COMMENTARY

Mayor congratulates students on celebrating with class

Today, I am so very proud to call myself a Spartan and to count myself among your number. I am particularly pleased because this past Saturday and Monday we demonstrated that Spartans can and do celebrate success responsibly. Spartans fans clearly were intent on observing the outstanding achievements of our basketball team as opposed to gathering for the purpose of creating a disturbance.

COMMENTARY

Civil discourse must be based in science

I write to clarify a number of incorrect statements made by Bruce Friedrich, vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, in the column Animal activists encourage discussion (SN 4/8).

COMMENTARY

Obama would not compromise Notre Dame beliefs

The University of Notre Dame is known for its pride as a prestigious Catholic university. Its public digression against abortion and stem cell research, along with other issues that tie in with core Catholic values, has seemed to make its political opinions known throughout the nation.

COMMENTARY

PETA does not actually care about treatment of animals

I was disappointed to see the column Animal activists encourage discussion (SN 4/8) by a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, spokesperson in The State News. Even their own logo minimizes the “e,” perhaps as an inside joke that there is nothing ethical about them. PETA’s only interest is in making a profit, and they have found that suckering well-meaning people who like animals is a good way to do it.

COMMENTARY

Students should take time to discuss animal rights at forum

Today, Bruce Friedrich from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is going to be speaking in Wells Hall. I have followed what I would describe as fallout from columnist Drew Winter in the form of the occasional letter, and the constant debate on The State News Web site.

COMMENTARY

Bicyclists need to stay on sidewalk

Black 2001 Saturn SC2. That’s the car I drive — and if you’re a bicyclist on the road but not in a bike path and you see my car, I hope you’re wearing a helmet, because I might run you over. Maybe not intentionally.

COMMENTARY

Vermont vote on same-sex marriage gives hope

The Vermont Legislature has lifted a limit on love. On Tuesday, the state’s Legislature voted to override a veto on a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry.

COMMENTARY

Basketball team’s return deserved more attention

The MSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics let down our men’s basketball team. What should have been a raucous gathering to celebrate one of the most historic and highest-achieving seasons in Spartan history was instead a pitiful gathering of those lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time Tuesday morning at Breslin Center.

COMMENTARY

MSU community proud of men’s basketball team no matter what

I am writing to thank our men’s basketball team and men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo for a fine season. Even though the last game didn’t go as we wanted it to, team members have nothing to hang their head about. They were tough and fought hard all season.

COMMENTARY

Animal activists encourage discussion

As a vice president for policy and government affairs at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, I have debated animal protection issues around the world, frequently engaging with representatives from the meat, fur, animal-experimentation and circus industries.

COMMENTARY

UNC arrests fewer because of cleaner record

Imagine how many arrests would be made if 45,000 students clumped together to burn piles of clothing, tear down street signs, spray beer at people and climb street posts. Two.

COMMENTARY

Delivery driver reflects on effects of tournament in E.L.

Saturday was one of the biggest nights in MSU basketball: the NCAA semifinal against the Huskies of Connecticut. For me, being a delivery driver in East Lansing on a night like this can be a beautiful experience.

COMMENTARY

Shaw Hall incident sparks overreaction in food safety

Although the norovirus outbreak in Shaw Hall’s cafeteria last week was unfortunate, the degree of overreaction with which the university has responded is one I would expect more from a 5-year-old than an academic institution.

COMMENTARY

Closing Gitmo helps U.S. image

On Jan. 22, President Barack Obama made an influential decision early in his reign as the nation’s leader. Separating his administration from that of the President George W. Bush era, Obama made the executive order to close down the Guantanamo Bay military prison by the end of the year.

COMMENTARY

Basketball took minds off dark times in Mich.

Win or lose, the MSU men’s basketball team has done the virtually unthinkable. For the first time in months, it isn’t our automobile industry hogging the headlines. The national media is here for a different reason than to bash the state for not evolving, or being unresponsive to consumer demands.

COMMENTARY

MSU men’s basketball team could be Izzo’s strongest yet

The Spartans are riding high on emotion. But it’s not all about them. It’s about a legendary city on the ropes, and a state that’s gone bust in a world that lost its bearings.

COMMENTARY

Celebrating accomplishments does not need to include riots

I have been attending MSU athletic events for roughly 60 years. I was born and raised five minutes from campus and I graduated from MSU in 1963. I am a volunteer at the NCAA Basketball Final Four in Detroit at Ford Field, and I was there as the team took the floor. I listened to the crowd as they supported the Spartans and then celebrated as the team left the floor to prepare for the championship.

COMMENTARY

MSU helps put Detroit in positive light

Leading up to this past weekend’s Final Four, I had the opportunity to speak with a few individuals tasked with making sure the NCAA Tournament is a huge success for Detroit and Michigan.

COMMENTARY

Weekend celebrations handled well by police

The tear gas canisters remained untouched and night sticks rested safely on police officers’ belts Saturday night following the MSU men’s basketball team’s 82-73 victory against Connecticut to advance to the NCAA Championship.

COMMENTARY

Student arrested at Cedar Fest gives riot-safety advice

Cedar Fest was a massive gathering turned riot last April. What started as a party in Cedar Village took a turn for the worse later that night as the crowd grew and turned destructive.