As a black person in America, I am saddened by your coverage of the Oscars. The State News’ coverage of the Halle Berry, Denzel Washington and Sidney Poitier historic victories was nonexistent the day after the ceremony. This is why black people in American hate the media.
I am writing in regard to the recent charges regarding the death of Eric Blair. While I see how many people may be looking to find a guilty party in this matter, I believe charging four students with felonies is unnecessary.
Whether a priest, teacher, father or any other adult, it is sick, evil and unacceptable for anyone to sexually abuse children.The Roman Catholic Church has been the center of a molestation scandal that has swept across the world since January when it was revealed a former Boston priest was moved from parish to parish following accusations of sexual abuse.That scandal hit Michigan this week when a Detroit priest agreed to step down while the archdiocese reviews complaints called into its sexual abuse telephone line.That priest joins countless numbers of his colleagues across America who are either stepping down or being removed from their positions because of similar charges, which, in some cases, date back decades.It is virtually unforgivable for the church to have covered up such abuse allegations, as in the case of the original Boston priest whose allegations started the domino effect.
All right MSU, guess what? I have my eyebrow pierced, and I decided I am going to have my very own party for everyone with body piercings who will be graduating this spring.
Once again a college athlete is considering ending his education in the pursuit of hoop dreams. Sophomore point guard Marcus Taylor has added his name to a growing list of MSU athletes who forgo their college careers to enter the NBA Draft. Men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo is right to say we can’t blame somebody for wanting to pursue his or her lifelong dreams, but we can be saddened by it. It’s not the fact that Taylor might not be around to satisfy Spartan fans’ hunger for another national title; we are sad because Taylor stands to give up on his education. We are not mad at Taylor for considering his options, but we are infuriated by the culture of America’s professional sports world that holds dollar signs as more valuable than education. On the bright side, Taylor has created options for himself by choosing not to have an agent.
Presumably, if you are able to obtain a license to operate a motor vehicle, you are aware of your responsibility to operate it safely and abide by traffic laws.
As the mother of Eric Blair, I feel that I need to make a statement regarding the recent developments that have occurred regarding the charges filed against the students regarding Eric’s death. I wholeheartedly agree with The State News’ editorial “Dangerous” (SN 3/27). While our lives, Eric’s friends’ lives and the lives of these five young people will be forever changed by Eric’s death, I too, do not think that this is going to deter students from drinking.
Marcus Taylor is a remarkable basketball player. He has helped bring MSU to many victories. But he is still very young and he still has a lot to learn about the business and game of basketball.
I’m not sure the Black Celebratory can be aptly characterized as racist, but it’s certainly exclusionary and unnecessary. I fail to see what can be accomplished by having a supplementary graduation ceremony for black students. I don’t think simply being part of a minority deserves any special recognition or praise.
I wasn’t your average high school student.A lot of kids had standard nicknames stemming from popularity status, sports prowess or good-natured fun.
In connection with the article regarding Eric Blair (“5 face charges in drowning,” SN 3/26), The State News solicited comments on alcohol accountability.
When history looks back at the University of Michigan’s back-to-back “Fab Five”-led NCAA Final Four appearances, it will be saddened to see a talented team tainted by corruption. Although U-M athletics director Bill Martin said it is premature to believe the Wolverines will be required to return the money they earned in the 1992 and 1993 NCAA tournaments and take down the respective Final Four banners from Crisler Arena’s rafters, he said they were possible punishments. The measures were suggested by former U-M athletics director Don Canham on Thursday after the indictment of former U-M booster Ed Martin, who federal authorities allege violated NCAA rules by loaning “Fab Five” star Chris Webber and three other players $600,000 from 1988 to1999. Bill Martin and Ed Martin are not related. While it is easy for a Spartan to cheer on the possibility of U-M’s banners falling, we are pretty much indifferent on the subject. It doesn’t matter if the banners are allowed to hang because they are tainted either way.
I’m writing in regard to the article “Sparty blue again after second attack,” (SN, 3/26). They can paint the outside of Sparty, but will never pierce the spirit inside.
When you commit a crime, penalties must be paid. The five students being charged in connection with Eric Blair’s death in October broke the law.
My car broke down Saturday. But aside from that, it was a relatively good weekend. Still, the damage has been done. So, I’ve been looking for someone to blame for my misfortune.
I’m responding to the editorial “Taking pride” (SN 3/25). Last time I checked, minority status included a variety of ethnicities, and yet those working on the Black Celebratory claim this status while only promoting black pride due to their low retention rates.
I agree in part with the editorial “Inflated grades” (SN 3/18) in the sense that artificially raising grades does diminish the value of a good grade-point average. But professors should not assign grades based on the idea that “grades should reflect the amount of work students accomplish in their classes.” Results matter, and equal effort does not translate into equal results or success.
In “Making the Choice” (SN 3/21), the woman featured said “I’m 19-years-old, I’m not going to be able to raise a baby.” What about the 2 million people in America who will be on a waiting list to adopt a child for two years? The 5-1/2-week fetus aborted had eyes, arms and legs, developing muscles and bones and a beating heart. Whether you want to think about it, having an abortion causes a life to end.
Reading of David Horowitz’s visit in The State News, I found it rather amusing he would toss generalizations as handily as he accuses the Black Student Alliance of doing the same (“Horowitz’s speech criticizes leftists, Black Student Alliance,” SN 3/22). Since I have been going to MSU, I have never been told what political views to hold or whether affirmative action is right or wrong.
Almost everyone remembers having a substitute teacher at some point in their K-12 education. It’s a day when students usually pass notes, talk to their friends or sometimes don’t even bother showing up for class. If the state House passes a bill dropping substitute teacher requirements from 90 college credit hours to 60, such a scenario could happen more often all over the state.