Tuesday, December 16, 2025

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Commentary

COMMENTARY

Party Problems

East Lansing police are going to have to walk a fine line if the department moves ahead with plans to send plain-clothed officers into off-campus parties. The department is planning to make its presence felt at more parties this fall by sending officers in street clothes into large gatherings, all in an effort to curb underage drinking, assaults, date rape, larcenies and other behavior associated with drunkenness. Police say their plan is to have officers hand out pamphlets detailing rules residents should follow to avoid city violations. And for those parties that might be violated city rules, plain-clothed officers are set to issue warnings to party hosts before uniformed officers are called to issue tickets and disperse guests.

COMMENTARY

Move in to renovated Shaw Hall highlighted by furniture, heat lamps, gum

I’ll admit it. I was excited to move back into the dorms. I had reason to be - I was moving into Shaw Hall, which with its newly renovated features was to be like a four-star hotel compared to my previous situation. But I’m not one of those who bashes the Brody Complex - as an ex-Butterfielder I can say that if I hadn’t made my roommate wait in line for six hours (thank you, Carmen) to get a room for us in Shaw, I might have been happy to stay in Brody another year.

COMMENTARY

Out of check

President Bush is beginning to overstep his bounds as he pushes for military action against Iraq. The commander in chief needs to consult Congress and other world leaders before launching a war to oust Saddam Hussein. As Congress returns to Capitol Hill from summer recess, members already are urging Bush to use caution in his endeavors and are pointing to the United Nations for guidance. Bush hopes to achieve a “regime change” in the Middle East nation to hinder Hussein’s development for chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

COMMENTARY

Rude rules

In addition to seeing new faces on the field Saturday, those who packed into Spartan Stadium might have found themselves miffed about some new polices governing entrance to the stands. While some fan used to be able to come in with unopened, sealed bottles of water, it seems this is no longer permitted.

COMMENTARY

Popular culture on downward spiral

People often say music makes the world go ’round. I tend to agree with that, but I’m afraid it might be spinning out of control. Music is a connecting force for people of every background across the planet.

COMMENTARY

Freshman finds college life full of surprises

I was seriously considering bleaching my hair and buying tall boots, or wearing short skirts and carrying a cell phone. I was ready to do pretty much anything that would help me fit in with the other girls in my freshman class.

COMMENTARY

SN should consider all party candidates

I am encouraged The State News is calling for debates among the candidates for governor. But I am dismayed that your editorial “Come to ‘U’” (SN 8/26) doesn‘t call for inclusion of all candidates on the ballot.

COMMENTARY

Inspirational

Sometimes we skip classes because we’d rather do something fun or just don’t feel like it.

COMMENTARY

SN story ignored seriousness of issue

I am writing to note with concern the light-hearted treatment of excessive alcohol consumption presented in the article “Tailgating: a tradition of excess” and accompanying column, “20th century tailgating evolves into party scene,” both written by Casey McNenly (SN 8/29). While the article has quotes MSU police Capt.

COMMENTARY

Weekend ready

OK, so we’ve experienced the hype for almost as long as we can stand. The unofficial start of fall is so close we can taste it.

COMMENTARY

Harvard study on merit awards faulty

I read a report Tuesday from a Harvard University study claiming merit-based scholarships are biased in favor of white upper-class students. The study found this because these students are better prepared for standardized tests.

COMMENTARY

Struck out

As far as fans might be concerned, Major League Baseball players are running out of strikes. If the sluggers walk out on their jobs Friday, it could mean more Americans turn their backs on their favorite pastime. It’s no secret baseball hasn’t occupied the same place in American hearts as it did prior to the league’s strike in 1994, when sluggers and fans missed 920 games including the World Series. Since 1972, work has halted at America’s ballparks eight times.

COMMENTARY

Activism highlights campus life

Show of hands: How many of you are deathly afraid of the real world? I’m not talking about the seven-strangers-picked-to-live-in-a-loft kind, I’m talking about the one after graduation. To be honest, I don’t think the real world is all that much harder than college life, especially if you’ve had some experience living off campus and worked while in school. In the real world, at least, you don’t have to juggle classes, jobs and maintain a somewhat decent social life - all while trying to scrape by with enough cash to pay the bills. It’s not the possible difficulty of post-college life that scares me - I can handle that part just fine.

COMMENTARY

Remember

Although it has been nearly a year since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, we should not and cannot forget what happened. More than 3,000 people died that day.

COMMENTARY

Goalie sold out, shouldve stayed

This summer a buddy of mine asked me if I thought Ryan Miller would go pro. I told him, “No, he is a Spartan at heart and would not turn his back on the school his family name is so deeply rooted.” But it has become blatantly obvious he, like so many other recent Spartan athletes, have let a different kind of green and white persuade their future decisions.

COMMENTARY

U-M should foot bill for cleaning Sparty

In regard to the proposed relocation of the ceramic Sparty statue, I suggest it be placed inside Jenison Field House or Spartan Stadium near the tunnel entrance. Also, because of the vandalism to the statue that has been perpetuated by University of Michigan students, fans and alumni, U-M should be given a bill for all previous and subsequent damages - at present costs. A lawsuit can go back in time.