Friday, December 20, 2024

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Commentary

COMMENTARY

No excuse for housing intolerance

This is one of the major times of the year when people search for new housing space in East Lansing. Because there is no MSU Housing Fair this spring, it is especially important to remind readers of East Lansing’s civil rights ordinance that protects against discrimination in housing, public accommodations, services and employment.

COMMENTARY

Go green one grocery trip at a time

Ah yes, an unusually warm spring day, and I’m sitting by the Red Cedar River, pondering life beside the sound of billowing rapids. All at once I see it, a piece of plastic floating through my otherwise unspoiled view of nature.

COMMENTARY

Progress on CATA app invisible, unhurried

After months of meetings and developments, ASMSU has achieved little progress on its tracking mobile application for MSU students, faculty and local residents. ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, has planned to develop an app to track Capital Area Transportation Authority, or CATA, buses on mobile phones.

COMMENTARY

Riot reputation doesn’t help MSU

MSU is a respectable, distinguished university. It’s a Big Ten school with countless famous alumni from Los Angeles and New York City to London and Japan. Students past and present know it’s a great university.

COMMENTARY

Prevent animal cruelty in April

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, and I urge readers to help keep their communities safe for everyone by being alert to signs of cruelty and neglect, and always reporting known or suspected abuse to law enforcement authorities immediately.

COMMENTARY

Bill holds businesses more accountable

A bill recently passed in Michigan demonstrates state lawmakers taking a different approach to curbing underage drinking. The new bill makes it tougher for restaurants and stores to sell to minors.

COMMENTARY

MSU’s insurance option viable one

I went online to ehealthinsurance.com and put in a search for health insurance as a single male born in 1993 and living in zip code 48823. Young Adult Blue Max cost $99.88 per month or $1,198.56 for a year.

COMMENTARY

Animal abuse no longer tolerated

This spring, a familiar sight at MSU has become no more. For more than two decades, a local civic group has worked with Breslin Center to bring the Florida-based Royal Hanneford Circus to campus for several days’ worth of performances.

COMMENTARY

Biofuels cleaner way to help power MSU

Upon the pending approval of a bond in Delhi Township, MSU’s campus could take a small step toward a healthier and cleaner environment. Although it might not be a huge leap, this small step still is one away from continuing to burn tons of coal per day.

COMMENTARY

Time to cut back on nuclear arms

On Feb. 8, Congressman Edward Markey (D-Mass.) took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to introduce the Smarter Approach to Nuclear Expenditures Act (H.R. 3974). This SANE Act would cut $100 billion from the U.S. nuclear weapons budget over the next 10 years.

COMMENTARY

US can’t grasp Afghani culture

After an American sergeant marauded through an Afghan village methodically shooting unarmed men, women and children, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton argued that “this is not who we are.” The president chimed in that we care about Afghan children as much as our own.

COMMENTARY

Assessing China’s pros, cons

The U.S.-China relationship will be one of the most important for advancing American interests in the 21st century. The nature of this relationship will define how responsibility on the world stage is delegated and how wealth will be accumulated. To do it right, the U.S. will have to re-establish our pre-eminence in the world and work with China to achieve mutual prosperity.

COMMENTARY

Café workers need professionalism

Editor’s Note: Views expressed in guest columns and letters to the editor reflect the views of the author, not the views of The State News. Deciding to stay on campus in the dorms for a second year was a choice I made for many reasons: close to classes, right across the hall from my best friends and the convenience of the cafeteria right upstairs from my dorm room in the Snyder Hall terrace.