Monday, April 7, 2025

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Commentary

COMMENTARY

E.L. restricting MSU students' basic rights

The level of police control regarding parties and noise violations has reached a level of absurdity and the new anti-drinking game initiative serves only to harm an already poor student/police relationship. The wording of the existing law leaves too much to police discretion. Last spring, I received a noise violation to the tune of $250 with just eight people in my Cedar Village apartment while watching music videos and playing beer pong at a moderate volume.

COMMENTARY

'Successful' dubbing of programs strange

I see John Bice has moved from theology to humor in "Lazy analysis of scandal, government spending gives narrow view"(SN 1/24). Socialist Insecurity, Medicare, Medicaid, public education and public broadcasting are examples of "successful" government programs? I'd hate to see his version of "failed" government programs. Since the above-mentioned statist programs are so "successful," I guess we can ignore any and all future whining about any need for additional funding. Tim Olster 1989 graduate

COMMENTARY

Court out of order

The Saddam Hussein war crimes trial is getting out of hand. The courtroom scene Sunday was a bit chaotic to say the least, resulting in a five-day postponement because of Saddam's and other defendants' fanatical outbursts. All four lead defendants (later including Saddam) were removed from the courtroom and the defense team walked out in protest, leaving the trial to proceed.

COMMENTARY

Imposing political beliefs in classroom shouldn't intimidate students

File this one under "how incredibly ridiculous." A couple of weeks ago, a conservative alumni association at the University of California, Los Angeles offered students up to $100 dollars to out the most radical professors at the school. Students had to provide the association with transcripts from class or other proof professors were pushing their liberal ideology on them.

COMMENTARY

Access denied

Living in the dorms requires a lot of trust. Students share a room and sometimes a bathroom with people they barely know.

COMMENTARY

Double-edged

Last year, the MSU Board of Trustees voted unanimously to ban open alcohol on campus. In fact, they vote unanimously on most issues before them. Since January 2005, only four of the more than 80 decisions made by the board had a divided vote.

COMMENTARY

'Anti-have-fun' law

East Lansing might resemble a residence hall "quiet floor" if city officials get their way. When considering the addition of drinking games as a sixth party indicator for the current noise ordinance, City Council officials decided to also contemplate a complete overhaul of the ordinance.

COMMENTARY

Wiretapping illegal, whatever Bush's spin

After listening to President George W. Bush attempt to put a spin on the secret wiretapping program this week, I am appalled. This attack on civil liberties is not about tracking terrorists, it's about a potential breach of the Constitution. Congress did not give Bush authority to conduct the domestic spying program.

COMMENTARY

Bush administration's actions are played out like old Western movies

I get a disturbing feeling as I read the papers these days. It's like I'm living in a disaster movie, or a horror film, right at the beginning where everything is mostly normal, yet there are these alarming little hints of things to come. Pets are disappearing, UFOs are buzzing around and the scary music is starting — low and quiet. When I read that President George W.

COMMENTARY

Writer hypocritical with barbed criticism

It is appalling when students do not know basic historical facts. It is equally appalling that students who chastise others for lacking knowledge lack basic knowledge themselves. Rebecca McNulty was right on that many students lack historical knowledge, but McNulty herself lacks knowledge.

COMMENTARY

Hopeful statements

Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced some ambitious plans in her State of the State address Wednesday. She asked legislators to give students $4,000 for completing two years of college as part of the Merit Award scholarship.

COMMENTARY

Libertarian argument absurd, without merit

Although I usually agree with his anti-religious rants, John Bice's column, "Lazy analysis of scandal, government spending gives narrow view" (SN 1/24), is not only full of misconceptions, but it completely misses the mark. Bice uses abhorrent oversimplification when describing three major political groups: Liberals, Conservatives and Libertarians.