Wednesday, April 15, 2026

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Opinion | 1000

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COMMENTARY

Silence Westboro through reason

When I discovered last week that Westboro Baptist Church, or WBC had scheduled a picket of East Lansing High School, I was appalled and shocked. For those who don’t know, the group is best known for its protests at the funerals of soldiers and blatant gay hate speech.

COMMENTARY

Improving access will benefit entrepreneurs

It seems like every other word that comes out of the mouth of every politician, economist and political pundit is business: big business, small business, business stimulus, business tax breaks. Business, business, business.

COMMENTARY

FDA images won't affect smokers

The word on the street is that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, plans to give the cigarette industry a fabulous makeover by adding graphic images to tobacco carton labels to encourage smokers to quit their habit.

COMMENTARY

Grant helps MSU blend tradition with progress

MSU is redefining its roots with the modern “green” branding after receiving a $100,000 grant for energy audits. The grant was awarded to MSU by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP, and will allow the university to perform energy audits across the state, finding areas where farms and companies can save money and use more renewable or alternative forms of energy.

COMMENTARY

Time for a return to 'great books'

As a political science major focusing on political philosophy, I’ve been required to read numerous works on the nature of mankind, political associations and the relationships the two have on modern society.

COMMENTARY

Alumnus' message decent, needs a different approach

udent section at football games (”“Alumni: It’s time for the student section to shape up,” SN 11/9“:http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/11/alumni_its_time_for_the_student_section_to_shape_up). In some ways, Bill Scharffe was correct in regards to the student section, but the message behind his letter is skewed by insults.

COMMENTARY

Bike safety training good for the community

We’ve all seen it on campus: the collision between a car and a bike. More often than not, the car wins. If the cyclist still can pedal, he or she might be able to ride or walk away with a few scratches and some sore body parts, but it’s not pretty.

COMMENTARY

Student is irritated by lack of respect shown by alumni

In regards to the gentleman who wrote “Alumni: It’s time for the student section to shape up” (SN 11/10), I would like to hit on some facts. Yes, the student section was fairly empty by the end of the Minnesota game. I agree that fans should not leave until the end of the game, but for students it is different.

COMMENTARY

Take time to honor veterans

Former President Calvin Coolidge wisely stated, “The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.” Today we celebrate Veterans Day — a day to honor all the veterans who sacrificially have served our nation.

COMMENTARY

Alumni: It's time for the student section to shape up

My dear wife and I attended MSU during the “Duffy” years. We graduated with bachelor’s degrees in 1965, at the height of MSU football’s greatness prior to MSU football head coach Mark Dantonio taking over. Our football season tickets date back to the 1970s.

COMMENTARY

Look forward to seeing 'zipsters' on campus

Playing vertical Twister on a Capital Area Transportation Authority, or CATA, bus or trucking through the snow this winter might not be the only option for getting around campus if Zipcar comes to MSU’s campus this January.

COMMENTARY

Regulation isn't a partisan Issue

It is a politician’s job to get elected every two to four years. Once elected, constituents re-elect incumbents overwhelmingly. Given that narrative in American politics, our politicians have very little incentive to take a detailed look at policy measures.

COMMENTARY

Time to embrace real learnedness

I love to write. It’s what I want to do with my life, although I’m not sure what or who I want to become; a professor in academia, a journalist, a starving poet, an aspiring novelist?

COMMENTARY

Antibacterial soap increases chance of antibiotic resistance

A popular trend in hygiene during the past 10 years has been the use of antibacterial hand soap. Most people use antibacterial hand soap on a daily basis. It can be found in households, hospitals, food establishments and schools. People are concerned with spreading flus and other viruses, so they believe using antibacterial hand soap will kill the “germs.”