COMMENTARY

Vote 'yes' on CATA millage

On Aug. 3, the Capital Area Transportation Authority, or CATA, will ask voters to approve a measure that will combine two millages that go toward funding CATA services. Voters passed a millage of 2.22 mills in 2004 and an additional 0.787 mills in 2008; if the Aug. 3 millage is approved, it will combine the two and add an additional 0.0362 mills lost under a constitutional provision. Millages, according to the State of Michigan website, are the rate at which property taxes are levied on property. A mill is 1/1000 of a dollar. Approval of CATA’s millage would mean individuals with a home valued at $100,000 will pay a little more than $300 a year.

COMMENTARY

Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication

For those who haven’t heard, there will be a new study in the fall that tracks recycling in Anthony Hall. Stuart Gage, a professor emeritus at MSU and the study’s principal investigator, said the study will use about 170 sensors to discover data about recycling habits — such as which bins fill up fastest or the point during the semester of highest use.

COMMENTARY

Grant offers MSU program a chance to give back

If there is one thing that typically is expected of “middle-class” children in the U.S., it is enrolling in college. They go to elementary, middle, and high schools, and then go to some kind of college. That’s the progression. Move out, get hired, start a family and repeat the process all over again. It’s normal enough that anything else is considered an aberration.

COMMENTARY

Legislators should look into 'presumed consent'

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land recently proposed the idea of allowing residents to become registered organ donors by checking a box when filling out their taxes. The individual would then officially be added to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry and receive a donor sticker to be applied to their driver’s licenses or state IDs.

COMMENTARY

All candidates deserve respect

Chances are most people haven’t heard of Lance Enderle. The 41-year-old East Lansing resident and MSU graduate student is poised to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton — who has served five consecutive terms — for the chance to represent Michigan’s 8th Congressional District in fall’s midterm congressional elections.

COMMENTARY

Cafeteria renovations offer food for thought

When all is said and done, MSU will have dropped $44 million on renovating the various cafeterias across campus. The renovations began with The Gallery in Snyder and Phillips halls in 2007 and continued with Brody Square, which will open this fall.

COMMENTARY

Weekend film program looks toward the future

This summer nearly two dozen students from Wayne State University, MSU and the University of Michigan will create a 20-25 minute film based off a longer film written by a student.

COMMENTARY

University handling of MSU Dubai lacked tact

On Tuesday, the university announced the two-year endeavor that was MSU Dubai’s undergraduate program is at an end. MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said the decision was based on “a lot of factors, many of which … were out of our control.” The news means a few summer classes in Dubai will finish, but undergraduate fall classes will be canceled and MSU Dubai will not accept new undergraduates. The students will have the option of attending class on the East Lansing campus, Simon said.

COMMENTARY

In residence halls, better to err on side of caution

Most students who have walked across campus have seen at least one of the more than 140 emergency phones that make up the Green Light Telephone System. The phones are connected to the MSU police dispatch and can be used for students during emergencies and for the university to convey warnings about the weather or an emergency situation, such as a shooting.

COMMENTARY

'Panty raider' case handled correctly

It seems the powers that be are going to go easy on an offender. The aptly named “Akers Hall panty raider” will not face criminal charges after being found with 79 pairs of thong underwear in April, Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III said Thursday.

COMMENTARY

MSU Extension's reorganization is the right step

As a special part of MSU’s land grant university atmosphere, it seems like everything should be coming up roses for the MSU Extension and Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, or MAES. The opposite, unfortunately, is true. Both programs receive a large portion of their funding through ever-shrinking state appropriations. On top of that, MSU’s Board of Trustees reduced Extension’s budget by $1.6 million and the MAES budget by $400,000 at its June 18 meeting. Those numbers might not seem like much to students because the nature of Extension and MAES involves a great deal of work in the community.

COMMENTARY

State News offers summer studying suggestions

Thursday is the end of summer’s first session. That means this week is finals week, sort of. Summer grades count like any other. Today we want to throw out some personal and professional opinions that could help make this last week a little easier.

COMMENTARY

Universities should beware of what they wish for

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that Congress has requested a “yearlong review of what the federal government can do to help ensure the long-term health of the nations’ research universities.”

COMMENTARY

MSU's rebranding a move toward practicality

MSU plans to spend nearly $500,000 for a complete makeover — hair, nails, the works. Specifically, it wants to project a consistent image. To create that image, it has asked alumni across the country and world to submit stories of their contributions and accomplishments.

COMMENTARY

Preserving Morrill Hall should be a priority

The proposed demolition of 110-year-old Morrill Hall is bittersweet. The $38 million project, which includes adding onto Wells Hall and renovating the Old Horticulture Building, is scheduled to begin in September, when construction on Wells is slated to start.

COMMENTARY

New online service might not be able to compete

The idea behind MSU’s newest social networking plan, SpartanConnect, is not bad. The online service seeks to deliver “numerous links to connect with other members, students’ blogs, a personal calendar, videos and discussion forums.” As Nicole Ellison, an assistant professor in the MSU Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media, points out, the service can help reduce students’ uncertainties before the semester starts.

COMMENTARY

MSU's tuition increase understandable, painful

The State News’ reaction to the MSU Board of Trustees increasing tuition by 2.5 percent: Meh. It’s less than the original 4.9 percent proposed increase, with the rest of the increase proposed for summer of 2011. We want to be angry about it — plenty of students and their families are unhappy.

COMMENTARY

License comes with some unreasonable amendments

Kudos to the East Lansing City Council for passing a special use permit — a tavern license — that allows for the sale of beer and wine at What’s up Dawg?, 301 M.A.C. Ave. Granted, the license comes with a few conditions. Some of those conditions, such as a 50 percent food requirement in sales, no less than 10 food items on the menu and no service of beer after midnight, are reasonable. Others, such as security cameras and a security guard on Friday and Saturday nights, are unreasonable.

COMMENTARY

Summer board meeting locale full of potential

As MSU’s Board of Trustees heads off to Detroit for its three-day retreat, it seems like a strange place to conduct talks about the future of the university.

COMMENTARY

Interest in Izzo should extend to budget

The outpouring of support for MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo offers conclusive evidence that there are issues that can motivate the MSU community. It is our hope that this current level of interest in university matters will continue as the MSU Board of Trustees begins its discussions of the school’s budget.