The formula for success is hardly infallible. There's no one correct path toward becoming a pillar of the community, nor are there rigid criteria for who or what is a highly educated person.
The situation surrounding Saddam Hussein's trial in Iraq is tenuous and the United States has to be extremely delicate in balancing the insurance that the citizens of Iraq are happy with the results of the trial, and enforcement of the democratic value of a fair trial over popular justice. The body of evidence against Hussein is so overwhelming and well-documented that the trial against the remnants of the Ba'ath Party might seem to be over before it starts. Regardless of the clamoring of the people, Iraq's newly formed judicial system must play by the rules - or risk losing sight of overall justice forever. The trial could have been held in the World Court, similar to former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic's trial.
Two men walk into a bar. They order drinks and turn around, scanning the crowd for an empty table. They eye a couple preparing to leave and hustle in their direction to lay claim to the table before anyone else has the opportunity.
Ideally, every dog or cat would have a home and live healthy, happy and free. The reality is that animals are abandoned by irresponsible people every day, and rather than roaming the streets in hordes they are captured and removed from society. While it's true some animals in the pound are lucky enough to find a more hospitable home, some will always be left unwanted - no matter how hard animal control centers search for new families. Two options exist for the fraction of misplaced pets that will always be with us - death in vain or benefit to human and animal-kind through research. While to some the conflict over whether to use animals for research at all might rank up there in importance with the conflict on stem cell research, to most, the problem is more benign. The difference with conflict over "Class B" animal dealers buying from the Ingham County Animal Control Shelter is when concerned citizens brought the issue up to their local government, the government listened, taking them seriously. The government response is admirable, since other local governments might not have given the issue the time of day - local animal rights activists did make some difference. The victory and strategy, however, were incomplete, since "Class B" and "Class A" dealers are still present in Michigan and are unlikely to ever fully be removed. As long as animals are treated ethically, properly cared for and respected during research, then their sacrifice in the name of science will not be in vain.
While most of America slept Monday morning, Iraq's wobbly stagger toward the desert mirage of full sovereignty took on the appearance of a slightly prouder shuffle.
A night game at Spartan Stadium against one of MSU's most ferocious rivals, Notre Dame, is a college football fan's dream come true. Everything will be more intense on Sept.
Unfortunately, sometimes recognition for a lifetime of excellence in one's given field is not bestowed until that person is no longer present to hear the praise. Ruth Simms Hamilton's work in the College of Social Science, which focused on African Diaspora - a migration of people with a common origin, background or beliefs - was certainly recognized among her peers and students.
The Michigan government seems to be participating in an anti-tobacco spree. On Tuesday, the state Senate and House passed a bill that will increase the cigarette tax by 75 cents, raising the price of cigarettes to $2 in taxes per pack.
Fans of MSU and traffic-dodging, we have some unfortunate news. "The Spartan," commonly known to all as Sparty, is getting a new home after 59 years at the intersection of Kalamazoo Street and Red Cedar Road.
A tuition increase of 2.4 percent has been passed by the MSU Board of Trustees for the 2004-05 school year.
When the winners write the history books, we're all at a loss. History, as we know it, is inherently biased.
On Friday, the MSU Board of Trustees limited an eight-month, nationwide search for MSU's next president to a five-week walk up one flight of stairs in the Administration Building.
Until Tuesday night, the antithesis to Showtime was always the Boston Celtics. Magic versus Bird.
Voting is your ticket to whine. If people do not vote for the candidate who shares their values or if they don't speak out against legislation they find unacceptable - or in the very least learn about the issues at hand until after they have been affected - they have no business complaining.
What a sordid little past our Pledge of Allegiance really has. On Monday, the Supreme Court added a small chapter to that historical timeline.
We've all grown up hearing the same thing, stealing is bad. So why all the hullabaloo over nine MSU students who were caught in the act of pilfering something?
It is a general expectation that when two parties make a deal, both groups will hold up their end of the bargain.
State Rep. Leon Drolet, R-Clinton Township, and the Michigan House of Representatives have taught Michigan an interesting lesson in the past year - if at first you don't succeed in undermining the Supreme Court, try, try again. Last Wednesday, Drolet succeeded in steering an amendment through the state House that would sever state funding to public universities who factor race into admissions policy.
Of all the places in the world, of all the grass masters of the universe, the 2004 Olympic Games chose MSU professors and graduate students to grow their turf in Athens, Greece. MSU has once again stepped up to the plate to bat out another beautiful grass stadium.
Who are we to decide what form of government will be best for the Iraqi people once the June 30 transfer of power comes and goes? Today, that question is rhetoric.