COMMENTARY

Stereotype reference immature, insensitive

I was a bit dismayed, and disappointed, that Adam Lark chose to begin his article "Potter Park endangered" (SN 4/7) by claiming that visitors to the zoo are greeted by the "ominous … shape of an American Indian." Dismayed because, as a member of the White Earth Band of Minnesota Chippewa, I see, once again, reporters (who should know better) falling back on the stereotypical image of "ominous" Native Americans doing what? Threatening zoo goers?

COMMENTARY

Breaking silence

More than women are needed to spread sexual assault awareness. In part of celebrating Sexual Assault Awareness Month, on Tuesday the daylong ceremony Take Back the Night was held.

COMMENTARY

ASMSU benefits its members, not MSU

Isn't it odd that the only two people that have written in to defend ASMSU from its strongest critiques are two of its own members — Paul Harmon, "ASMSU doing best with circumstances" (SN 4/4), who a quick Google.com search shows is the former Association Director of ASMSU, and J.C.

COMMENTARY

Illusion of race causes breakdown in communication, mass stupidity

Frank Zappa once said, "I'm not black, but there's a whole lot of times I wish I could say I'm not white." I can't say I disagree with him. As a white female, I obviously cannot even begin to understand the perspective of a minority, but I can still blatantly see the dangers that exist within America's racial reality. Racial tension might not be at an all-time high, but it definitely isn't lacking in our culture and society.

COMMENTARY

Schools must actively seek diverse people

Tom Slanda, "Fixing schools will best help minorities" (SN 4/07), and Matt Maiuri, "Giving advantages won't mean success" (SN 4/06), would like readers to believe that affirmative action is nothing more than a handout to the undeserving.

COMMENTARY

University processes must be lawful, open

The recent revelations that the MSU Board of Trustees is conducting business behind closed doors, "What's the secret?" (SN 4/04), should come as no surprise. Upon examining the official student life guide MSU publishes each year, Spartan Life, it becomes apparent that the functions of numerous boards of the MSU administration, such as the University Student Appeals Board, or USAB, also deprive students of their right to know what happens during official meetings. The USAB is charged with deliberating appeals filed to the Division of Student Affairs and Services, headed by Lee June, on a wide range of issues. Among the duties entrusted to the USAB is the authority to decide appeals based on due process violations.

COMMENTARY

Light up for your right

Dorm dwellers and smokers beware — survey says you might have to light up on the street. After the Residence Halls Association's attempt at surveying students about smoking earlier this year, University Housing is stepping into the debate. But can a public university really ban smokers from smoking in their own homes? Earlier this year, the Residence Halls Association, or RHA, conducted a smoking survey which 1,120 students responded to.

COMMENTARY

Campus equality must include everyone, even those with disabilities

Last week a friend of mine had to sit through one of the those dorm floor meetings about tolerance and racial tension on campus. My friend's hall mentor read aloud MSU's anti-discrimination policy, reminding the residents of the university's commitment to treating everyone fairly. What my friend noticed, but probably no one else did, is that her hall is inaccessible to people with physical disabilities.

COMMENTARY

Studies show violent games not harmless

I am writing in response to the column "Video games not cause of moral decay; politicians must dig deeper" (SN 4/07). Although some very valid points were made, and I wholeheartedly agree that it is much easier to point the finger at video games than at deeper societal issues (such as poor parenting), there still are some very real consequences for people (especially children) who play violent video games. Although I believe that it is decidedly within your rights to play whatever games you would like to, saying that playing violent video games has no consequences simply because you are able to "distinguish between fact and fiction" is an easy excuse, one that does not examine actual scientific fact. Studies by psychologists such as Douglas Gentile and Craig Anderson show significant negative impacts on people who play violent video games, including increased aggressive thoughts, feelings and behaviors (Anderson & Bushman, 2001). And studies find that violent video games might have even stronger effects on aggression in children because the games are highly interactive, reward violent behavior and because children perform these behaviors repeatedly as they play (Gentile & Anderson, 2003). When it comes to young adults, Sandra L.

COMMENTARY

Bikers on road must follow traffic laws

In Kristin Bott's letter, "Drivers on campus must respect bikers" (SN 4/05), she asks drivers to be more aware and respectful of bikers who decide to ride in the road. She informs us that according to MSU's regulations, bikers are supposed to be in the road and not on the sidewalks and that vehicles need to give bikers proper spacing and courtesy if they get stuck behind one.

COMMENTARY

Bundle of protests

Nazis are coming to Lansing. Members of America's Nazi party, The National Socialist Movement, which is dedicated to preserving the Aryan race, plan to rally at the Capitol in Lansing on April 22.

COMMENTARY

Affirmative action ban seeks to defend Americans' right to be racist

Steve Sutton, in "Columnist promotes different racism form" (SN 3/22), illustrated what Americans have done time and time again — defended the right to be racist.

COMMENTARY

Untrustworthy word

We still want to attend the MSU Board of Trustees monthly closed-door dinners and discussions, but now we might have another person to get through. MSU President Lou Anna K.

COMMENTARY

Winning band, others deserve recognition

I was overjoyed when it was announced that Frontier Ruckus was the winner of last week's Battle of the Bands.

COMMENTARY

Writer's generalized view of French wrong

This letter is in response to Elizabeth Swanson's "Big culture gap exists between France, U.S." (SN 3/28). I am a senior in French education here at MSU, and as a future educator, I try to promote open attitudes toward all cultures, particularly France and other Francophone countries. This, however, was not at all what I saw in The State News.

COMMENTARY

Time change creates beneficial savings

In response to Rebecca McNulty's column "Daylight-saving time annoying, inconvenient — leave clocks alone" (SN 4/05) about the pointless and annoying nature of daylight-saving time, I would like to show why it is worth doing. Ever since Ben Franklin noticed the great waste of sunlight and candles that was occurring in 18th century France, daylight-saving time has been widely seen as beneficial.

COMMENTARY

Anatomy of a leak

ORIGINAL LEAK In 2003, classified intelligence about the war in Iraq was leaked New York Times reporter Judith Miller. ADDITIONAL LEAK In September 2003, President George W.

COMMENTARY

Ethnocentric attitude too general, misleads

Beth Swanson's "Big culture gap exists between France, U.S." (SN 3/28) appeared to be the observations of a young and naive child rather than a college-educated journalist. Surely a thinking adult would be aware that Paris is a major metropolitan area and that would likely be an influence on the behavior of its inhabitants.

COMMENTARY

Men marching will spread awareness

I commend the Take Back the Night Planning Coalition for including men in this year's march from Beaumont Tower, through campus, to 54B District Court — described in "Men also affected in many ways by rape, must help end violence" (SN 4/03). This is a monumental step in bringing an end to sexual assault, moving from a reactive approach to a more proactive method by showing an entire community unified against sexual violence. I understand and respect that Take Back the Night is traditionally a day of women's empowerment that shifts the blame of rape from the survivor to where that blame rightfully resides: on the perpetrator.

COMMENTARY

ELPD disrespectful toward MSU students

The East Lansing Police Department never seems to understand why MSU students hold such a grudge against it. However, this past weekend I experienced firsthand why the police don't have the respect they think they deserve. While standing in my friend's garage, talking on my phone and drinking a beer, a police officer shouted at me to come out and talk to him. Since I am 21, I was not worried about speaking with him, and tried to have a conversation with him.