COMMENTARY

Colorless

ASMSU’s director of racial, ethnic and progressive student affairs is not a minority - but that shouldn’t be a hindrance to the job. Melanie Olmsted, who is white, was approved by both assemblies of ASMSU to be the official liaison between the undergraduate student government and the Council of Racial Ethnic Students and the Council of Progressive Students. But even though Olmsted is only affiliated with Women’s Council - she’s the group’s former leader - she can be an effective communicator with other groups.

COMMENTARY

Cloned

The debate over stem cell research and human cloning has left many camps divided, but new developments threaten to force lawmakers’ hands to a potentially foolish and careless decision. On Sunday, Advanced Cell Technology Inc. of Worchester, Mass., announced that its scientists have created the first cloned human embryo.

COMMENTARY

No excuse

It’s an incident that should upset everyone on a university campus, a place reserved for open-minded study of the world. A black MSU student opened her Case Hall door recently to find a threatening racial slur written across a Case Hall Back Caucus poster.

COMMENTARY

Right deal

The settlement between Deb Shops Inc. and 10 black MSU students who said they were discriminated against should send a message about the dangers of racial profiling. The students, who were shopping in the store Oct.

COMMENTARY

Heads up

The passion and motivation of the MSU men’s soccer team was rightly rewarded Monday with a berth in its first NCAA Tournament since 1969.Unfortunately, the team has achieved this historic season with little attention - further exemplifying team members’ fire for the sport.

COMMENTARY

Financial aid woes

Students nationwide are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to financial aid. Recipients of the Pell Grant, including more than 6,000 MSU students, are facing the possibility of an oversight that would provide no increase in next year’s aid package.There were bills passed by the U.S.

COMMENTARY

Problem sets

MSU students in mathematics classes have a tradition of having a harder time with their courses than they should.

COMMENTARY

Coaches coach

The revolving door to the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has been spitting out athletics directors faster than President M.

COMMENTARY

Positive exchange

ASMSU’s Student Assembly meeting with the East Lansing City Council on Thursday was the first time in a year the undergraduate student government had met with city officials.

COMMENTARY

Setting the record straight...

The State News wrongly chastised seven members of the MSU Board of Trustees in an editorial Wednesday for not sending word to ASMSU that they couldn’t attend a forum to discuss if there is a need for a voting student member of the university’s governing body. Contrary to what we said, all eight trustees sent word to the undergraduate student government, either directly or through the board’s campus office that they couldn’t make it. We apologize for the error. But that doesn’t change the lack of communication that exists between trustees and students.

COMMENTARY

Wrong values

Supremacy organizations are getting fresh blood in their ranks, researchers say. A study conducted by a faith-based organization in Chicago revealed that during the last year in the Midwestern states, 33 percent of the 338 white supremacist groups actively recruit young people, 10 percent higher than in 1999. There is nothing wrong with taking pride in one’s race or heritage, whether it be black, white, Asian, Indian or anything else.

COMMENTARY

No shows

ASMSU’s touted need for better student interaction with the MSU Board of Trustees has never been more clearly illustrated.The Board of Trustees was invited by the university’s undergraduate student government to a forum Wednesday night to discuss the potential of a voting student on the board.

COMMENTARY

Protect our kids

Another sorrowful school shooting this week in Michigan underscores the need for greater responsibility with guns, and in the way we care for our children.A 17-year-old student carrying a .22-caliber rifle and 20-gauge shotgun took a teacher and classmate hostage for hours Monday before releasing them and killing himself at The Caro Learning Center, about 75 miles north of Detroit.Authorities have not revealed how the student got the guns, but the issue of gun control and accessibility lies only on the fringe of this issue.It’s obvious we need better ways of limiting access to firearms and restricting the way a child can use them.

COMMENTARY

Bombs away

President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin have put together a positive agreement to reduce the nuclear stockpiles of their two nations.During the next decade, the United States will reduce its arsenal of strategic nuclear warheads from an inventory of about 7,000 to between 1,700 and 2,000.

COMMENTARY

By the numbers

After the election of 2000, Chad and his dimples were the most talked about subject for months - they did everything from tie up the Florida legal system to hold off the results of the presidential election. But because of Chad, the nation saw firsthand what kind of problems were inherent in our voting system. It was a hassle for everybody, since everyone wanted to know the identity of our president, whether it be then-Vice President Al Gore or then-Texas Gov.

COMMENTARY

Historic future

MSU trustees were faced with two broad proposals Friday for the future of campus’s 70-year-old West Circle dorms - renovate them or tear them down.Although a plan for the residence halls’ future is, at the earliest, months off, the buildings are becoming more costly to operate - and could cost even more to bring up to code.

COMMENTARY

In Izzo we trust

Msu officials were wise to take measures to keep one of the athletics department’s most valuable assets - men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo.Izzo’s new seven-year rollover contract is no small chunk of change.

COMMENTARY

Candid cameras

Provide all the excuses you want, having MSU police wander through tailgates armed with video cameras is not a good idea.Despite reassurances from MSU police, students caught on tape during football Saturdays - or at any other event - have to wonder if police officers are out to get them.Officials say the tapes are used to analyze the ways different groups act while tailgating, and to document arrests and large groups to protect individuals and officers from later court action.And while it can protect officers during a questionable arrest - having a visual record always helps should a disagreement surface - the ability to record at will has the potential to be abused.Most students are unaware of the reasons why MSU police videotaped at past tailgates.

COMMENTARY

Equal protection

Tuesday’s election was a moral victory for gay rights supporters in Michigan, as ballots were cast in three cities in favor of anti-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation.Huntington Woods residents voted to approve a human rights ordinance passed by the city commission earlier this year that outlaws sexual orientation-based discrimination.In Kalamazoo and Traverse City, voters rejected a measure that would have amended the city charter to prohibit any ordinances to grant gays, lesbians or bisexuals “protected” status.While the voting ended in favor of the gay community, there is still more work that can be done.In April, Rep.

COMMENTARY

Balancing act

In the latest effort to resolve a $500 million state deficit, an executive order by Gov. John Engler could leave 590 Michigan residents without a job.On Tuesday, legislators approved the order, which includes cutting about $320 million from the state budget and transferring $180 million from state accounts toward fixing the deficit.Notably absent from Engler’s order, a delay in the single business and income tax cuts.