COMMENTARY

RIAA strikes back

The old saying goes, "don't do the crime if you can't do the time." Or is it, "don't do the crime if you think you might get caught?" Or better yet, "don't get caught doing something stupid if you don't know the consequences." The Recording Industry of America is making an example of nine accused MSU students who they say chose to share copyrighted music using the university network. The university was required by a court order to release the names of the students involved to the RIAA. While the school was responsible for locating the identified individuals, they did not take part in their punishment nor did they take the matter any further within the university.

COMMENTARY

Lala column still stirs conversation

Jim Lala's column (

COMMENTARY

Research editorial misses many points

The editorial "Research Bucks" (SN 4/29) reflects several misconceptions about university funding, graduate education and indeed the nature of a university. One, the assertion that "the more numbers divulged, the more sensible the move to Grand Rapids is becoming," is unfounded.

COMMENTARY

Shame of a nation

The abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. soldiers amounts to nothing less than a human rights disaster. Public outcries for the court martialing and detainment of those who directly participated in the abhorrent acts leads one to believe that the common perception is that the individuals should be held accountable.

COMMENTARY

SN crime reporting needed tweaking

I have glanced at two articles recently run in the State News and am appalled at the poor reporting done by your staff.

COMMENTARY

Profs to blame for poor test scores

I just got done reading your article "Students concerned about low graders as final tests approach" (SN 4/30) that my wife showed me.

COMMENTARY

Bush's past linked to prisoner abuse

When George Bush was governor of Texas, the Texan prison system was denounced for sexual abuse and beatings of prisoners.

COMMENTARY

Happy trails

In light of MSU President M. Peter McPherson's coming departure, we at The State News think it apropos to disclose some of the quirks and idiosyncrasies common to MSU's 19th president. The "M" stands for Melville.

COMMENTARY

Transgender issues can occur early, require parents' understanding

What did you want to be when you grew up? Today, children of progressively younger ages are telling their parents that what they want to be is the opposite sex. On a recent episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," children as young as age five were documented as desiring a sex change operation.

COMMENTARY

Sharing is stealing

Stealing is wrong, no matter what. Not even if you're just stealing the latest Britney Spears tune electronically - it's still stealing. The Recording Industry Association of America announced earlier this week that it will sue 69 college students across the country, out of almost 500 total offenders.

COMMENTARY

Mayo robbery article should have said race

Mayo robbery article should have said race During the week of April 19, a male student was brutally beaten unconscious and robbed while not resisting to give up his wallet ("3 men rob Mayo Hall room, still at large" SN 4/23). In that same incident, a woman was punched and thrown into a radiator when she tried to intervene. Did anyone read about the severity of the attack?

COMMENTARY

Lala's conservative viewpoint overdue

The responses to Jim Lala's column ("Liberal students' silent protest doesn't need words to be whiny" SN 4/26) amuse me.

COMMENTARY

Columnist recaps SN career, favorite hot-button issues

At the beginning of spring semester in 2001, a smart-alecky freshman chemistry student contacted the opinion editor of The State News, inquiring about an editorial columnist opening.

COMMENTARY

As deadline approaches, senior shares his story about 'U'

As a wide-eyed freshman, armed with a pen and a notepad, I frantically walked along Harrison Avenue searching for the site of my first story as a State News reporter. Fighting the dark, cold air and wet January sky, I paced back and forth along that long, foreign road.

COMMENTARY

Grads should walk out if Rice supports Bush

I was wondering, how exactly did Condi Rice get the nod to speak at commencement? Clearly our impartial, unbiased President M.

COMMENTARY

'U' has programs for student-parents

The letters concerning students with children on campus have raised an interesting debate. What is the environment for families here?

COMMENTARY

Diversity in opinions a part of real world

As a recent graduate now in the real world, I just had to shake my head when I read Professor June Thomas' rebuttal ("SN Needed to Print Counterpoint to Lala" SN 4/28) to Jim Lala's opinion piece.

COMMENTARY

No value in column, shouldn't have run

The column in The State News by Jim Lala, "Liberal students' silent protest doesn't need words to be whiny" (SN 4/26), had no reason to be printed.

COMMENTARY

Congrats to 'U'

Excuse us. Please, give us a minute. We're not good at goodbyes. We don't need to tell you - today is officially the last day of spring classes at MSU. It's the last day of school, and Alice Cooper couldn't be prouder that school is, in fact, out for the summer.

COMMENTARY

Outdoor furniture

It's been almost a year since frustrated students had to drag their makeshift lawn furniture into their houses.