COMMENTARY

Quiet time

Every fall, the tension between residents and students rises as students move back to campus to resume the activity they do best: Party. This year the tension is even greater, as the rise in noise complaints filed with the East Lansing Police Department shows. The problem started in 2004 when MSU administrators made a decision to ban drinking games at the tennis courts on game days. The ban came after an MSU game against Notre Dame - the last warm-weather rivalry game of the year.

COMMENTARY

Politics part of any justice nomination

Alex Nezich's letter, "Justice selection is about law, not politics" (SN 9/20) demonstrates a serious naiveté about the constitutional process of judicial appointments and the judicial branch as a whole.

COMMENTARY

Council counts

Just a reminder: You have one week left. Oct. 11 is the last day to register to vote and change your address to East Lansing before the City Council election in November.

COMMENTARY

Black gold rush

With no relief in sight, gas prices continue to hover around $3 a gallon. Americans are struggling to find ways to conserve energy, yet vast amounts of oil are available in the North Slope of Alaska. As a solution to the oil shortage, the Bush administration has proposed putting the entire North Slope up for lease for development.

COMMENTARY

Israel abroad safe, secure for students

While concern about student safety and security is critically important, especially regarding travel to the Middle East, The State News' editorial "Trouble abroad" (SN 9/22) recommending keeping study abroad in Israel "axed" this year rests in an unreasoned speculation and in a view that Israel has been violent or unstable "for the last few thousand years." This is not a knowing view.

COMMENTARY

Columnist shouldn't dis Izzone campout

As a member of the Student Alumni Foundation Board of Directors, I am a little offended by Bob Darrow's column "Fans get a feeling for Izzone basketball" (SN 9/26). I am not an Izzone Director, but I stand behind them. If he thinks it was hazing, then why didn't he leave?

COMMENTARY

Branding of creationism as a science shouldn't let it in schools

A recent poll found that over two-thirds of those surveyed favored teaching creationism alongside evolution in school.

COMMENTARY

Alcohol in suites not worth ASMSU's time

I am writing to thank ASMSU for standing up for me and my peers. It enrages me terribly when people who pay more money get special privileges.

COMMENTARY

Burning Bush

Terrorism. War. Scandal. Hurricane disasters. What's next, Mr. President? Blow up the moon?

COMMENTARY

Restricting MI gas prices won't help

I enjoyed reading Kris Turner's article, "Proposal could restrict raising gas prices," (SN 9/26) and the corresponding editorial "Pumped up" (SN 9/27). Both pieces were well-written and make great points that I don't need to restate. However, the issue that I have yet to see addressed is that this legislation to make Mondays the only legal days to change gas prices will not eliminate the madness at the pump, but instead add to it. When prices are not free to change as market conditions dictate, the result is higher overall prices.

COMMENTARY

SN isn't reporting on RHA's activities

We at Residence Halls Association were surprised to read The State News opinion of ASMSU's meeting with East Lansing city officials ("Step One," SN 9/26). We were disappointed to be so sharply criticized for not attending the event and shocked at the fact that The State News did not know what our previous engagement was that did not allow us to attend. RHA has held weekly General Assembly meetings on Wednesday nights for many years, and until this year, nearly always had a State News reporter present.

COMMENTARY

Stunning loss

Everything seemed to be falling into place for the MSU community as Saturday's game against Michigan approached. The Spartans came in riding high, ranked No.

COMMENTARY

America needs leaders who care about world

What is being overlooked in the recent rash of hurricane activity and subsequent disasters in the Gulf Coast is not who is to blame now, but who is to blame in the past.

COMMENTARY

News coverage of disasters bent to hit home, loses humanity

I'm ashamed to admit my first reaction after hearing about Hurricane Rita. "Oh, man," I said to a few friends as we sat around a bar table.

COMMENTARY

Christian hell warning not form of terrorism

Etienne Fields went too far in the letter "Threat of being sent to hell is terrorism" (SN 9/23). Christians who try to share their faith (and thus, the belief that Jesus is the only way to heaven) are not terrorists.

COMMENTARY

SN editorial unfairly convicted employee

It is always discouraging to realize that a wrong might have been committed, and that people we have come to know might not be trustworthy.

COMMENTARY

Village rally

When people are forced out of their homes, it's never a good thing. In fact, it's almost universally a bad thing.

COMMENTARY

Beating assault

Sexual assualt. It can be a gray area. These incidents happen more than they are reported. Last year, 13 cases were reported, but if you go out to parties on the weekend, 13 rapes could be just one night in East Lansing. This is a major issue for a university campus, because most of the victims are young students.

COMMENTARY

Coach Smith forgot greatness of rivalry

"A win would help, yes, but getting your tail kicked all the time isn't much of a rivalry, is it?" John L.

COMMENTARY

Accused embezzler was mother figure

There is no doubt that the article "Ex-staffer charged with embezzling" (SN 9/27) thoroughly explored the legal and ethical ramifications of Raye Grill's alleged actions.