COMMENTARY

University should create Prop. 2 plan

With the Dec. 23 deadline to comply with Proposal 2 long passed and the Dec. 29 appellate ruling that denied Michigan universities a six-month transition period, MSU finds itself scrambling to satisfy the requirements of Proposal 2. In the State News article "How could a ban on affirmative action affect the imprint of diversity on campus?" (SN 10/20), university officials seemed unclear as to what the implications of Proposal 2 would be if it were passed.

COMMENTARY

Alumnus thanks student from Izzone for gesture

Thank you to an unnamed student in the Izzone. My son and I had a chance to shoot a basket for prizes in the Michigan Education Savings Program contest at the men's basketball game against Bradley on Dec.

COMMENTARY

Minority students should not depend on government

The recent criticism of the Proposal 2 affirmative action ban really makes me shake my head in disbelief.

COMMENTARY

Grand Rapids resident reflects on Ford as hometown hero

When the 38th president of the United States made his way home for one last hello and goodbye, the people, myself included, who lined the streets of Grand Rapids, were there to see more than an American hero.

COMMENTARY

Speaker should unify Congress

As the Democrats officially took control of Congress last week following a bitter midterm election, they also made the historic decision to elect Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the House — the first woman ever to hold the position.

COMMENTARY

Saddam's death does not signify turning point

After Saddam Hussein's execution, President Bush issued a statement saying Saddam's death "will not end violence in Iraq." For once, I agree with him. Saddam's death has been ballyhooed as an important step forward for the Iraqi people, bringing them one step closer to sustaining a democracy and becoming an ally in the war on terror.

COMMENTARY

Pretty good year for some

A good year for … Democratic Party        While we all should be thankful for the loss of the Republican majority (whew!), it should be noted that the Democrats won by default.

COMMENTARY

Don't be irresponsible with alcohol during holidays

This holiday season is filled with sadness for many families devastated by drunk drivers. On New Year's Day 2006, my son's fiancee and her younger brother lost both of their parents — without warning — to a drunk driver.

COMMENTARY

Government is hypocrisy on stilts

Since the Mark Foley scandal, many have spoken of Republican hypocrisy — condemning gay marriage but condoning Foley's soliciting sex from underage boys.

COMMENTARY

Finally, some truth about Iraq from Bush nominee

On Tuesday, something shocking happened during a Senate hearing. No, outgoing Sen. Rick Santorum, R.-Pa., didn't say something homophobic, and Sen.

COMMENTARY

Education problems not solved by race initiative

While Michigan voters juggled the importance of race- and gender-based preferences in university admissions and government hiring and contracting in November when Proposal 2 passed, the U.S.

COMMENTARY

Everyone misinterpreting Tancredo speech protest

This letter is a direct response to the grossly inaccurate State News coverage of the Rep. Tom Tancredo, D-Colo., protests ("Protesters crash immigration event," SN 12/1; "Protest attracts national coverage," SN 12/4). For the record: Tancredo is openly racist and has referred to undocumented workers from Mexico as "a scourge that threatens the very future of our nation." A reader relying solely on The State News for information easily would have read the articles and still been completely unaware of Tancredo's xenophobic and racist views. In addition, the numerous references to violence — during and after — the Tancredo speaking event is provided in no context.

COMMENTARY

Bolton's exit is victory for credibility, diplomacy

After more than a year of gaffes, controversy and outright disdain expressed toward the United Nations, United States U.N.

COMMENTARY

Spartans need to promote MSU, get good recruits

I awoke early Saturday morning to watch College GameDay as I always do and was upset to find that MSU had lost one of its most heralded recruits to Oklahoma.

COMMENTARY

International conference good for Iraq

The numbers keep coming, people keep dying, yet the two countries most closely linked to problems surrounding Iraq's increasingly disastrous civil war don't want to admit anything is wrong. It's obvious by now that Iraq and the United States are unable to solve the problems facing a country continuing to spiral out of control — and the latest is Iraq doesn't want anyone else's help either. On Sunday, Iraqi officials rejected suggestions from the international community that a conference be held to discuss the ever-intensifying violence within the country.

COMMENTARY

Richards' rant not related to affirmative action

So, when one man blurts out racial slurs, this is a strong indicator that our nation is still looming full of racism?

COMMENTARY

It's inhumane to kick out homeless

The East Lansing City Council is wasting time and energy on an unnecessary goal: criminalizing East Lansing's homeless population.

COMMENTARY

Everyone can assist, help fund AIDS research

With the recent passing of World AIDS Day, I would like to bring attention to a way that everyone with a computer can participate in fighting this disease.

COMMENTARY

Uncertainty doesn't mean fear

Thank God it's almost over. I know that thought has crossed the minds of some of the kids slaving away at The State News, scrambling to close the books on a semester of stories.

COMMENTARY

Both Bristow, Turner's comments unnecessary

In regard to the incident between protesters and Kyle Bristow at the illegal immigration meeting last Thursday, it is very unfortunate that the protesters resorted to physical violence as indicated in "Protesters crash immigration event" (SN 12/1). Resorting to such measures is a display of serious immaturity, and it has no place at MSU — or anywhere for that matter. These actions also give Kyle Bristow and his band of radicals, the Young Americans for "Freedom," undeserved publicity.