Thursday, January 1, 2026

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Editorials

COMMENTARY

Keep grads in state: Rejuvenate the economy

Michigan lost 16,000 workers in August alone. While the unemployment rate in the rest of the nation decreased in August, Michigan’s jobless rate increased from 7 to 7.4 percent. Whether by preference or force, students are racing across state borders as soon as they get a diploma in their hands, and the decaying automobile industry – once the bread-and-butter of the state’s economy – continues to haunt us.

COMMENTARY

Business school rank important to employers

MSU’s MBA program dropped in ranking for regional schools, from fifth last year to 18th this year, in the Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive Business School Survey. But does the drop mean anything significant for the Eli Broad College of Business?

COMMENTARY

Friday classes will not target binge drinkers

In an effort to battle the scourge that is alcohol consumption on college campuses, some universities have considered scheduling more classes early Friday mornings. University of Missouri-Columbia professor Phillip K. Wood co-authored a study concluding college students enrolled in early morning Friday classes consumed about half as much alcohol on Thursdays as those without Friday classes.

COMMENTARY

Renaming Beaner's good move for business

Beaner’s Gourmet Coffee will change its name to Biggby Coffee by Jan. 31, 2008, because the name could be interpreted as a racial slur. Bob Fish, Beaner’s chief executive and a 1989 MSU graduate, based the store’s name on the coffee bean, and said he didn’t realize the word “beaner” was also used as a racial slur.

COMMENTARY

Officials right in pushing students to vote

Thanks to www.youvote.msu.edu, students have no excuse to not register to vote or get to know the issues. The Web site is a gold mine of information for MSU students and East Lansing residents, and the university has put a lot of work into making it a valuable, easy-to-use resource.

COMMENTARY

Every student deserves affordable insurance

No one should ever be afraid of catching a cold. It is not something people can control. Viruses and emergency surgeries can spring out of nowhere, surprising even the most prepared individual. Yet, for a small portion of MSU students – about 10 percent of undergraduate and 20 percent of graduate students – the fear of becoming ill is a harsh reality they face.

COMMENTARY

Hollis promotion positive for MSU athletics

The choice by the MSU Board of Trustees to select Mark Hollis as the next athletics director was unanimous for a reason. The former associate athletics director for external relations has long been thought to be the successor to current Athletics Director Ron Mason and has been behind some of the biggest moves for MSU athletics in the past 10 years.

COMMENTARY

Third party needed for reputable evaluation

MSU, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, a group that makes up the largest research university cluster in the nation, are worth more than $12.8 billion and represent 68,800 jobs. At least that’s according to a new study released Monday by the East Lansing-based Anderson Economic Group.

COMMENTARY

ASMSU's reputation takes yet another blow

Although not convicted of anything yet, Nigel Scarlett has already harmed the image of ASMSU and of MSU as a whole with his alleged inappropriate behavior in July — over a piece of trash, according to the police report.

COMMENTARY

Granholm gambling with earlier primary vote

Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed a bill on Tuesday allowing Michigan to move its presidential primary from Feb. 26 up to Jan. 15. The jump puts Michigan among the top few states to vote, although the exact position is somewhat difficult to decipher.

COMMENTARY

Dantonio victory as promised, thanks coach

MSU’s football team rang in the Mark Dantonio era with a resounding victory over UAB this past weekend. The Spartans showcased their potent running attack and barraged the visiting Blazers for 45 points before halftime en route to a 55-18 victory. Dantonio’s arrival at MSU has been long overdue.

COMMENTARY

Fewer students donating to school expected

The MSU Alumni Association is working harder than ever to continue receiving alumni money by recruiting members as soon as they graduate. Alumni membership has been decreasing in recent years at MSU and other Division I schools around the country.