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COMMENTARY

Consequences of the ‘now’

Have you wondered recently about your future? Have you really wondered about your future and the future of the state, the country or the planet? Last year, we were treated to the fairly innocuous movie “2012” — dramatically presented and poorly acted — in which the prediction for the future was pretty bleak.

COMMENTARY

Jon Huntsman for president

The worst thing you can do in presidential politics is look like a wuss. Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty never received that memo and might have dealt himself an irreversible blow in last week’s GOP debate on CNN. Although it is early in the primary and he will have much time to recover, his timing could not have been any worse.

COMMENTARY

Curb abuse with program education, new workers

The state of Michigan recently received 3.3 million more reasons to continue modifying the Bridge Card program. Last Thursday, it was announced the state was awarded $3.3 million by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for cleaning up abuses of the Bridge Card program.

COMMENTARY

Key to moving forward lies in our similarities

Whatever happened to the middle ground? Everything today is grouped into “for” or “against,” from traditionally polarized areas, such as politics and business, to things that usually aren’t as polarized, such as music and sports.

COMMENTARY

East Lansing City Manager: ‘A little personal initiative would help’

I am writing in response to Opinion Editor David Barker’s column A little diversity would help (SN 6/6). His column essentially states there is nothing to do in East Lansing but go to the bars and drink, when, in fact, there are thousands of things to do here for all ages — from students to young professionals to families to seniors and everyone in between. It all depends on an individual’s interests and, most importantly, his or her personal initiative.

COMMENTARY

Why advisers play it safe

The summer Academic Orientation Program, or AOP, kicked off this week, and one of my good friends is working as a full-time staff member. In addition to his duties as presenter and tour guide — for which, apparently, the training truly is Spartan — he’ll be helping new freshmen navigate the online schedule builder to sign up for their classes.

COMMENTARY

'Digital first impressions'

What is reality? Can we hold it in the palm of our hands? Do we see the world objectively, or do our perceptions transform this black and white world into a subjective fantasy that is viewed differently by every eye on the planet?

COMMENTARY

A new NCAA business model

There’s a multi-million dollar business not paying its workers what they’re worth. This business has a television channel dedicated to perpetuating sales, a sweet deal with advertisers and it pays its administrators well, yet it pays its workers next to nothing. You’re outraged and with good reason; that’s unfair to the workers.

COMMENTARY

Repealing helmet law not a good idea

The motorcycle equivalent of “click it or ticket” might not be around much longer. The Michigan Legislature is working toward the repeal and replacement of Michigan’s motorcycle helmet laws.

COMMENTARY

A little diversity would help

I always have felt there was a lack of things to do in East Lansing. I don’t know whether that stems from having lived here for a decent amount of time, or if I’m not looking hard enough, but it seems the city simply lacks a strong (nonstudent/MSU) culture.

COMMENTARY

Food program great way to promote health

With the elimination of the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit and the release of a study from the Basic Economic Security Tables for Michigan that shows minimum wage isn’t enough to live off of, low-income individuals and families have had little reason to be positive recently.

COMMENTARY

A student in search of sangat

Sangat is an important concept in Sikhism. In English, it roughly translates to “company.” From an early age, a line from my first morning prayer stuck out: Japji Sahib. Those who surround themselves with sangat stay true to their values.

COMMENTARY

City cuts handled well, still cause for concern

Students and the fire department have a love-hate relationship: Students love it when the fire department arrives but hate that something went so wrong they had to call the fire department. Students and police traditionally have a contentious relationship because the police bust parties, and students like parties.

COMMENTARY

A ‘close and loud’ discussion

When I heard the city of East Lansing and MSU had selected Jonathan Safran Foer’s “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” for the 2011 One Book, One Community program, I was simply glad I recognized the title.