COMMENTARY

Pricey pigskin

In a time of looming budget woes and uncertain futures for university departments, it's everyone's job to find money-saving or money-making solutions. But charging devoted Spartan fans an upward of $500 for a season ticket to a football game isn't a fair way to generate revenue. The MSU Board of Trustees voted unanimous approval on Friday for the Scholarship Seating Plan, a donation-based season ticket system used by six other Big Ten schools.

COMMENTARY

Life is easier for men than their female counterparts

"The only way to treat a woman is to make love to her if she is pretty, and to not if she is plain." This absurd quote, from the hilarious play "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde, somehow found its way into my head this weekend.

COMMENTARY

Dorm dilemma

Following recent lavish housing upgrades in residential halls, the MSU Board of Trustees decided Friday to increase housing costs by 6 percent for the 2003-04 academic year. The increased costs come during a questionable time, as the university recently spent $12 million on new amenities in Shaw Hall - hexagonal sink islands, garbage disposals, motion-sensor lights, automatic flushing toilets, shower changing stalls and, of course, hot tubs. A student living in a double-occupancy room with a 15-meal food plan in the fall will pay $5,230 instead of the $4,932 price expected when he or she signed up in the spring semester.

COMMENTARY

Patriot Act far from patriotic

Imagine a society where free speech is just a mere phrase with little significance. Imagine a society where people are incarcerated simply on suspicion, with no evidence of wrongdoing.

COMMENTARY

Let them play

The latest news for University of Michigan's basketball team is anything but fabulous for its program, players and fans.

COMMENTARY

Anti-war doesn't equal anti-American

Many Hollywood celebrities have recently been under attack by media sources and the public for simply verbalizing their anti-war opinions. While actors in Hollywood often get ahead of themselves when it comes to world issues, some also believe that just because they make millions of dollars then for some odd reason, everyone in America cares that much more about what they have to say.

COMMENTARY

Protesters have worked hard, give them respect they deserve

It was an unusually warm March day and nearly 1,000 people, myself included, thought it fit for a rally.

COMMENTARY

Prudent patrol

While the newly obtained set of four Harley-Davidson Road King motorcycles will provide MSU police with many great services, we hope this isn't just an frivolous purchase. The department says the two-wheeled vehicles are more cost effective than patrol cars and will help them better police hard-to-maneuver areas during heavy traffic periods. These perks are palatable in their own right, but it leaves one slightly skeptical, especially when the announcement comes one day after the All-University Traffic Committee upped some campus parking prices almost 25 percent without an adequate explanation. Granted, the money isn't all part of the same pot, but perceptions often speak louder than facts. It's no secret financial times are tough for the university and the state.

COMMENTARY

Committee not responsible for code

I would like to thank the current members of the All-University Elections Commission for their hard work on elections.

COMMENTARY

War isn't pleasant, but often necessary

This is in response to the column "Nothing comes from war except death, destruction" (SN 4/21) by TJ Jourian. I guess the colonies going to war with the British didn't result in anything besides death and destruction.

COMMENTARY

MSU treatment of wildlife too harsh

We were chatting in our apartment Tuesday afternoon when a raccoon ambled by. We enjoyed watching it and were commenting on how lucky we are to live in an apartment complex with many opportunities to view wildlife.

COMMENTARY

Do police bikes have to be top of line?

Arthur Alcid

April 25, 2003

This letter is in response to "'U' police ride easy on Harleys" (SN 4/24). I don't dispute the need for motorcycles, but do they really need to be name brand, top-of-the-line Harleys? Why should the Department of Police and Public Safety spend more money on bikes than repairing the atrocious road conditions plagued by constant traffic on campus?

COMMENTARY

Social dance class shouldn't be cut

I was shocked to learn recently that the university, as part of its budget cuts, plans to cut the social dance class for the next academic year and probably beyond.

COMMENTARY

Article portrayed friend in good light

My name is BJ Myers, and I am writing in response to your article about John Eckhold, the 23-year-old student found dead on Sunday "Student remembered for interests" (SN 4/23). He was a dear friend of mine I have known for as long as I can remember.

COMMENTARY

In the write

Entering into a college or university requires students to have the basic skills needed to be successful in an institution of higher education.

COMMENTARY

Letter writer missed column's intention

I am writing in response to Nate Engle's letter regarding Rishi Kundi's column (" Cheap shot at Grand Rapids uncalled for" SN 4/23). I think Engle missed the intent of Kundi's column this week.

COMMENTARY

McPherson reflects very highly on 'U'

I am writing in regard to the front page story, "

COMMENTARY

Kundi will be sorely missed by readers

It is with genuine dismay that I learned that Rishi Kundi will be leaving The State News. His opinion pieces were among some of the very best writing in the paper.

COMMENTARY

Stop the hate

The time is long overdue for Americans to stop tolerating leaders who make derogatory comments about any group of citizens - including homosexuals.

COMMENTARY

United Nations needs to be involved in rebuilding Iraq

With states across the nation struggling to balance their budgets, cutbacks have negatively affected nearly every conceivable state-funded program. Not even Springfield Elementary School is immune to the decline in government revenue.