Kudos on your staff editorial on Thursday "Delayed Answer" (SN 4/14). I was around for the riots of 1998 and 1999 - both of which were clearly instigated by the students.
When I first heard about the "civil disturbance" that took place in East Lansing, I was disappointed that students and others in the community had behaved inappropriately, causing the police to use tear gas to disburse the crowds.
With the disturbances of April 2-3, it has become more and more clear how East Lansing feels about MSU students.
This year is MSU's sesquicentennial - that's a fancy name for "150 years of land-grant sugary goodness." What better chance for the university to show off its deep commitment to diversity, its strong political activism to protect student interests and its clear and open communication with all members of this university. Laughing yet at the sarcasm?
Students for Economic Justice and Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Aztlan did not set out to disrupt the Women in Business Students' Association meeting with MSU President Lou Anna K.
At a time when it seems the relationship between MSU students and East Lansing city officials is at a definite low, the community can certainly use an organization like the Community Relations Coalition.
In the political arena, a protest sometimes is regarded as the most potent civic expression citizens are capable of creating. The word protest draws in the familiar images of placard waving and chant shouting which, in and of itself, is powerful but isn't the most enduring method of changing minds. What the members of the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community did on Wednesday - crossing their mouths out with tape and quietly making their presence known on campus - wasn't a protest.
Residing in Alaska for seven years, it wasn't a stretch to "imagine" acres of lush, green land ("Damaging nature not worth oil in Alaska" SN 4/13). Lush, green?
The political and commercial spheres are two arenas of human social relations in which the more people who are involved, the more organized and accepted insanity is involved.
Students beware, your file sharing days might be limited. The Recording Industry Association of America planned to sue 20 people from MSU on Tuesday for illegal file sharing.
What direction is East Lansing's "downtown" headed? If you haven't noticed lately, there are a few empty lots along our variation of "the strip," Grand River Avenue.
Are you getting sick of The State News' coverage of the April 2-3 disturbances? Does the issue feel burnt out and tired?
I just viewed Andrew Johnson's video of the April 2-3 disturbances and have some comments to make.
After reading about Sarah Morgan's disappointment over the "not guilty" verdict handed down in the MSU student's rape trail, my only response was simply, "wow" ("Being drunk/high is no excuse for rape" SN 4/13). "Wow" that Sarah Morgan feels that just the accusation of rape should be enough to convict a young man of a felony punishable by several years in prison. "Wow" that Sarah Morgan thinks that the knowledge she has acquired from The State News article on the event trumps the knowledge a panel of 12 people acquired from witnessing both sides present their cases in a court of law. "Wow" that Sarah Morgan seems to believe that the defendant's case centered around the "I was drunk" excuse, and that it worked. Sarah Morgan needs to realize that in the American justice system you are "innocent until proven guilty," not "guilty even if proven innocent." Joe McCleer 2003 graduate
This is in regard to The State News editorial "A strong voice" (SN 4/12). If I were years younger and graduating from MSU this spring with a degree in education, business or engineering, who would I like to hear at commencement?
What would life at this university be like without the services of graduate teaching assistants? It seems likely that faculty members would have a much harder time adequately handling large classes without assistants to aid students, administer tests and assist in grading.
As promised last week, I am sharing the stories of those who said storm troopers, er, police, mistreated them during the April 2-3 disturbances.
A+ for the Spartan women! Chris Barsotti writes that it's "only fitting" that the Spartans women's unbelievable basketball season deserves a grade of A- ("Women's team's season solid overall" SN 4/8). How would Chris feel if professors graded that way?
The events in East Lansing after the MSU-North Carolina basketball game were not a riot. All students should peacefully show up and express their opinion to the MSU administration and to the East Lansing city government.
We have always respected campus organizations such as the Students for Economic Justice, but we were appalled by their behavior on Wednesday.