Monday, April 20, 2026

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Opinion | 1000

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COMMENTARY

MSU Extension's reorganization is the right step

As a special part of MSU’s land grant university atmosphere, it seems like everything should be coming up roses for the MSU Extension and Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, or MAES. The opposite, unfortunately, is true. Both programs receive a large portion of their funding through ever-shrinking state appropriations. On top of that, MSU’s Board of Trustees reduced Extension’s budget by $1.6 million and the MAES budget by $400,000 at its June 18 meeting. Those numbers might not seem like much to students because the nature of Extension and MAES involves a great deal of work in the community.

COMMENTARY

Law should not be based on fear

The state House overwhelmingly passed legislation last Wednesday that would make it illegal to sell or possess JWH-108, a key substance in the product K2. I am laboring under the assumption that state legislators are attempting to ban this substance because they are afraid it could harm the general populace.

COMMENTARY

State News offers summer studying suggestions

Thursday is the end of summer’s first session. That means this week is finals week, sort of. Summer grades count like any other. Today we want to throw out some personal and professional opinions that could help make this last week a little easier.

COMMENTARY

Columnist's opinion of soccer fans promotes stereotypes

I was appalled when I read Craig Gunn’s column (Soccer deserves a better class of fan,” SN 6/21) about soccer fans. Was he being serious? Soccer is the sport of the world — like it or not. Name one other single sport that can bring so many nations together in celebration, and yes, even fights.

COMMENTARY

Marriage is about more than power

Ah, marriage. A beautiful commitment of love, a consummation of desire and the cultural recognition of two people’s coupling — how has it become so disdainful, so wrought with seclusion and denial?

COMMENTARY

MSU's rebranding a move toward practicality

MSU plans to spend nearly $500,000 for a complete makeover — hair, nails, the works. Specifically, it wants to project a consistent image. To create that image, it has asked alumni across the country and world to submit stories of their contributions and accomplishments.

COMMENTARY

Preserving Morrill Hall should be a priority

The proposed demolition of 110-year-old Morrill Hall is bittersweet. The $38 million project, which includes adding onto Wells Hall and renovating the Old Horticulture Building, is scheduled to begin in September, when construction on Wells is slated to start.

COMMENTARY

Soccer deserves a better class of fan

A student recently ran into me breathless, asking if I had spent my weekend watching, cheering and going crazy over soccer. The way he talked, I imagined it was like the second coming of Christ, Buddha, Mohammed or King Benjamin.

COMMENTARY

New online service might not be able to compete

The idea behind MSU’s newest social networking plan, SpartanConnect, is not bad. The online service seeks to deliver “numerous links to connect with other members, students’ blogs, a personal calendar, videos and discussion forums.” As Nicole Ellison, an assistant professor in the MSU Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media, points out, the service can help reduce students’ uncertainties before the semester starts.

COMMENTARY

Designation will have little effect

Due to its unemployment rates, Lansing finally qualified as an EB-5 Regional Center. Essentially, it is the worst way to have a chance to attract investors. EB-5 is a designation given by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, to immigrants “seeking to enter the United States in order to invest in a new commercial enterprise that will benefit the U.S. economy and create at least 10 full-time jobs,” according to the USCIS website.

COMMENTARY

MSU's tuition increase understandable, painful

The State News’ reaction to the MSU Board of Trustees increasing tuition by 2.5 percent: Meh. It’s less than the original 4.9 percent proposed increase, with the rest of the increase proposed for summer of 2011. We want to be angry about it — plenty of students and their families are unhappy.

COMMENTARY

License comes with some unreasonable amendments

Kudos to the East Lansing City Council for passing a special use permit — a tavern license — that allows for the sale of beer and wine at What’s up Dawg?, 301 M.A.C. Ave. Granted, the license comes with a few conditions. Some of those conditions, such as a 50 percent food requirement in sales, no less than 10 food items on the menu and no service of beer after midnight, are reasonable. Others, such as security cameras and a security guard on Friday and Saturday nights, are unreasonable.

COMMENTARY

Attitude defines good instruction

Sometimes I wonder if anyone really cares about the opinions, attitudes and feelings of students on campus. I have spoken with a number of students over spring semester and the beginning of summer semester.

COMMENTARY

Interest in Izzo should extend to budget

The outpouring of support for MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo offers conclusive evidence that there are issues that can motivate the MSU community. It is our hope that this current level of interest in university matters will continue as the MSU Board of Trustees begins its discussions of the school’s budget.

COMMENTARY

Izzo has done enough for MSU

There is one thing on the mind of most Spartans fans right now: What will MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo do next? The mania has swept the area. Fans have held at least two official rallies — one at Breslin Center and another at the Marshall Street Armory in Lansing.