COMMENTARY
Dry Dollar?
The Dollar Nightclub could be as good as bankrupt after allowing itself to be used as the set for a wild and controversial video shoot on Wednesday.
COMMENTARY
Unsettling dissent
It's only been four months since he was elected to the state Senate, but Virg Bernero already has begun to sing a different tune when it comes to dealing with Michigan's tobacco-settlement dollars. The Lansing Democrat has proposed the state look at the $300 million it takes in each year from the 1998 settlement to help mend Michigan's $1.7-billion budget deficit.
COMMENTARY
Born to be wild
The bottom line is this - sex sells. The Dollar Nightclub and "Girls Gone Wild" were just supplying what is demanded with last night's event, especially near a college campus - sex. And everybody deserves to make a buck.
COMMENTARY
We've got mail :)
Sticks and stones may break your bones, but TWIG will never harm you again. That's right, MSU's notoriously slow e-mail systems, TWIG and Telnet access, are about to take the long walk. For years, TWIG and Telnet access have been tripping students up, inconveniently keeping them from e-mails from professors and the university. But that's all about to change. As TWIG and Telnet access are sent out to greener pastures (back behind the fields off Mount Hope Road and Farm Lane somewhere), MSU will be introducing a new e-mail Web site. The Web site was supposed to launch last Wednesday but was delayed due to a glitch. The university plans to have the glitch fixed and release the new e-mail system before spring break. This is good news for students, who with the new system can finally open up e-mails faster without worrying about skipping over important information. In the past, professors have complained students don't check their e-mails and aren't prepared for class because TWIG and Telnet access are inconvenient. This new e-mail system will improve the lifestyle of students and give them an overall feeling of confidence in the university and its computer policies.
COMMENTARY
Golden grading
Mark Grebner deserves an "A" for effort. The East Lansing-based political consultant's most recent publication of "Grading The Profs" is considerably better than average. After a dozen editions since 1975, Grebner's 2003 pamphlet is the first to incorporate the Student Instructional Rating System, or SIRS, and the Student's Opinion of Courses and Teaching, or SOCT, forms distributed by the university at the end of each semester. Grebner, an Ingham County commissioner, used to rely on his own survey for his data and previously could only gather about 10,000 sources of data.
COMMENTARY
Flier freedom
The United States prides itself on being a country where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are guarantees.
COMMENTARY
Terror propaganda
While it seems appropriate for the government to shift the terrorist alert color level to red in time for Valentine's Day, the whole system is ineffective at best. Sure, it's nice the government believes by giving us regular folks some purdy colors we'll feel better informed.
COMMENTARY
Sour separation
Yes, affirmative action is flawed, but it's the fault of universities which fail to promote diversity. A study done by K.
COMMENTARY
Miseducation
Legislators should know better than to make offhanded comments in front of a room full of journalists - especially comments riddled with fallacies.
COMMENTARY
Forgotten past
The street sign between Abbott Road and Charles Street still reads M.A.C. Avenue, so it seems odd MSU's first move to make up for the $5-million state budget cut might be to terminate the agricultural engineering department.
COMMENTARY
Focus on future
Although Gov. Jennifer Granholm is focused on leading Michigan through the hard times of today, it is clear from Wednesday's State of the State address her eyes are fixed on the state's future. Granholm spent nearly as much time talking about the need to improve educational efforts for children from birth to age five and first-time parents as she did outline the state's grim economic situation. While Granholm called for private investors to put capital into the states Tri-Corridor - an endeavor to link the state's life sciences, automotive industry and homeland security efforts - it seems clear she believes the government's best interest is to invest in the state's children. The governor gave two charges for what she calls Project Great Start.
COMMENTARY
Dropout decision
Michigan is among 29 states where students can drop out of school at 16, but it soon could be one of 15 states to require students to attend school until they're 18.
COMMENTARY
Powell's push
Many U.S. leaders have criticized the United Nations recently as being more skeptical and critical than an average jury when hearing American diplomats present their case for war with Iraq.
COMMENTARY
Noise is golden
The East Lansing City Council should not turn a deaf ear to students who always seem to be the target of noise violations.
COMMENTARY
Patriot pressure
The congressional bill that aims to require all U.S. citizens and permanent residents aged 18-26 to complete at least two years of military service is unnecessary and un-American. U.S.
COMMENTARY
Shady source
MSU Internet use has been increasing with 1.817 billion megabytes of Internet traffic used last year compared to 38 million megabytes used in the 1997-98 fiscal year.
COMMENTARY
Beyond safe
Welcome to the real world - and we're not talking about the MTV supposed reality program. This is the place were life is usually safe and peaceful while the threat of danger sometimes lurks around the corners.
COMMENTARY
Financial fears
Gov. Jennifer Granholm said what everyone was expecting to hear - higher-education funding is not safe from the chopping block. The $5-million budget cut will force MSU to become more creative in tightening its belt.
COMMENTARY
Lost dreams
It's difficult to know how to properly mourn NASA's Columbia crew - the world's lost heroes.
COMMENTARY
Forbidden files
MSU students might not have the convenience of downloading music and movies for free any longer if the university is forced to give out names.