Friday, September 20, 2024

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Commentary

COMMENTARY

Headline wording was poor decision

In the Feb. 26 issue of The State News, a headline blares “Online classes linked to poor performance.” Reading on, we find that MSU Professor Carl Liedholm and a colleague compared the exam grades of students in Principles of Microeconomics, some of whom took the course online while others took it in the traditional classroom-style mode. The word “poor” in the headline is inappropriate.

COMMENTARY

SN staff works hard; dont knock them

As an avid reader of The State News, I feel the need to rise to the defense of the paper. It is of my opinion that Michael Wayo’s criticisms are misguided (“SN stories lacking quality, substance,” SN 2/25). The State News is a college newspaper, written for college students, by college students who may or may not be looking at journalism as their profession.

COMMENTARY

Conciousness

As people strive to figure out their place in the post-Sept. 11 world, it’s crucial for them to learn as much as possible about the circumstances that led to such a tragedy. The events of that morning are among the most significant in our history - it’s imperative we learn about them.

COMMENTARY

Bushs oil plan is better than U think

The State News is wrong to not back President Bush on oil drilling. Firstly, fuel cells and hybrid cars will mostly likely phase out the combustion engine in the future, but hybrids still require gas.

COMMENTARY

Hockey coverage not worthy of team

To say I am disappointed with the lack of attention our hockey team gets would be a gross understatement. MSU is blessed with the winningest coach in college hockey history, the best player in all of college hockey (Ryan Miller), and a team that is ranked fifth in the nation.

COMMENTARY

Strike out

While it is commendable for student groups like Direct Action and Students for Economic Justice to support MSU’s Graduate Employees Union in its efforts to negotiate a contract with administrators, calling for a one-day undergraduate strike from classes is not the best way to show it. The two student activist groups are calling for a one-day strike March 11, in which they ask all students to abstain from attending classes. Members of the groups met with union officials on Monday to discuss terms of the union’s support for the one-day strike.

COMMENTARY

Rodeo riders treat animals with care

As a rodeo competitor, I must respond to Jeanne Mladonicky’s recent letter (“Rodeos do nothing but hurt animals,” SN 2/22). Current rules include mandatory inspection before each event, on-site veterinarians at every contest, fines and disqualifications for mistreatment, limitation to the length of an animal’s career and use of protective equipment for the animals. A flank strap is not the reason animals buck.

COMMENTARY

Silenced

Although many ASMSU officials talk about working for the best interests of students, the undergraduate government’s recent actions tell another story. Last week, ASMSU officials refused to release proposed guidelines for undercover police work at MSU to The State News, even though the guidelines were passed out to Student Assembly members at a public meeting. The student guidelines were finally released to The State News on Sunday, and officials released the administration’s guidelines Monday. Jeff Ziarko, ASMSU director of university governmental and budgetary affairs, said it is in the best interest of students not to be aware of such proposals until a policy is finalized.

COMMENTARY

NHL would benefit from shorter games

These Olympics were very good for the game of hockey. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman got the exact finals matchup he wanted, pinning two North American teams against each other to showcase the NHL.

COMMENTARY

SN hypocritical in stance on speaker

Your editorial objecting to the student funding of my appearance at MSU has just come to my attention (“Why him?” SN 2/19). You describe my views as being “extreme anti-affirmative action and anti-reparations” and sum up your own perspective in opposing my appearance this way: “Horowitz’s views do not appeal to a larger mass of individuals.

COMMENTARY

No refuge

Would somebody please tell President Bush that the oil fields in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are not the solution to the United States’ long-term energy problems? Calling fuel cells and hybrid cars “the wave of the future,” Bush, at the White House on Monday, pressed the Senate to pass his controversial comprehensive energy plan, which is highlighted by plans to drill in the refuge to increase domestic oil production. Bush said more oil production within the United States will decrease the country’s dependence on foreign oil. The president’s conclusion is oxymoronic. If the government invests more resources into the production of affordable hybrid vehicles and fuel cells, the United States’ dependency on oil will be reduced, and dependency on foreign oil will also decrease. Depleting the globe of more finite natural resources is not the solution for America’s energy future.

COMMENTARY

Its a shame

Worries that university officials may be moving to eliminate the Department of Religious Studies seem awfully valid unless the College of Arts & Letters can provide more assurance to the contrary. If the college’s leaders go ahead with the discipline’s deletion, they will be doing the university a capital injustice. Since 1998, College of Arts & Letters officials and faculty have debated the merits of downgrading its Department of Religious Studies to a program.

COMMENTARY

Toughen up

The recent agreement between state Attorney General Jennifer Granholm and Walgreen Co. will have the drugstore chain honing in on tobacco sales regulation in efforts to help curb underage smoking.