It would seem as if our electorate has already let the Republicans win the health care debate: They have successfully framed the issue as one of “free market” versus “socialism.” The comments posted on my column from two weeks ago are perfectly good evidence of this. The entire debate was about how a government bureaucracy was going to make health care completely inefficient in this country.
I wish to dispel the belief that graduate teaching assistantships are not “real jobs” and thus that TAs have no right to a fair contract. Walking down the B wing of Wells Hall on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday, you will find packed lecture halls and benches full of students. The same time on Tuesday or Thursday you will find a near-empty hallway. Many students in mathematics can attend three 50-minute lectures each week and be successful. I teach those who need something more.
No one would consider giving honors to a ruthless violator of human rights. But that’s the position in which MSU has been placed. One of the university’s honorary degrees is held by Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe — a man who is thought to have killed a number of innocent citizens in his own country.
Roughly 16,000, or 35 percent, of MSU’s 46,000 students live on campus. This leaves 30,000 students as well as 11,000 faculty and staff who must commute to campus daily. This is an incredibly large portion of MSU’s workforce and source of tuition and income. Why, then, does MSU’s administration seem so intent on inconveniencing them?
A 28-mile stretch of the U.S. border seems to have become our government’s latest “shiny object” — distracting both lawmakers and citizens from the underlying immigration issue. The stretch of land in the Southwest has been the testing ground for a virtual fence intended to improve border security while reducing personnel.
Almost exactly two years ago, a crime that has become shrouded in controversy was committed on campus. You’ve probably heard this before: Three men — one armed with a handgun and a water bottle containing gasoline — entered a South Hubbard Hall dorm room Feb. 23, 2006, and threatened three occupants. One man poured gasoline on a victim and threatened to light it.
I simply find it appalling that a (formerly) credible venue such as The State News could run an entire feature on “new-age” claptrap tarot, crystal “healing” and palm reading.
Concerning past letters published in The State News about the circus coming to Breslin Center: I couldn’t agree more. I used to attend the circus as a child, but stopped going many years ago. I couldn’t stand seeing those poor animals caged, not to mention the horrible abuse they suffer.
My two sisters and I each received two empty shopping bags for Christmas this year. They are bright, they come in a small pouch that fits in either my purse or my coat pocket, and they expand to the size of a large plastic grocery bag. But the real gift wasn’t the empty nylon bags, it was the challenge to become more environmentally conscious.
Before the “war on terrorism,” there was the “war on drugs.” While the former continues to receive more and more funding, the latter is sinking further down the priority list. Funding for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant — a federal program that supplements state and local governments’ law enforcement efforts and prevention and treatment programs — was reduced from $520 million to $170 million this January.
Even for people who haven’t lived in the area long, there seems to be an obvious exodus of local businesses. And spaces recently vacated by Ria Malaysian Restaurant, 321 E. Grand River Ave., and Burger Down, 529 E. Grand River Ave., remain vacant.
In his small but powerful role in “Boiler Room,” Ben Affleck uttered the best line in cinema to describe corporations: They exist for one reason, “to become filthy rich, that’s all. We’re not saving the f—-ing manatees.” Profit is the bottom line.
While reading Abby Lubbers’ MSU’s tuition should include other amenities (SN 2/21), I found it contained several arguments that were logically problematic, and many that I found problematic as a Spartan.
I would like to thank The State News for bringing attention to the struggles of East Lansing’s independent businesses. The importance of supporting your community of businesses cannot be overstated.
The Founding Fathers of America — well, the white Founding Fathers of America — were racists and slave owners. I am writing this in response to Dan Redford’s letter Founding Fathers’ courage led country to success (SN 2/21).
Many MSU students have probably been to at least one of the Great Lakes, if only once. In fact, a large number of Midwesterners have come to lakes Michigan, Huron, Superior, Erie or Ontario to swim, boat, fish or vacation.
The MSU College of Law has done it yet again. Yet another scandal has broke as word came out that the possible hiring of a law school dean candidate might be a conflict of interest.
Don’t look now, but Iraq is making a move that advances them beyond the U.S. in one area.
It shouldn’t take another full-scale genocide to pay attention. And the current administration shouldn’t take all the time in the world to do the right thing — especially when it comes to Kenya and Darfur. Africa has had its fair share of bloodshed and violence, especially along the eastern portion of the continent where Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia and Sudan are located.
I am writing in response to Alex Freitag’s column entitled “U.S. founders not experts now” (SN 2/18). This article seemed to devalue the role of the Founding Fathers in forming and maintaining this great nation, and I would like to set the record straight.