Affirmed sides

Affirmative action is one of the perennial hot-button topics in politics, and the debate surrounding its advantages and disadvantages is always an interesting one.

Simon travels to Japan with Gov.

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon is one of several state university officials who will accompany Gov.

Sinners acceptable; sin is intolerable

The Bible calls the homosexual act "detestable." It must be made clear that it is the act that is detestable, not the participants.

Gov. signs law regulating medicine with ephedrine

Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed a law Wednesday to regulate the sale of drugs containing the single-active ingredient ephedrine or pseudoephedrine commonly found in cold and allergy medications.

Bush declares Supreme Court nomination

Washington - President Bush on Tuesday named John G. Roberts Jr., a federal appellate judge, as his choice to fill the Supreme Court seat being vacated by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, a nomination expected to bolster the court's conservative majority if accepted by the Senate.

Shimek to start training

In the next week, MSU could respectively place one woman and one man on the USA World University Games Team and the USA Basketball Men's under-21 Team. From today through Friday, MSU junior guard Shannon Brown will be trying out for the men's under-21 team in Dallas.

Elliott's 'Cookbook' has potential but falls short

Six albums in, five-time Grammy winner and master chef Missy Elliott finally unlocks the door to her kitchen, revealing her secret recipe for baking up hits.

Student group advises nonprofit businesses

An MSU organization is aiming to help the community by providing free advice to local nonprofit organizations. Students Consulting for Nonprofit Organizations, or SCNO, is a national organization that focuses on helping local communities through pro-bono consulting.

Impact isn't racist, provides choices

To suggest WDBM (88.9-FM) is not diverse in its music selection is absurd; only more absurd is the hint of racism in the music selection ("Campus radio station should diversify its daytime music rotation" SN 7/19). After eight years of living in East Lansing, the Impact offers by far the most diverse music in the area.

U.S. is nothing like any ancient empire

Why is it that Craig Gunn is a featured writer in the opinion section? I have been baffled by this fact for quite some time now and have a hard time reading his articles, as I think they resemble the ramblings of a crack pot.

Edible options

When fall classes resume, students will finally have more unique choices to choose from when it comes to on-campus snacks.

Rally addresses health-care cuts

When Ed Carlson goes to a baseball game or visits his girlfriend, it's a large, complicated production. Due to his cerebral palsy and quadriplegia, the 40-year-old said in-home health care has to get him ready to go out, and a special mode of transportation needs to be coordinated.

Impact is campus' unique alternative

I am writing in response to Tom Cooke's column ("Campus radio station should diversify its daytime music rotation" SN 7/19). Personally, the reason I tune into WDBM (88.9-FM) is to experience the great variety of new bands, non-mainstream music and local bands that I would otherwise never hear.

Police briefs 07/21/05

Board secretary to be confirmed today

Alison Barber is expected to be confirmed today as the new secretary of the MSU Board of Trustees, officials said. The board will meet today to discuss, among other things, the appointment of Barber, the MSU senior associate dean in the Eli Broad College of Business.

Student wins cherry crown

A queen will be attending MSU as a student this fall. Biological sciences senior Courtney Fountain was named the 2005-06 National Cherry Queen at this year's National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Mich.

All-American Rejects fail to improve upon punk-rock sound

The All-American Rejects are just that in their new release "Move Along." This is the group's second album, following its self-titled debut in October 2002.

Religion is 'blind faith;' Anyone could have written Bible storybook

In my last column ("Scientology's wild claims no stranger than those of major religions," SN 6/28), I argued that Scientology doctrine, although undeniably nutty, isn't any more fanciful or unfounded than mainstream religious beliefs. One response published in The State News countered my point with the assertion that Christianity is different; it doesn't rely on faith alone but on "reasoned faith" ("Faith needs reason, not blind beliefs," SN 7/5). Let's examine that. Dictionary.com defines "reasoned" as meaning, "to determine or conclude by logical thinking." In contrast, "faith" is "belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence." Reasoned faith is a contradiction. Certainly, reason is absent with regard to the unsubstantiated belief in the virgin birth, the trinity and transubstantiation.

City offers family films at dusk

Drive-in movies are few and far between, but the city of East Lansing has taken a more modern approach to keep the idea alive. Every Thursday night in Valley Court Park, a movie is projected outside for everyone to watch.

Marshall man gets 8-20 years

A 19-year-old Marshall, Mich., man was sentenced on Wednesday in the Ingham County Circuit Court to serve eight to 20 years in prison for the murder of an Okemos man. Alexander Hamil, who came to East Lansing to celebrate St.