COMMENTARY
Appreciating Mother's Day without a mother
I can remember cutting out construction paper hearts, scrawling swirly, left-handed inscriptions on "one free hug" coupons.
COMMENTARY
Letter from College of Ed dean: Crocco controversy based on rumor and innuendo
The story regarding the appointment of Margaret Crocco as the chair of the Department of Teacher Education (“Former University of Iowa dean with checkered past hired at MSU,” April 24) was inflammatory and misleading.
COMMENTARY
Grades aren't as important as work ethic
We have come to a point in our education system where a number on a transcript is supposed to define who you are.I graduated high school with a 3.8 (thanks, math), a 30 on my ACT and zero work ethic.
COMMENTARY
We are ready to move on
For some reason I always thought my last day of class would hold some kind of celestial significance. I’d even imagined it how it might go a few times this semester — as cheesy as it sounds, I pictured it as a sentimental affair, one where I would show up on time, pay extra special attention and maybe retain a few snippets when I look back on it decades from now.
COMMENTARY
Freedom vs. Paradise
The paradise might not be perfect after all, but a paradise it remains. For me this was the perfect identification of my country.Honduras might not seem to stand out in the map for most of my peers at MSU.
COMMENTARY
Be open to new cultural experiences on campus
Back home, I drive by the largest mosque in America on my way to the mall.For every Jack or Sarah in my class, there were three Alis and a Malak.I got a few extra days off every year for Ramadan, a Muslim holiday.Where I wore scarves around my neck for fashion, many of my female classmates wore them around their heads year-round for religious reasons.Street signs, business names and even letters sent home from the schools come in English and Arabic.I grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, one of the largest Arab communities outside of the Middle East with 40,000 Arab-American residents out of 98,000 overall, second only to Paris.
COMMENTARY
EDITORIAL: Laughing at student activism makes Ferguson undeserving of trustee title
MSU Board of Trustees Chairman Joel Ferguson has served on the board since 1986 and has been its chairperson since 1992 — longer than some college students have been alive.One might think that with such a history of service to the school, he would come to respect the students he represents. His comments about student activism at the Board of Trustees meeting suggest otherwise, however.
COMMENTARY
Letter: Graduate Employees Union thanks MSU Board of Trustees
Fellow members of the MSU community:I write today to thank several people. First, in January of this year, a systematic underpayment of approximately $100,000 to graduate teaching assistants from last summer was resolved through a mutually pleasing agreement between the Graduate Employees Union and MSU.
COMMENTARY
Letter: MSU Students United urges Simon to freeze tuition rates
Tuition has been and continues to be far too high. MSU Students United and our 3,000 supporters are calling on you to make a public statement endorsing a tuition freeze by April 28th. If this deadline is not met, we will continue taking action towards the tuition freeze that the MSU community has demonstrated that they want.
COMMENTARY
COLUMN: Identifying as an environmentalist does not mean a person is a freak
My cellphone background is of a waterfall in Puerto Rico. My specialization is in environmental studies.
COMMENTARY
Letter: Students need to pressure administrators, state, to make higher education more affordable
Fellow Students of MSU:Can we not agree that a university is an institution where growth and development should be the main focus?
COMMENTARY
Do's and Dont's: Bar Etiquette
I recently turned 21, and the East Lansing bar scene has been a whole new experience for me.
COMMENTARY
Mental health should get more attention
Frequent encounters with something can desensitize you from it. For example, I came to college as a neat freak, but the pile of dirty dishes in my kitchen sink seems rather normal and unthreatening nowadays.
COMMENTARY
COLUMN: You better appreciate, not appropriate, culture
If you invite me to a place where there will be nachos and beer for free, I will dress up in five seconds.
COMMENTARY
We should celebrate freedom of press in U.S.
I have been able to see a new face of journalism in my days at The State News, a face that wants to rebel against the stigma of censorship.
COMMENTARY
Science brings religious beliefs into question
Being Catholic is something I take pride in and will always love, but after taking time to think about faith and science, I've come to realize some concepts in my religion clash with reality. Around MSU’s campus, I have seen several different churches like Islam, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Catholic, Christian and others. Some religions have similar beliefs and some have totally different ones. How is a person to know which religion to believe in, or if religious beliefs are even real? As I've learned more about science and history, many of the ideals don't seem possible. But does that diminish the value of religion?
COMMENTARY
Free speech should be celebrated on campus
With warm weather comes sunshine, birds singing, longboarders, outdoor seating at The Peanut Barrel and more people visiting campus — but they’re not always here just to take a stroll along the Red Cedar River.Last week’s slew of demonstrators, protesters and Bible-slingers are evidence that as soon as the snow melts, this campus becomes a forum for discussing opinions and beliefs.With about 49,000 students, it makes sense for student groups as well as outside organizations to want to spread their ideas to students who are forming their own political and social beliefs.This is the U.S.
COMMENTARY
Spartans can come together without being destructive
Two very different events brought hundreds, if not thousands of students together in the past week.
COMMENTARY
All men should be feminists
I was born and raised around smart, strong, independent and genuinely beautiful females. Throughout my life, I have seen these women make an impact in the community and in other people’s lives, as well as give life to future world citizens.
COMMENTARY
LETTER: Pro-life protesters are misguided, need to consider reasons for abortions
An open letter to the anti-abortion protesters on campus:I think you greatly misunderstand the reasons why people seek abortions.