Friday, December 20, 2024

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Commentary

COMMENTARY

Cohesion with state legislators crucial

Usually, testifying in front of legislators is a sign of a job done poorly. However, MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon’s testimony in front of state legislators about concerns raised over public funding hopefully is a sign of an improving relationship between MSU and state legislators.

COMMENTARY

Union doesn’t care about state

After years of being at the end of jokes, Detroit finally is looking at some serious restructuring. The emergency manager law has come to its ultimate test, starting in Benton Harbor, then to Flint and finally to Detroit.

COMMENTARY

Bringing service to the classroom

A couple weeks ago, many MSU students got a jump on the recent warm weather by traveling south for spring break to catch some waves and sun. Others, however, left their bathing suits at home and instead packed up old sweatshirts, blue jeans and ratty tennis shoes.

COMMENTARY

Despite council vote, casino still poor idea

Just a month after Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero unexpectedly announced his unlikely plans for a city casino, he is moving forward with plans that are still unlikely to come to fruition. Few expected the first announcement for the project, and even fewer expected him to move forward before receiving the necessary approvals.

COMMENTARY

Students take studies seriously

Christian Hokans pens many valid and important points in his column, “Degree should be taken seriously,” (SN 3/19) yet I feel his negative remarks about recent celebrations mar what would otherwise be a very provocative column.

COMMENTARY

United States not global police

In the world of social networking and online sharing, my thoughts on the Kony 2012 campaign might seem behind the curve, but nevertheless, it has reminded me of several issues I have with the American perspective on foreign affairs.

COMMENTARY

American theocracy would fail

Rick Santorum says American law should never violate biblical commands, and often it doesn’t. For example, both prohibit murder and theft. Yet, the conflicts are enormous.

COMMENTARY

Actions are how we fight al-Qaida

Hey, al-Qaida. My name is Omar Thabet and I am an Arab-American living in the United States. I was born in Detroit, but both my parents and all my ancestors are from the country of Yemen, which is where your global broad-based Islamist organization operates as a network now.

COMMENTARY

Refineries root of high gas prices

The increase in gasoline prices is not attributable to worldwide supply problems. Threats by Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz are partly responsible for the increased prices, but another culprit is our oil industry.

COMMENTARY

Degree should be taken seriously

Walking around campus on St. Patrick’s day, I was reminded of all the reasons why college is such an otherworldly time in a person’s life. Under these conditions it should surprise no one that students are taking longer and longer to graduate.

COMMENTARY

Criminalizing drugs has failed U.S.

At a young age we learned that violence is a poor way to solve our problems. The vast majority of us live our lives in this fashion, refraining from using violence to solve our disputes.

COMMENTARY

Students have right to keep life private

As summer draws near, many students are in the final process of applying for internships and jobs following graduation. n the social media-driven world we live in, the job-seeking process is no longer limited to just résumés and interviews. Job applicants are facing companies who look at Facebook profiles, Twitter accounts and more to determine applicants’ candidacy for positions.

COMMENTARY

Hypocrisy and morality don’t mix

Coming as it did in time for International Women’s Day, the decision of legislators in Virginia to require women seeking an abortion to undergo a vaginal probe and see ultrasound images of their unborn infants has aroused considerable outrage and controversy.

COMMENTARY

Keep religion, government apart

In the current political climate, with the presidential election looming and Republican primaries still ongoing, many conservatives are tumbling over one another in a mad dash to the right. In their race to the bottom, the Republicans in the Michigan House and Senate are attempting to roll back the clock on civil rights and social justice, and by and large, they are succeeding.

COMMENTARY

Students allowed to be fiscally cautious

Now that spring break is over, graduation is right around the corner for many MSU students. Students are looking for jobs and thinking about life outside East Lansing. Once they graduate, students are free to go anywhere, even back home. Some say graduates moving home is negative for the economy and demonstrates extreme laziness.