I'm appalled that protesters, "Locals protest 3 years of Iraq war" (SN 3/20), chose to demonstrate in front of the military recruiting center in Lansing. The protesters failed to portray a meaningful message.
We all pay too much for college. Every year we have to give up more money because university officials tell us they are getting less funding from the Michigan Legislature. The truth is, everyone from students to lawmakers to the leaders of this university have a hand in how much we have to pay.
I recently read Vanessa Notman's column, "Unique feel of small downtown spots replaced with corporations" (SN 3/23), regarding the takeover of downtown East Lansing hangouts by franchises and corporate restaurants, and I must say, this was to be expected. I agree, nothing is more kitschy than an urban space that is overrun by turnkey operations serving bland food and an even more bland atmosphere. However, because we are in a democratic-capitalist society, the dollar votes for and dictates what stays and what goes.
Missing class because of a religious holiday should never result in unexcused absences. And ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, is working on changing MSU's Religious Observance Policy. Our student government wants the university to form a more specific Religious Observance Policy while taking into consideration students who participate in religious holidays that require absences and missed assignments. It's about time.
I'm from Kalamazoo — the land where the Broncos rule and Tim Hortons simply doesn't exist. It also is the home of The Kalamazoo Promise that leaves a small dent in improving the state's education system. The Kalamazoo Promise is a revolutionary idea that lifts children from the Kalamazoo Public Schools and gives free college tuition to the students in the notoriously bad school district. Money is not just thrown into the hands of a few overachievers or a lucky group of students.
I would like to thank the university for their new policy regarding overnight guests. Not only does it sound like a delightful hassle for students to surrender their ID and retrieve it the next morning, but it is an unfair and meaningless policy. For no logical reason, the university assumes all students will be tempted to "behave inappropriately" unless they surrender their IDs to the night receptionist.
As a night receptionist in Case and Wonders halls, I was outraged to read about a major policy change on the front page of The State News, "Dorms to require guests to leave IDs" (SN 3/16). This is not a good idea, for the following reasons: • It will cost significantly more money for the university to staff enough people to deal with the extra work this will cause. • Guests are going to be unwilling to leave their IDs with night receptionists and will therefore use the side doors more often, causing us to not have any record of them being in the building. • Night receptionists should not be held responsible for IDs.
Do you ever get that feeling like something really and truly authentic is missing? You're in a restaurant.
John Bice, I am sick of seeing your face in The State News. Even before I read the title of your column, I already know what it is about.
For once, The State News got it right. I must applaud all who contributed to the content printed in the "Faces & Places" section entitled "Windows into war" (SN 3/15). I think it is fair to say that we, the readers, finally got input from all sides of this issue with very little to no spin on the reporting.
Spreading awareness about events and circumstances around the world is the first step in eliciting change. And that's exactly what members of Spartans Taking Action Now: Darfur, or STAND, did on Monday.
It's been more than 50 years since the civil rights movement began, but it's clear discrimination still exists. Even at MSU. Racial and homophobic messages were written on dry-erase boards in north and south campus areas. In the Hubbard Hall cafeteria, a white student was overheard making racial comments to a group of black students. Members of the Department of Residence Life met with different residence halls last week in an effort to educate students about these incidents and about MSU's anti-harassment policy.
All that planning and we'll have to keep waiting to try it out. MSU and East Lansing police were ready this year for a riot, disturbance or other shenanigans that could have taken place during the men's basketball season.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals: making you think. PETA obviously has achieved one of its goals, that is to encourage people to think and in turn express their opinions. Whether you agree with PETA or not, its shock tactics evoke people to either defend what they believe or open up to new avenues of thinking. Perhaps you weren't aware that by consuming the milk of another species, people inadvertently accept the following: Humans have evolved or were designed to never be weaned from a mother's milk or the milk of another species.
This is in regard to the article "Race, gay issues focus of meetings" (SN 3/21). More students on campus might be familiar with the university's anti-discrimination policy, but the list of categories protected from harassment in the article ("age, color, gender, disability status, height, weight, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, race, religion, sexual orientation or veteran status") did not include gender identity. The MSU Board of Trustees voted in its Dec.
Green beer was served as early as 7 a.m., and still there were fewer arrests this St. Patrick's Day than on an average football Saturday. And a low arrest record is something we should strive for again. Obviously MSU students like green year-round, but the Irish holiday gave Spartan fans another reason to tote green, from their clothing to their tongues.
On behalf of all New Orleans area residents, I want to thank Sonia Khaleel, State News copy editor, Megan Sutton, my student, and the 21 other MSU students who participated in the Alternative Spring Break in New Orleans.
For a long time, I've aspired to be like my grandfather. He's a veteran of World War II, has a mean bowling average and almost never missed an election since he first started voting. He makes sure to get there every November, and for a long time volunteered at the polls. My grandfather of course, is a member of one of the largest voting demographic groups.
I am writing partially in response to Armon Mahajerin's letter, "'Crash' not great; doesn't stop racism" (SN 3/20). I agree with Stefanie Spiro's letter, "Brilliant films deserved recognition at Oscars" (SN 3/13), in that "Crash" was a well-written film that featured strong performances by a spectacular cast and delivered a powerful message.
Erik Green, in "Differences must be known, embraced — not ignored by majority" (SN 3/21), reveals how affirmative action has become twisted during the years.