Wednesday, April 15, 2026

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Commentary

COMMENTARY

Step one

East Lansing city officials and ASMSU members met on Wednesday for dinner to converse about local issues and to improve relations.

COMMENTARY

Represent

It's that time of year again. Candidates are preparing for the East Lansing City Council elections in November.

COMMENTARY

Make it cool

A city-sponsored gathering on Bogue Street sounds about as much fun as a birthday party thrown by mom and dad. While trying to figure out what students could do following big sports games, the independent commission investigating the April 2-3 disturbances has kicked around the idea of designating a spot on Bogue for celebration and musical performances. The thought is nice and shows an effort to solve the problems that follow a Spartan win or loss.

COMMENTARY

Oppression continues as conservatives try to co-opt LBGT pride

Coming out of the closet was one of the hardest things in my life to do. It was also one of the best decisions I ever made. For those not well versed in the coming out process, it's a term commonly used to describe the experience lesbian, bi, gay, and transgender people, or LGBT, go through when they announce their sexuality or gender identity as being different from the status quo.

COMMENTARY

Shot down

Many Michigan residents could have peace of mind without fear of consequence. Two bills in the state Legislature would allow people who feel threatened in or outside their homes to use deadly force to defend themselves without facing criminal charges. At first glance these bills look like self-defense laws, which already are in place.

COMMENTARY

Motorists beware of fuel-saving devices

As an engineer, I read with great interest your article "MSU student sets up gas-saving business" (SN 9/15). Clearly, any passive device which can save the consumer 10-20 percent in fuel efficiency is a true engineering wonderment. However, every reader of that article should be aware that this is merely technological "snake oil." In fact, the Federal Trade Commission has even set up a Web site to inform would-be scam victims from optimistically plunking down their hard-earned money with grand hopes of energy savings.

COMMENTARY

Victim's needs most important after rape

I was disappointed after reading last Monday's article, "Man sentenced in campus rape" (SN 9/19). What primarily angered me was the quotation from Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III that stated: "Women need to know that if they're victims of sexual assault, they need to go to Sparrow, they need to have the rape kit done and they need to file a police report." Although the statement might have been meant to be reassuring for other survivors of sexual assault, someone educated on such a sensitive issue would know otherwise. People who have experienced sexual assault have experienced a life-changing trauma in which their choice was taken from them.

COMMENTARY

Trouble abroad

No place on earth is completely safe for students to travel. The MSU Office of Study Abroad provides students the opportunity to go to many locations, but a lot of things could go wrong - problems travelers just don't expect.

COMMENTARY

In de-Nile

This year, there have been 15 reported cases of West Nile virus in Michigan and two deaths caused by the virus, what, in the grand scheme of things, is the big deal? In recent years, media outlets have blown epidemics such as West Nile virus and SARS out of proportion in comparison to the amount of people they affect. Ten million people live in Michigan.

COMMENTARY

Reader offers advice on campus parking

This is in response to Alex Gebauer's "City parking should be free during class" (SN 9/8). Mr. Gebauer, I am sorry that you have troubles parking off campus, however, you have to take certain things into consideration.

COMMENTARY

Football weekend parallels historical trends, great education

As I was riding my bicycle away from campus on Saturday after the game, I realized that without a cell phone I was able to entertain myself with a simple conversation with just me. I could think to myself or carry on a two-way conversation that did not require me to have to listen to anyone but yours truly.