Wednesday, December 17, 2025

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Commentary

COMMENTARY

Club helps student find place at MSU

As we all know, Michigan State is an extremely large place. Our campus is filled with more than 45,000 students, and many of those students are involved in extracurricular activities or one of the more than 500 student organizations on campus.

COMMENTARY

Romney comment off-putting, honest

Soon after Republican nominee Mitt Romney made his infamous “47 percent” comment, my younger brother reached out to me asking for help regarding an extra-credit assignment for his high school government class. Although I risk the accusation that I am doing my brother’s homework (and that this article is late to the party), here’s my take on Romney’s “47 percent.

COMMENTARY

Effort to curb lewd chants noble, futile

During the past few MSU home football games, there have been many vulgar chants that are taking away from the games and starting to gain attention around campus. And at last week’s ASMSU General Assembly meeting, the student section’s unsportsmanlike conduct was a topic discussed.

COMMENTARY

Concealed carry right, not requisite

In the aftermath of the Colorado movie theater shooting, the Colorado Supreme Court recently ruled that the University of Colorado Boulder, or CU-Boulder, could not ban firearms on campus. The right to bear arms is a constitutional principle, but a college campus is a place where students should feel safe, whether they choose to carry a weapon or not.

COMMENTARY

Is gluten-free diet smart for weight loss?

For many of us, aromatic baked breads and scrumptiously prepared pastries are comforting delights. Yet for those who possess an autoimmune disorder called celiac disease, the consumption of these foods can trigger a wide range of unpleasant symptoms, including diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating.

COMMENTARY

Communication vital for redevelopment

After the failed City Center II project and the controversial St. Anne Lofts project, the city of East Lansing might be approving another redevelopment undertaking near MSU’s campus. Although the project would provide students with convenient housing and entertainment, communications between the developer and the city must remain strong in order for this project to develop, free of architectural and monetary issues.

COMMENTARY

Foreign language vital for education

I have a terrible Michigan accent. Whenever I travel outside of the Midwest to visit family or friends, they make it well known how nasally my accent can sound, especially when pronouncing such words as “mom,” “class” and even my first name, Alex.

COMMENTARY

Universities not defined by rankings

When deciding which college to attend, a student usually looks at the strength of a school’s academic programs and what a school can offer as a college experience. Students utilize their experiences at universities as an opportunity to build their résumé while obtaining a degree, in the hopes of using it to land a well-paying career.

COMMENTARY

Roommate strife teaches life lesson

Four years ago, when I first arrived at Michigan State, I was not the same person I am today. Just as I’m sure the majority of college students have seen themselves transform over their college careers — hopefully in positive ways — I like to think I’ve shared in that experience as well.

COMMENTARY

Dancers forced to relocate

I am a dancer. I began dancing at my undergraduate institution seven years ago, and although when I first moved to Michigan I didn’t dance for about a year and a half, I then found out about the State Swing Society, and I have been to every meeting since.

COMMENTARY

Lawmaker must accept consequences

More than eight months after he chose to get behind the wheel of a car intoxicated, State Rep. Bob Genetski, R-Saugatuck, was found guilty yesterday in East Lansing’s 54-B District Court of operating while intoxicated.

COMMENTARY

Take advantage of right to vote

I wish I could say I don’t care who you vote for — I do, deeply. But for the purposes of this column, I’m refraining from divulging my political beliefs for the promotion of a greater cause: the act of voting overall.

COMMENTARY

Unhealthy eating deserves closer look

Obesity is a health issue plaguing America, and the number of Americans who are considered obese continues to increase. In Michigan, obesity among adults is expected to reach 59.4 percent from the current 31.3 percent by 2030 if obesity rates stay on their current pace, according to a report released last Tuesday by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

COMMENTARY

‘Tech era’ stifles social abilities

Last week, I watched a typical, boring lecture for my anthropology class on my computer. I sat at my desk, drowsily and inattentively, in the comfort of my green, plaid pajama pants and Michigan State-detailed Snuggie, staring blankly at the screen.

COMMENTARY

Fair to regulate hateful expression

Freedom of speech is an American principle granted by the Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution. It is a value this country is proud of, and is exercised daily through protest and expression.