COMMENTARY

Shoplifters should face harsher sentence

Editorial Board

April 3, 2013

Beginning last week, stiffer penalties — sometimes up to a five-year felony sentence — now can be levied against those convicted of shoplifting in Michigan. A dozen circumstances now are evaluated to determine whether an individual’s acts could be categorized as “organized retail crime,” which could range from deactivating store security devices to conspiring with accomplices and receiving store goods.

COMMENTARY

Flying fists rarely resolve arguments

Greg Olsen

April 3, 2013

When I was in fourth grade, I received some of the worst advice from my father a parent could give.

COMMENTARY

Medical amnesty vital part of college campus

Editorial Board

April 2, 2013

There never should be a consequence for doing the right thing, and if there is one state that has made that clear, it’s Michigan.

COMMENTARY

Five ways to stay focused this spring

Caleb Nordgren

April 2, 2013

Today, April 3, marks the one-month-remaining point in the semester. The last day of finals week is exactly one month from today.

COMMENTARY

Hateful comments hurt GOP reputation

Editorial Board

April 1, 2013

If ignorance was a crime, Republican National Committeeman Dave Agema would be found guilty on all charges.

COMMENTARY

Trust a virgin: waiting ‘til you’re ready won’t kill you

Emily Wilkins

April 1, 2013

When I was 7, I expected to get my graduation cap and gown around the same time I’d get a ring on my finger. I’m not sure where this timeline came from, but as I grew older, I began to realize how silly it was. If I ever get married, it’ll happen when I meet a person I’d be comfortable spending the rest of my life with. Most of my peers agree with me.

COMMENTARY

Progressive Pope will help Catholic Church

Editorial Board

March 31, 2013

In his first weeks as pontiff, Pope Francis has made it perfectly clear he isn’t afraid to break from routine.

COMMENTARY

Marriage equality for new generation

Tyler Gross

March 31, 2013

On March 26, anyone active on social media witnessed or participated in the red equal-sign takeover. That day, the U.S. Supreme Court entertained arguments concerning gay marriage for the first time, in the case that challenged California’s Proposition 8 — Hollingsworth v. Perry — and the federal Defense of Marriage Act — U.S. v. Windsor.

COMMENTARY

Love can make people change

Greg Olsen

March 28, 2013

For the better part of this week, it was hard to visit any social media site without being reminded of the arguments being heard by the Supreme Court.

COMMENTARY

Save madness for basketball court

Editorial Board

March 28, 2013

Many of us know exactly where we’ll be tonight at 9:45. For the 11th time in Tom Izzo’s tenure, MSU will battle in the Sweet 16 — taking on Duke in a matchup that is as much anticipated nationally as it is locally

COMMENTARY

Wear that Nirvana T-shirt to the party tonight

Tyler Burt

March 27, 2013

Everyone is familiar with coincidences. When these all-too-perfect coincidences occur, most people think nothing of them and move along with a dismissing shrug — which is the completely sane and practical thing to do.

COMMENTARY

Eight things I hate about you

Katie Harrington  and  Greg Olsen

March 27, 2013

We all have things that bother us about the opposite sex. From the clothes they wear to the things they say, sometimes guys and girls just don’t see eye to eye. Here are the top eight things opinion writer Greg Olsen and opinion editor Katie Harrington can’t stand about the opposite sex.

COMMENTARY

Colleges must be pioneers of human rights

Editorial Board

March 26, 2013

What characteristics do you need to be recognized as the gender you identify with? Is it strictly an issue of biology or something that depends more on what gender the individual considers himself or herself to be?

COMMENTARY

Sometimes you just have to be there

Craig Gunn

March 26, 2013

I sat one night recently watching numerous commercials that asked me to send donations to every conceivable part of the known universe. _Craig Gunn is a guest columnist at The State News and an academic specialist in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

COMMENTARY

Healthy eating habits must begin on campus

Nick Bruewer

March 25, 2013

In 1990, not one U.S. state had an adult obesity rate above 15 percent. In 2011, more than 12 states had obesity rates above 30 percent, Michigan being in that category. There are studies that project more than half of America will be obese by 2030.

COMMENTARY

Rising tuition could be fault of tenured staff

Editorial Board

March 25, 2013

According to a report released last week by Education Sector and the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, a decline in the teaching loads of tenured faculty members could play a role in driving up tuition costs.

COMMENTARY

Reaction troubling in Ohio rape case

Editorial Board

March 24, 2013

Controversial court cases often generate severe public reactions, which jolt the way the original problem is handled and remembered.

COMMENTARY

Impact of legal pot remains debateable

Alex Brooks

March 24, 2013

The legalization of marijuana generally has been an issue of morality and social acceptance above all else, and because of that, the debate never has particularly interested me.

COMMENTARY

15 things you won’t miss about MSU

Katie Harrington  and  Greg Olsen

March 21, 2013

It’s a true college tragedy. It’s 3 p.m. Thursday, and you and your friends decide to start your weekend off early. So you head down to the The Riv to share a few pitchers at ‘Rama. Only one problem: it’s 10 degrees, snowing and the line is wrapped halfway around the building.

COMMENTARY

Media industry needs new approach to piracy

Milan Griffes

March 21, 2013

Depending on who you ask, online piracy might appear a clear-cut issue.