COMMENTARY

Lobbyists should not have say in new government health guidelines

America is fat, and it doesn't care. It's evident by the lack of concern over the fact that while the government was planning new health and nutrition guidelines, it's paid no attention to the blatant meddling of food company lobbyists in the process. Released in January, the new nutritional guidelines call for an hour of exercise, attention to reducing calories, a large increase in fruit and vegetable consumption and acknowledgment of the value of eating whole grains.

COMMENTARY

North Korea cannot be bartered with

In Monday's editorial, "Tact needed" (SN 2/14), The State News editorial board managed to present a poorly researched, factually incorrect editorial that suggested the United States should be acting more like Santa Claus than a global hegemon toward North Korea.

COMMENTARY

Park place

The lack of parking on campus has students pulling their hair out. Not only is this frustration cause for illegal parking and tickets, but the cost of meter parking can become quite expensive.

COMMENTARY

Patriot games

Now is the time to mail your U.S. representatives and senators a yellow sticky note that says, "Hey, remember to read that Patriot Act all the way through." You could complement this with a nice little letter asking them not to renew it, should they find any of your civil rights are being violated. They already are getting a push from President Bush to do the opposite.

COMMENTARY

Editorial lacked any sound credibility

Your statements that the United States should "start playing to North Korea's interests" and "it's time for the United States to get down on its knees" leave you without any credibility ("Tact needed" SN 2/14). Thank goodness the editorial staff of The State News is not in a position to influence the diplomatic or foreign affairs of the United States; with statements like these, you never will be. Whose interests do you purport to represent or serve with such words?

COMMENTARY

ASMSU is valuable student resource

This letter is in response to "ASMSU continually seems unnecessary" by Ryan Gartland (SN 2/11). Although it would be a student's choice to request a refund, I would like to point out that ASMSU provides helpful services, such as legal assistance and temporary loans to students, and such services may just keep a student in school during a crisis.

COMMENTARY

North Korea should not be appeased

I was very disheartened to read your editorial regarding North Korea ("Tact needed" SN 2/14). Its logic, as well as factual basis, is extremely flawed.

COMMENTARY

Not wanted

Yet again, student housing opportunities are being quelled by East Lansing officials. In the most recent case, a plan to construct five new apartment buildings on the 700 block of Burcham Drive was denied approval by the East Lansing Planning Commission. The proposition would keep students living closer to campus and eradicate the herding of cattle, err, the pushing of students, up to the Northern Tier.

COMMENTARY

Motorists need to learn to share road

This is in response to Ms. Gallo's,

COMMENTARY

Walking, biking far surpass using cars

I wholeheartedly disagree with the complaint of the student who tried to "inform" the campus road biker about the traffic problem he was causing.

COMMENTARY

State sex offender database can be useful for recovering victims

I've been aware of the Michigan sex offender database for years, but like most people, I've never looked at it that closely.

COMMENTARY

Temperature a part of less tailgating

While I applaud the efforts of MSU to reduce binge drinking and sexual assaults on campus, the recent articles regarding tailgating restrictions leave many questions unanswered.

COMMENTARY

New parking ramp will create traffic

MSU is planning to build a new parking ramp on Grand River Avenue between Morrill Hall, Olin Health Center and the Human Ecology Building.

COMMENTARY

Tact needed

North Korea is upset, and the United States needs to do something to repair our relationship with the country, regardless of who is right. It's time for the United States to get down on its knees because, in the nuclear-weapon relationship game, you can't just make up later. With North Korea publicly boasting on Thursday that it has "nukes," and with peace talks nonexistent, we need to give up the stubborn, tough guy act and start playing to North Korea's interests.

COMMENTARY

Crucial cuts

With tuition for college students continuously rising, it was a wonderful feeling to know Gov. Jennifer Granholm put on her cape to save the day.

COMMENTARY

Cyclists should use roads, not sidewalk

I am writing in response to "Everyone needs to follow traffic rules" (SN 2/9). As both a cyclist and a motorist, I believe it is essential for all road users to know and obey traffic rules. I applaud cyclists who exercise their right to ride on the street.

COMMENTARY

LiveJournal obsession a reflection of students' urge to be heard

5:50 p.m. Must check LiveJournal. It's been almost one whole hour since I've been on. What if one of my friends has updated?

COMMENTARY

Professor will be thoroughly missed

The loss of Dr. Gill-Chin Lim is a tremendous loss to the MSU community, as well as the world community.

COMMENTARY

Basketball season far from complete

I was angered by Jeff Granat calling himself a fan in his opinion letter ("Fan disappointed with season so far" SN 2/4). Instead of calling himself a fan, he should instead refer to himself as a fair-weather fan.

COMMENTARY

Majority needs to leave comfort zone

This is in response to the article "Cultural understanding through campus 'families'" (SN 2/10). In the wonderful six years I spent at MSU, the issue of racial segregation always existed.