Sunday, September 29, 2024

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Editorials

COMMENTARY

Going part-time won't save state

Michigan is one of 11 states in the country that operates with a full-time legislature, and some Michigan lawmakers are attempting to change that. Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, supports a plan to make a switch from full-time to part-time work in order to save money by reducing pay rates, benefits and staff members. California and New York have full-time legislatures, and the other states that operate full-time tend to be larger as well. But switching to a part-time legislature won't fix Michigan's problems. Michigan is the eighth most populous state in the nation with a high population density.

COMMENTARY

Underground leaks a serious threat

It may begin by seeping into the soil. Then, surrounding areas will become contaminated. Soon, there may be nothing people can do to avoid it. The issue here is leakage from gas stations. Recently, eight gas stations in Michigan were fined a total of $869,150 for failing to submit reports of their contamination from underground gas leaks.

COMMENTARY

Donation will add culture to campus

When thinking of East Lansing, the immediate perception might be one of drinking and partying, and not art and culture. Perhaps these preconceived notions soon will take a different turn. Announced Friday, alumnus Eli Broad and his wife, Edythe, donated $26 million to MSU for a new art museum.

COMMENTARY

Balanced budget not a final solution

For a long time, Michigan residents have complained about the economic catastrophe our state has been in. Residents have seen numerous cuts to school and arts funding, rising taxes and several other proposals to ease the state's financial burden. Now, these economic burdens are finally over.

COMMENTARY

Right-to-die cause needs attention

Jack Kevorkian will leave jail on parole today and step into a world like the one he left eight years ago - when he was convicted of second-degree murder. Assisted-suicide advocates are still pushing to pass laws in states that make physician-assisted suicide legal.

COMMENTARY

Court makes pay discrimination easy

There is the assumption among many people that if you work hard, show effort and are loyal, you will be successful in whatever field they go into. Unfortunately, this assumption is often countered with factual knowledge of wage inequities, which still exist. In addition to the egregious problem of employment discrimination, the U.S.

COMMENTARY

Blood donation ban reveals prejudice

There is something unsettling about pervasive stereotypes in American culture. They get into minds and stay there despite contrary evidence and logic. Although many ethnic and racial stereotypes have become largely unacceptable in this modern age, those regarding the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community somehow seep into our culture and are viewed as having legitimacy. This was most recently made apparent by the Food and Drug Administration's reaffirmation last week to ban gay men from donating blood. The policy was enacted in 1983 with the intention of preventing the spread of HIV through blood transfusions.

COMMENTARY

Bills could alleviate student apathy

Voting - most consider it a hassle and, for some, a waste of time. With a 50.7 percent turnout for the midterm election, getting voters is a problem Each time elections roll around, citizens everywhere can be found making excuses for why they will not be voting. "It's too difficult to get to the polls," "my vote won't make a difference," or "I don't have the time to register." All of these are reasons given for why people don't vote. However, the state legislature is working to remove the last reason from the list. Registering to vote can be a time-consuming process that the average student doesn't have time for between classes, work and other extracurricular activities.

COMMENTARY

College expansion is a good choice

Nobody likes to share, and now that the College of Osteopathic Medicine is expanding to the Detroit Medical Center, some cannot stop complaining. The decision to select both DMC and Macomb Community College's University Center as satellite sites for the college was made Friday by the MSU Board of Trustees.

COMMENTARY

Science education faces opposition

We all have seen the cars adorned with "Jesus fish." Likewise, we've seen them countered by cars with a similar icon sprouting legs and sporting Darwin's name. The debate between evolutionists and supporters of intelligent design is nothing new. But when this debate leaves the bumpers of cars and emerges in public schools, real ramifications can occur.

COMMENTARY

Immigration bill must work out flaws

Immigration has been the topic of discourse for years, and today a new bill will go to the Senate regarding the issue. The bill is a bipartisan deal with the White House and is a step toward resolving the problem of illegal immigration.

COMMENTARY

Public figure's death will have impact

The Rev. Jerry Falwell died from cardiac arrest Tuesday. With his death comes praise and condemnation. Falwell is best known as the figurehead of the religious right and is considered by many to be the father of the modern religious political movement.

COMMENTARY

New facility could benefit university

Recently, Pfizer Inc. officials announced it would like to donate one of its closed facilities to MSU for research use. This facility has been in the process of closing since March 2005, and a few employees are still there decommissioning it.

COMMENTARY

Cooperation needed to help economy

Reviewing the economic situation in Michigan, state residents may find themselves with one primary inquiry: How did it come to be this bad? Sure, in the past we had the boom of the auto industry on our side.