COMMENTARY

Media ignores issues regarding Obama's budget plan, spending

The statement “Higher education appeared to be one of the winners in a national budget proposal Thursday that was full of spending cuts” in Student aid, research priorities in Obama’s budget (SN 2/27) is a poster child for the failure of journalism today in that it pays more attention to what President Barack Obama said was in the budget rather than what is actually in the budget.

COMMENTARY

Bidding farewell to the newspaper

Zach Colman

March 3, 2009

When I wake up every morning and grab my perfectly healthy newspaper, I can’t help but think of how soon this helpless, defenseless thing will be lying on its deathbed. I can hear the persistent “beep, beep” of the heart monitors, see the slow trickle of fluid from IV bags and smell the pages of the newspaper decaying into a deathly yellow pallor.

COMMENTARY

Lent article had inaccuracies regarding religious holiday

I am writing about the Lent article that Kate Jacobson wrote titled Students find new approach to Lent (SN 2/25). In the article, she stated that Lent is a religious observance of Jesus fasting for 40 days before his crucifixion. That is absolutely not correct.

COMMENTARY

Health education should be more prominent in schools

As a participant in this Legislative Education Day, I was able to meet with not only my senator and House representative, but also other concerned legislators. Being an MSU student and Sterling Heights resident, I was one of the student participants from different colleges and universities.

COMMENTARY

Council displays irresponsibility

It was not long ago that I thought there couldn’t possibly be a more backward City Council member in our state than one found in Lansing’s City Hall, where Councilmember Carol Wood seems to make her living by building coalitions to oppose common sense initiatives.

COMMENTARY

Study abroad numbers show programs too expensive

MSU is home to the nation’s largest public university study abroad program, sending 2,801 students to more than 250 programs in 60 countries. In an increasingly globalized world, it is admirable that the university can boast such a strong reputation for giving its students the ability to experience how other people live.

COMMENTARY

Funding needed for nonprofits

The economic recession that has the nation and world reeling right now has been felt in Michigan for most of the past decade. During the past six months in particular, news stories have focused on the fate of the automobile manufacturers that we used to call The Big Three.

COMMENTARY

Water bottles polluting, should have 10 cent deposit

I couldn’t agree more with Cory Connolly’s column on the wastefulness of buying bottled water, Bottled water not worth cost, harm (SN 2/26). Here we are, lucky enough to be living in a landscape full of freshwater, wasting our money buying water imported from elsewhere.

COMMENTARY

Popular play gets better every time for alumna viewer

I saw “The Vagina Monologues” last Saturday (2/21), and I could probably take another week and still not think of everything I’d love to say about the show.

COMMENTARY

Transfer of wetlands sign of hard times

The state of Michigan has had a difficult enough time holding onto luxuries, and the possible transfer of wetland regulation to the federal government shows basic necessities also might be sacrificed.

COMMENTARY

Look closer: good people still out there

It was cold Tuesday, with a high of 31 degrees — just below freezing. It had been warmer before, though, and you could tell. High temperatures had been teasing the 32-degree mark for several days after a week of uncharacteristically balmy February weather.

COMMENTARY

RHA leader made important changes during presidency

“When from these scenes we wander and twilight shadows fade, our memories still will linger where light and shadows played.” So begins the second verse of MSU’s alma mater, a phrase that stands as a constant reminder that one’s time at MSU, like all good things, must eventually come to an end.

COMMENTARY

Board members should keep promise of banning circus

I was very excited to learn earlier this year that the Royal Hanneford Circus would not be returning to Breslin Center. This decision was considered a victory to me and many other MSU students as we fought hard last year to discourage the circus’ return.

COMMENTARY

Closing of popular restaurant unfortunate

If students and residents of East Lansing had known what was coming, maybe they would have savored that last spinach and artichoke flatbread sandwich with corn bread and tortilla chips.

COMMENTARY

Political stereotypes for gays inaccurate, harm perceptions

We’ve all heard them: “All gay men have fashion sense.” “Lesbians don’t shave their legs.” “If you listen to Cher, you must be gay.”

COMMENTARY

Seat belt laws worth analysis, still serve purpose for safety

I would like to comment on Gerard Ruskowski’s column regarding the Michigan seat belt law, Lawmakers should put citizens first (SN 2/23).

COMMENTARY

Bottled water not worth cost, harm

On a daily basis, students make a decision that is poor for their health, their wallet and the environment. In elementary school, we learned that water is the basis for all life on earth — in the U.S., that water often comes from a bottle. And Many students grab a disposable water bottle without a second thought.

COMMENTARY

Burden of economic recovery falls to taxpayer

Although President Barack Obama didn’t have to give a speech to Congress on Tuesday night, he did. And with that came more questions that he doesn’t want to answer, but he does.

COMMENTARY

Research needed to improve reading skills among males

On March 2, the National Education Association, or NEA, is sponsoring Read Across America Day, an annual program that takes place on or near the birthday of Dr. Seuss. It focuses on the importance of motivating children to read and helping them develop reading skills.

COMMENTARY

Shopping bag tax could bring positive results

Paper, plastic or reusable? As the nation continues to demand more environmentally conscious automobiles, voters in Seattle will vote on another important aspect of everyday life.