COMMENTARY

Students need more mental health help

In a time when money isn’t in abundance at MSU, university programs are going to have funds cut. It’s an unfortunate reality ­— one that is affecting the mental health and well-being of the university’s students. The Counseling Center has provided assistance to a record-breaking 3,050 students and counting this academic year, in comparison to the 2,750 students during the 2010-11 school year.

COMMENTARY

School bond needs more thought

For the first time, I will vote “no” on a school bond. I have a daughter, and soon a son, in East Lansing schools.

COMMENTARY

Disaster inevitable, so why worry

Craig Pearson

February 15, 2012

In November 2011, the asteroid YU55 soared between Earth and the moon’s orbit, just over 200,000 miles away from colliding with our planet.

COMMENTARY

Gingrich’s morals a fair question

Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich’s marital affairs are fair game, much more than John Edwards’, Eliot Spitzer’s or Bill Clinton’s.

COMMENTARY

Tea Party protested effectively

Jameson Joyce

February 14, 2012

This is the second part of my last article; if you haven’t read it, I encourage you to do so.

COMMENTARY

Birth control up to women, not religion

Birth control has been making headlines lately, causing quite a stir in religiously affiliated organizations across the country.

COMMENTARY

Divided, United Nations too weak

Conservative politicians often portray the United Nations as a powerful monster, poised to gobble up the United States and other countries and put them under alien rule. The reality, of course, is quite different.

COMMENTARY

A beautiful lady for Valentine’s Day

Omar Thabet

February 13, 2012

To meet the requirement of becoming a journalist, I have to complete one English course before I graduate. And since I have a sincere love for poetry, I decided to take the English 129, Introduction to Reading Poetry course offered by professor Maurice Pogue.

COMMENTARY

State budget clears up university funding

For state universities still reeling from last year’s 15 percent budget cut from higher education, Gov. Rick Snyder’s newest budget is a much-needed sign of better things to come.

COMMENTARY

Protests don’t need focus, goals

I read with some amusement a recent editorial in the State News where the writer contrasted recent protests with those of the past — opining that Occupy Wall Street and those students who would like to improve our health by getting rid of coal burning on campus are not serious protesters because, unlike the successful protesters of the 1960s, they have “no clear goals.”

COMMENTARY

This break, heed open road’s call

Christian Hokans

February 12, 2012

If you’re like me, then it’s getting to that point in the semester where spring break can’t come soon enough. As midterms, papers and more creep up, break has become my light at the end of the tunnel. Unlike many students, thoughts of the tropics aren’t what’s pushing me onwards at this point.

COMMENTARY

Safety, not acrimony, goal of card system

When it comes to student life at MSU, safety on campus should be a top priority. University officials seem to agree, as demonstrated with the card-scanning security systems in residence halls, but undergraduate student government groups are hoping to make the system more convenient for students — an unnecessary change.

COMMENTARY

MSU doesn’t serve state residents

While reading “Cultural Commerce,” (SN 2/6) something in the article immediately stood out to me: the increase in Chinese students from 600 in 2006 to 3,012 in 2011.

COMMENTARY

Election day, go beyond party lines

Being a college freshman and just turning 19, the upcoming presidential election will be my first opportunity to vote for the country’s next president. I always have proclaimed myself to be a Democrat, so at first there seemed to be no question of who I would vote for: President Barack Obama.

COMMENTARY

Tracking system not needed to keep E.L. safe

In some cities, being aware of the crimes in an area can be very beneficial for police officers and citizens, but a crime mapping system in East Lansing would be a waste of money, time and labor.

COMMENTARY

Stadium upgrades ignore climate

At a time when climate scientists are sounding alarm bells around the world, as glaciers melt, severe weather events disrupt cities and farms and earth’s living things face extinction because of global climate change, the MSU Administration and Board of Trustees have shirked their responsibilities. Last week the MSU Board of Trustees failed to discuss transitioning the largest coal-fired power plant on any American college campus, removing such discussion from their agenda.

COMMENTARY

Students of all majors can find jobs

The recent article in The State News (“Are You Employable?” SN 1/27) might have created undue stress for many MSU students who are in liberal arts colleges.

COMMENTARY

Students shouldn’t pay for internships

Internships during college can provide quality, real-world experience for students before they enter their field after graduation, but making students pay for their internship credits is discouraging and costly. A committee within ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, is looking into certain colleges’ requirement of students to pay for credit hours at a higher cost than the university spends to provide resources to students during their internships.

COMMENTARY

Women’s lounge divides students

As a first-year student at Michigan State, my exploration of all that campus has to offer is far from over. However, as I’ve made my way through the many landmarks, as a female I was surprised to discover the women’s lounge in the Union.

COMMENTARY

All students deserve counseling

Mitch Goldsmith

February 7, 2012

Last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled on an appeal filed by Julea Ward, a former graduate student in Eastern Michigan University’s counseling program.