more than just stereotype

I’ve had a lot of dogs during my short time on this planet — four to be exact. My family has owned mutts, purebreds, Frisbee dogs, lazy dogs, dogs adopted from kennels and puppies fresh from the litter.

COMMENTARY

Increasing sin tax could ease budget troubles

In hard economic times such as these, it becomes more common for citizens to retreat to the comforts of life: popping a cold one after a stressful day at work; a cigarette or two to take the edge off, perhaps. And that’s completely understandable — there’s no sin in that.

COMMENTARY

Nonsense harming political process

A new line has been crossed in the seemingly never-ending controversy surrounding President Barack Obama’s birthplace. For the past few months, “birthers” — those doubting Obama’s citizenship based on his place of birth — have been calling on the president to release his full birth certificate, claiming that he was not a natural born U.S. citizen and thus cannot hold the office of president.

COMMENTARY

High speed rail would benefit Michigan

The distance between Detroit and Chicago might seem a little shorter if a plan to bring a high speed rail line to the Midwest comes to fruition. Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Missouri, Indiana and Minnesota have all united in hopes of securing $8 billion of federal stimulus money to build a 110 mph rail line though the states.

COMMENTARY

Animal exhibition teaches children wrong lesson

The article Pets featured at E.L. event for children (SN 7/27) romanticizes the exhibition of exotic animals and supports the dubious claims of educational enrichment through animal exploitation.

COMMENTARY

Arrogance has no place in politics

I thought long and hard about penning these words, but felt after some real heart wrenching soul searching that the time was ripe to offer a comment about a problem that has been festering in our poor country for years and years and years.

COMMENTARY

Clunkers program success proves need for extension

In the months since the $787 billion recovery plan has started making its way into local economies, some of the bill’s short-term results are becoming noticeable. But few have seen as much immediate success as the government’s “cash for clunkers” program, which has been so popular among motorists it has already exhausted its voucher money provided by the stimulus package.

COMMENTARY

City official responds to City Center II editorial

The State News editorial regarding City Center II, “E.L. should try to dump City Center II developer”:http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2009/07/el_should_try_to_dump_city_center_ii_developer (SN 7/23), represents a classic case of irresponsible journalism and a complete lack of regard for accuracy in reporting. It calls for a discussion on how responsible media must continuously work toward high journalistic standards if they are to maintain relevance in today’s world.

COMMENTARY

Net neutrality becomes reality

Mark your calendars. On July 26, the debate about net neutrality left the academic world and became reality. It was the day that AT&T began to block a portion of the Web site 4chan.org from its DSL customers, not for legal reasons, but simply because of its own whims.

COMMENTARY

Mich. Republican budget plan threatens students

It seems like every year for the past few years, the Michigan government’s most important goal has been to shave some spending off its shrinking budget. We’ve supported almost every attempt the state has made to reduce its size, since the prospect of raising taxes isn’t a great one.

COMMENTARY

Prescription drug ad legislation misguided

Those annoying commercials warning about four-hour erections could be a thing of the past if a new bill introduced by Rep. James Moran, D-Va., sees its way through Congress. Moran’s beef with the commercials stems from what he considers a problem of decency. Though, his proposal would probably be better off if he tried to take on prescription drug advertising as a whole, instead.

COMMENTARY

Homeless veteran complex worthy endeavor

Although it may not seem like it, and despite the state’s seemingly endless list of problems, there are good things happening. A Detroit housing development has a chance to be one of those good things.