Saturday, July 11, 2026

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FEATURES

Politics belong in music, but sometimes messages should be ignored

Without question, politics and music go hand-in-hand. But that’s not why I listen to bands like the Dead Kennedys or the MC5. I never even knew what the Dead Kennedys sang about until a couple years after I was introduced to it many years ago, and it didn’t matter. Even now when “Moon Over Marin” or “Let’s Lynch the Landlord” booms out of my box, I don’t hear political messages, but great music by a group that really loved what it was doing.

COMMENTARY

Notre Dame game showed patriotism

As one of thousands who took a lot from this weekend’s game, I just want to say thanks to Michigan State for the patriotic spirit you displayed. In holding up signs of the American flag and chanting “U.S.A.” before the game and during halftime we confirmed America and all she stands for, hopefully offering some support for those who need it most at this time. The halftime show was something that won’t soon be forgotten.

MSU

Students, faculty unite to celebrate Yom Kippur

Shira Weinstein said she will share in a Hebrew prayer for peace and those suffering during Yom Kippur today. Yom Kippur is the Jewish holiday for reflection and forgiveness. Weinstein, the program director of the Hillel Jewish Student Center, 402 Linden St., said the disasters in New York and Washington are in her heart during the holiest day of the year. “It’s been a part of our prayer.

MSU

Engineers seek to make odorous oinkers smell sweet

The odors on swine farms can be a problem not only for farmers, but for the public as well. Agricultural engineers at MSU are hoping to do something about it. A group of researchers are searching for ways to eliminate these pungent odors.

FEATURES

SubUrbia reduces run

The MSU production of “SubUrbia,” scheduled to begin today and continue through next weekend, has been reduced to only one performance.Put on by the MSU Department of Theatre, “SubUrbia” is a drama about a rock star who returns to his home in small-town America and put his burnout friends’ lives into perspective.The lone performance will take place at 7:30 p.m.

NEWS

Environmental group claims county misreported water quality facts

The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility says the Ingham County Health Department censored facts in its report published in December 2000.The statement, released last week, said important dangers facing Ingham County’s surface and groundwater were not identified, endangering many residents.Eric Wingerter, national field director for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, said the department censored the report because of cold feet.“It was a chilling effect; they were nervous about angering people,” he said.

MSU

Honors College enrollment prospers

Of the more than 34,000 undergraduate students enrolled at MSU, 6.5 percent are enrolled in the Honors College. The college has 2,300 students, including 480 incoming students - a 14 percent increase from last year. These preliminary enrollment statistics for the 2001-02 school year, showed the Honors Colleges reached the second highest enrollment since 1971. At the Academic Council meeting Tuesday, Provost Lou Anna Simon said MSU has an ethnically and academically diverse group of students - and the Honors College numbers enhance that. “1971 was a banner year for the Honors College enrollment, and this is almost near that record,” she said. Director Ron Fisher said enrollment has consistently gotten larger over the last seven years, but he hopes it will stay around this level for a while. “My hope for the future is to stabilize somewhere between 2,100 and 2,300 each year,” he said. While the Honors College’s enrollment has increased in size, the new students in the college have increased in academic talent as well - along with the rest of MSU’s incoming freshmen this year. “The university in the last six or seven years has expanded its research of the high academic talent in Michigan and other states,” Fisher said. Gordon Stanley, director of admissions, said this was one of the strongest incoming classes. “Going by the preliminary numbers, yes, this is the best academic class to come through MSU,” he said.

COMMENTARY

Hey, chief

For 15 years, Bruce Benson has overseen the campus department perhaps best known for issuing MIPs, ticketing speeders and towing vehicles. The title of police chief and director of MSU’s Department of Police and Public Safety doesn’t exactly come with the undying love of students everywhere. But it should come with a lot of respect. In the time he’s been chief, Benson has helped mold our police department into one of the most diverse and progressive forces in the nation.

COMMENTARY

e-Taxing

One of the largest consumer retail channels in the world is about to join the rest of the more traditional outlets in fiscal responsibility.

FEATURES

Therapy features eccentric acting

“Beyond Therapy” may be the funniest play I have ever seen. At the least, it’s in competition with the production of Neil Simon’s “The Dinner Party” I saw this summer on Broadway with Jon Lovitz. “Beyond Therapy,” written by Christopher Durang and directed by Addiann Hinds, started last weekend at The Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Drive in downtown Lansing and continues Thursday through Sunday. The play starts with a blind date at The Restaurant in response to a personal ad in a newspaper.