Saturday, January 31, 2026

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Commentary

COMMENTARY

Separation

A law signed by Gov. John Engler in December, though meant to make people more patriotic, is not inclusive of all Americans and stands only to defeat Constitutional rights. Most Americans probably don’t blink an eye at the national motto, “In God We Trust,” and a bill passed stating that the motto could be displayed in schools and other governmental buildings.

COMMENTARY

Fair move

If one state lawmaker has his way, MSU could be asked to step right up to become the future host of the Michigan State Fair.

COMMENTARY

Hosting state fair could be problematic

In response to “Officials discuss moving fair to ‘U’” (SN 3/20), I did my undergraduate work at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Fair bordered the agricultural campus in St.

COMMENTARY

Stereotypes used in SN article on AIDS

This is in response to the article “Speaker discusses Third World AIDS crisis” (SN 3/19). In the light of cultural understanding, I was surprised to open The State News and read this statement: “Gulick said one major reason Africa has the highest number of estimated cases is because the culture promotes unsafe sex.” I would not expect such a generalization from a highly educated medical practitioner.

COMMENTARY

Detroits problems not from outsiders

It’s about time someone spoke up for Detroit. All MSU students can benefit from reading Tameria Warren’s recent column in defense of her hometown (“Don’t criticize Detroit if you’re not working to solve its problems,” SN 3/18). I have always been fond of the city and the events it offers.

COMMENTARY

Student demand cause for increase

In light of recent articles, editorials and letters published in The State News, I feel compelled to discuss why students should vote in favor of the ASMSU student tax increase this week.

COMMENTARY

Baby steps

ASMSU deserves kudos for taking a step in the right direction toward fixing its financial mishaps, but there’s still much more work to be done in light of budget problems of recent years. The undergraduate student government approved a 22-page set of financial bylaws last week, updating the three-page document adopted in 1992.

COMMENTARY

Need for contract affects U majority

In response to Matt Mitroka’s letter (“Negotiation tactics won’t help students,” SN 3/14), I would remind readers that the Graduate Employees Union won an election to represent MSU graduate employees by a margin of 3 to 1. The fact that hundreds of graduate employees have participated in recent union activities does not suggest that the union is acting on behalf of a minority.

COMMENTARY

Vigilance

As a nation, we have learned the hard way that our borders are not free from the wrath of terrorists willing to push their political agendas by taking the lives of themselves and thousands of innocent people. The Sept.

COMMENTARY

Students can benefit from tax increase

In his letter, Eric Smith portrays ASMSU representatives as cigar-smoking bureaucrats who just waste students’ tax money (“Don’t support tax increase for ASMSU,” SN 3/13). Let’s get real.

COMMENTARY

Good example

MSU needs to follow the University of Michigan’s lead with its graduate contract settlement. Without holding an all-out strike, U-M administrators and the Graduate Employees Organization were able to come to an agreement.

COMMENTARY

Go vote

Voter turnout across this campus is getting more pathetic each time students are asked to go to the polls.

COMMENTARY

Funding board has been responsible

I am compelled to respond to Margaret Durfy’s letter concerning the actions of the Funding Board (“ASMSU spends ‘U’ dollars unwisely,” SN 3/15). The letter contains unsubstantiated and completely false allegations.

COMMENTARY

Taxed out

MSU’s undergraduate student government has a lot of questions to answer if it hopes to restore credibility to the organization and any of its referendum items to be voted on during this week’s universitywide elections. It seems ASMSU leaders will make an effort to do that at 7 p.m.