Sunday, July 5, 2026

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Commentary

COMMENTARY

Union Conclusion

After a year of negotiations, Graduate Employees Union and university officials reached agreement on a three-year contract with increased health care and wage benefits for MSU’s graduate employees. We hope this deal provides needed relief to MSU’s teaching assistants, and also helps make this university more competitive in the hunt for the best graduate students. Under terms of the contract, graduate employees will receive a 3.5 percent wage increase retroactive to the beginning of the year, in addition to a 2 percent increase for 2002-03 and 2003-04 academic years, and a 3 percent increase in 2004-05. Like the thousands of undergraduate students at MSU, graduate employees rely on these wages and benefits to help them pay for their educations and support their families.

COMMENTARY

Clubs, balls, carts and a little bit of sportsmanship

This is a column about golf. I’ll do my best to avoid the obligatory ball jokes that most trained humor professionals might make when writing a golf column, but I can’t guarantee anything. As the days (supposedly) get warmer, hundreds of citizens head out to the links to take part in the exclusive “gentleman’s game” known as golf. Recently, I joined some of my co-workers in a rousing round of the sport as part of an outing sponsored by the Michigan Press Association.

COMMENTARY

Tuition Trouble

The MSU Board of Trustees’ 8.5 percent tuition hike for the 2002-03 school year is a regrettable measure to have to take.

COMMENTARY

Readers opinions make page exciting

For me, like a lot of people I know, the opinion section of a newspaper is always a highlight. It’s where, ideally, everyone has a chance to speak their minds as a part of that wonderful First Amendment we all hold so dear. It also allows the newspaper to take a stand on issues, a real treat since we journalists spend most of our time attempting to report the news in an unbiased manner. But for this particular section to work, there needs to be more than just one guy ranting.

COMMENTARY

Cartoon didnt make political statement

I found Matt Treadwell’s justification of Nate Allen’s cartoon (“SN need not apologize for unfunny, controversial illustration; cartoon fit to print,” SN 4/24) amazingly more amusing than the cartoon itself.

COMMENTARY

Unanswered

The passing of a new policy bill within the Residence Halls Association allowing the removal of executive board members in cases of gross negligence will not prove effective in dealing with the shortcomings of the organization.RHA has already had a history of irresponsibility, and although attempting to fix those problems is commendable, more effort is needed.

COMMENTARY

Please support union in fight for benefits

I hope students will not be mislead by Provost Lou Anna Simon’s e-mail regarding the Graduate Employees Union walkout and possible strike (“U braces for GEU strike,” SN 4/25). We are concerned about the effect a strike during finals will have on undergraduates, but we have been forced into this position by the delaying tactics of the administration.

COMMENTARY

Unprofessional

After a postponement last week, the internal vice chairperson position on ASMSU’s Academic Assembly was filled Tuesday.

COMMENTARY

All subject to scrutiny on SN Opinion page

This is in response to Suzi DiBiasio’s letter “Political cartoon was distasteful, offensive” ( SN 4/23). She said it was totally out of line and offensive to pick on leaders of the Catholic Church and Allen needs a reminder about what is and is not funny.

COMMENTARY

Column promotes immorality, denial

Reading Josh Siegel’s column “Despite health risks, abstinence not an option; sex too good to miss” (SN 4/22) confirms my belief that The State News is clinging to the bottom rung of society’s moral ladder - and slipping at that.

COMMENTARY

Watching death gives no perspective on life

Everyone knows “Code Blue,” which makes it worthless as a code, so what comes overhead is “Code 333, MICU, Code 333.” A code is simply a call for help with the resuscitation of a patient who is close to death.

COMMENTARY

Taking charge

One reported incident of child sexual abuse now could mean immediate dismissal for priests in the Catholic Church. On Wednesday, American cardinals met with Pope John Paul II in Vatican City to discuss the creation of a “one-strike-you’re-out” policy for future sex abuse cases.

COMMENTARY

Attend class

Members of the Graduate Employees Union have every right to speak out and protest in support of better benefits.

COMMENTARY

Cultural sensitivity not stores strength

It is no surprise that Abercrombie & Fitch is in hot water (“Store removes controversial shirts,” SN 4/23). Apparently, the marketing wizards for this company thought it would be a swell idea to have a new line of T-shirts with stereotypic depictions of Asian cartoon characters. I can’t say that I’m too terribly surprised by this less-than-brilliant move by the aforementioned company.