COMMENTARY
Bus? Walk? Bike? Deciding how to get to class is a losing battle
It's that time of the year again, time for students to bundle up against the fierce Michigan weather.
COMMENTARY
After a trip for coffee, my faith in humanity is restored
It’s incredible how much a stranger can brighten a person’s day.
COMMENTARY
Poorly engineered headline by MSU Today is regressive, off-putting
Full disclosure: I am not a woman engineer, nor do I aspire to be one. But I have a hell of a lot of respect for the female Spartans who do.
COMMENTARY
Magazine's reaction to Hebdo attacks inspiring
It has been almost three weeks since the abhorrent attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris and the two subsequent days of horror in France’s capital city. Though it has oft been on my mind, this section of The State News has not put anything in physical print about the topic yet, though that changes today.
COMMENTARY
The politeness struggle is real
It’s rewarding to see a stranger smile or genuinely thank you for doing something nice for them. You feel good, that person feels good, and you have something to be happy about for the rest of the day. But being nice doesn't always work out the way you think it will. It can be awkward, embarrassing or even difficult.
COMMENTARY
Activism is a mindset, and one that more students need to embrace
Last week, while shooting pictures for the cover of The State News’ activism issue, I found myself having to approach students on the street and ask them the question, “why do you think that activism is important?” As I was met with many blank stares and puzzled expressions, I came to terms with a troubling realization: a large number of MSU students have no idea what the word ‘activism’ means.
COMMENTARY
How to handle seasonal affective disorder
If you ever feel like you have the “winter blues,” you’re not alone. Seasonal affective disorder, otherwise known ironically by its acronym SAD, can be a real problem during Michigan winters.
COMMENTARY
Sloppy salting, shoveling of sidewalks a liability for MSU
Any returning student will tell you that this year’s weather is starting out much tamer than last year. After all, it is nice knowing that we can go outside longer than 10 minutes and not get frostbite. However, there are still perils we face now, namely black ice.
COMMENTARY
Terrorism can't be condoned, but Charlie Hebdo cartoons were offensive
From newspapers, to televisions, to the internet there is constant mention of the murder of Charlie Hebdo employees. This attack was executed by individuals who saw the controversial cartoons, produced by Charlie Hebdo, depicting Muhammad and took it as an inexcusable insult to their faith.
COMMENTARY
The flu vaccine is only 23 percent effective, but get it anyway
If you haven’t heard, the Centers for Disease Control recently announced that this year’s flu vaccine is only 23 percent effective . While it’s not the worst vaccine we’ve ever had, the news can be discouraging.
COMMENTARY
A few things to remember to make the most of your college experience
Dear students, staff, faculty and alumni, Exactly a year ago I was a wide-eyed freshman.
COMMENTARY
MSU website crashes are frustrating, unacceptable
If you ask a college student what they do in the morning you will get a wide array of answers. But many will say that somewhere between hitting the snooze button for five extra minutes of sleep and rushing out the door, they check their emails. Unfortunately for MSU students, this might not have been possible during the first week or so of the new semester.
COMMENTARY
LETTER: Students deserve to choose their graduation speaker
Typically graduation is set for fulfilled dreams, new beginnings and inspiring send-offs. But MSU’s most recent graduation was shrouded with controversy. The tension was not for poor graduation rates or foreboding job markets, rather the man on the podium speaking to MSU graduates.
COMMENTARY
Despite "The Interview," conditions in North Korea are no laughing matter
Ever since the release date for The Interview was announced last year, North Korea has featured prominently in the news. But let’s be clear on something: North Korea is not a joke.
COMMENTARY
MLK has directly affected all minority groups, even decades after his death
When I was a little girl, I wanted nothing more than to just fit in. As one of the only Indian students in my school, which was comprised mostly of white students, I quickly stuck out like a sore thumb.
COMMENTARY
MLK Day is more than a day without work, class
Everybody loves a day off. I know I do — a chance to relax, a long weekend, and in the case of MLK Day, a reprieve before the spring semester kicks into high gear.
COMMENTARY
Our civil rights movement continues
Martin Luther King, Jr. is someone I’ve admired since I was little. I remember my first encounter with one of the persons that would later give sense to the words equality, justice and peace.
COMMENTARY
Despite perception, liberal arts majors are not doomed to fail
In the world of academia, there is an unspoken hierarchy in terms of a college degree’s prestige. Engineering and pre-med majors are near the top, with marketing and accounting somewhere in the middle, and liberal arts degrees at the very bottom. English majors, in particular, are the butt of many jokes in popular culture.
COMMENTARY
Be smart when you're buying your (expensive) textbooks
The first week of the semester conjures up a lot of thoughts, many of which are positive. However, nothing puts me off the semester quicker than seeing the price of my books and course packs.