Legislation making its way through the Michigan House of Representatives could soon allow the wrongly convicted to sue the state for at least $50,000 for each year they spent in prison, a law similar to those already in existence in 22 other states.
Although religion still plays a large role in the social discourse of American society, its authority in the long term has eroded tremendously. Since the Enlightenment, society has largely shifted toward making decisions based on logic, rather than faith and dogma. Although the number of people who proclaim themselves reasonable is certainly growing, many self-described reasonable persons are actually just as unreasonable as the religious groups they mock.
The Real ID Act is set to go into action beginning in May. This is the most dangerous and egregious attack on our civil liberties yet forced upon us. If I am forced to carry a driver’s license with an RFID chip in it, I will burn it in the same manner that our forefathers burnt their draft cards.
When I studied in Beijing, I had eight Tibetan classmates. And like most Chinese friends, I have much concern about Tibetan issues. However, many Americans neglect that Tibet has been part of China for more than 700 years, which makes me disappointed. As a believer in peace, I’d like to share my opinion of the Tibetan issues.
On Tuesday, MSU’s Young Americans for Freedom brought a self-proclaimed reformed terrorist named Walid Shoebat to campus. In my opinion, bringing such controversial speakers often causes the free speech debate to resurface.
There’s still time to sign. Don’t be fooled into thinking otherwise. Students who haven’t already signed a lease for the fall shouldn’t be worried about trying to put a roof over their heads next year. Despite what the leasing offices and landlords of East Lansing have to say, there are enough rooms and apartments to assure everyone will find a place to live, on and off campus.
I am writing in response to YAF speaker poor choice, brings hate speech at MSU (SN 3/25). Mike Adams makes a poor assumption about the nature of freedom of speech. He preempts the newest MSU Young Americans for Freedom speaker by saying “They should instead host a debate of some kind where both sides can present what they believe. MSU YAF claims to like free speech, but they only like free speech for themselves.”
There are some things that teeter-totter in my mind. Do I prefer Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton? Are patterned wellies really that cute? Is Starbucks worth the $4 I spend every time? But the topic that has most frequently bounced back and forth in my head is my opinion on graffiti stencils.
In Mike Adams’ letter titled YAF speaker poor choice, brings hate speech at MSU (SN 3/25), it was argued that MSU’s Young Americans for Freedom was only for speech that supports their cause.
I witnessed what would normally be a heartwarming scene in the International Center. There was a table set up with a great big banner supporting the Olympics. Happy students were signing it. I searched the faces of those sitting around the lobby for someone thinking about why this is controversial. No one had an objection.
Making a stand takes guts. And for a group that’s been playing nice, it’s difficult to say whether MSU’s Graduate Employees Union has what it takes. As negotiations between the university and the GEU continue, union members are planning possible “job actions” and a “strike platform” in case the two parties can’t produce a contract by the end of the semester.
As news reports and TV commercials regarding identity theft circulate throughout society, most people don’t really think about it happening to them.
Wednesday marked the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war. In response, on Thursday, a coalition representing hundreds of MSU students and community members led a large, vibrant demonstration to call for an end to the occupation, which accumulates in cost and creates more destruction every day.
Paying for someone else’s ideas seems like a weird concept. But that’s what copyrights do: They’re protections that regulate the use or reproduction of all kinds of intellectual property — books, music, visual art and other things. As part of the protection, copyright holders are sometimes entitled to royalties, or fees paid by a third party using the copyrighted material. But other times, the context in which copyrighted material is used falls under “fair use,” which means it might not be necessary to pay those fees or seek the copyright holder’s permission to use it.
Detroit and its mayor can’t hide from the world’s scrutiny. Media everywhere have been reporting what everyone is calling a sad day for Detroit: when Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy finally announced Monday that Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his former chief of staff Christine Beatty will face felony charges relating to a well-publicized text message scandal.
Prosthetic limbs might soon become obsolete thanks to new discoveries in reconstructive medicine. Doctors studying regenerative medicine recently have come to the conclusion that every cell in the human body has potential to regenerate — they just have to be prompted to do so.
It’s becoming more and more clear that sexual escapades are an underlying current in American politics. Democrats and Republicans alike have felt the sting of having a hand caught in the cookie jar — at least I hope that’s where it was.
I was very disappointed after reading Catherine Fish’s column Sexism big part of primary season (SN 3/24). She had a great opportunity to rise above the stereotype she claims is plaguing New York Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign by writing a column about why Clinton should be the next president and focusing on the issues at hand.
Being conservative on campus, it’s difficult to find events, groups and people that are politically similar because those who are conservative usually don’t make their opinions known.
I read in the Lansing State Journal on Sunday morning that MSU’s Young Americans for Freedom are again trying to stir up controversy on campus. Instead of bashing immigrants or homosexual people, they are bashing Muslims this time.