Tuesday, April 14, 2026

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Commentary

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

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

Equal aid

The Michigan Merit Award scholarship program is a worthwhile venture, but it might not be benefiting those who really need it. With the program, students who pass the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) test or score in the top 25 percent on the SAT or the ACT are awarded $2,500 toward college expenses. But the scholarships are doled out without any consideration for financial need.

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.

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

Out of this world

It appears ’N Sync’s Lance Bass might be saying “Bye, Bye, Bye” to bandmates, adoring fans and planet Earth this fall. Bass plans to blast off and play astronaut with the Russian space program - and for a few months of training and about $20 million you might be able to as well. That’s all it takes, ladies and gentlemen, a few million dollars and you too can join the line of unschooled and inexperienced cosmonauts.

COMMENTARY

Bad review

Although it’s title sounds important - the publishers did borrow its name from an Ivy League school after all - The Princeton Review’s 2003 “The Best 345 Colleges” is a joke and a waste of $20. Every year, the New York-based company - not affiliated with the university, mind you - ranks schools on everything from worst cafeteria to most read student newspaper.

COMMENTARY

Pipe dreams

MSU hockey fans aren’t going to be experiencing the high life they’ve been used to the past few seasons - “Miller Time” is over. Ryan Miller has added his name to a growing list of Spartan standouts going pro before completing in their senior seasons. The goaltender agreed Monday to a two-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres, forgoing his senior year of eligibility with the green-and-white icers. While fans might be sad not to see Miller manning the net as the Spartans try for a shot at the national championship this season, the All-American had a spectacular MSU career and is ready for his next challenge. Although he had been quiet about his plans prior to Monday’s contract, Miller was seen wearing red, white and blue pads - the team colors of the Rochester Americans - at Munn Ice Arena during practice last week. Miller is expected to start in the net for the Americans, Buffalo’s top minor-league affiliate.

COMMENTARY

Youre American, so act like it

Hell yeah, America! Yes, this is another column contradicting the patriotism of U.S. citizens. But I’m not going to tell you to get out there and vote or clean up highways or work with the elderly.

COMMENTARY

Get informed about area buses

Ah, the site of a wild and untamed freshman with a map glued to his or her face and the smell of sweet, sweet dung around south campus. Both are sure signs another school year is commencing at MSU. But manure and maps aside, the other big annual change students notice is the influx of freshmen on the Capital Area Transportation Authority buses.

COMMENTARY

Greeking forward

Although MSU’s greek community has improved its reputation dramatically during the past few years, it still has some hurdles to overcome. Since 2001, the number of greeks with grade-point averages below 2.0 increased, one fraternity was shut down by its national organization for hazing and discrimination violations and two sororities closed their doors because of a lack of interest. But while it might seem as though MSU greeks have fallen on hard times, the situation isn’t as bad as it seems. Despite last year’s lower GPAs, greek grades have been on a steady rise during the past five years. Although alcohol is a staple at many greek functions, as with many college social groups, the community isn’t perceived as the binge-drinking society it once was. On another positive note, MSU greeks have put more of an emphasis on community-service projects.

COMMENTARY

Come to U

While the locations for Michigan’s gubernatorial debates are not yet set, the candidates should jump at the chance to hold at least one of their forums in East Lansing - more specifically, at MSU. The AARP, the official name of the American Association of Retired Persons, has contacted the campaigns of Democratic Attorney General Jennifer Granholm and GOP Lt.