Friday, January 9, 2026

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Opinion | 1000

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COMMENTARY

Bush administration's actions are played out like old Western movies

I get a disturbing feeling as I read the papers these days. It's like I'm living in a disaster movie, or a horror film, right at the beginning where everything is mostly normal, yet there are these alarming little hints of things to come. Pets are disappearing, UFOs are buzzing around and the scary music is starting — low and quiet. When I read that President George W.

COMMENTARY

Writer hypocritical with barbed criticism

It is appalling when students do not know basic historical facts. It is equally appalling that students who chastise others for lacking knowledge lack basic knowledge themselves. Rebecca McNulty was right on that many students lack historical knowledge, but McNulty herself lacks knowledge.

COMMENTARY

Hopeful statements

Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced some ambitious plans in her State of the State address Wednesday. She asked legislators to give students $4,000 for completing two years of college as part of the Merit Award scholarship.

COMMENTARY

Libertarian argument absurd, without merit

Although I usually agree with his anti-religious rants, John Bice's column, "Lazy analysis of scandal, government spending gives narrow view" (SN 1/24), is not only full of misconceptions, but it completely misses the mark. Bice uses abhorrent oversimplification when describing three major political groups: Liberals, Conservatives and Libertarians.

COMMENTARY

'Better' than e-mail

All MSU, all the time. With ASMSU considering a possible campus-wide text-messaging system, the MSU undergraduate student government has added another way to keep students informed and involved in what goes on in and around campus. University text messages can be a good, innovative idea; ASMSU is clearly putting its best intentions forward. Mobile Campus, the text-messaging service MSU would use, is offering its program for free. But MSU can also profit from this service. Mobile Campus' sponsors will send text-message coupons to subscribers and MSU will receive 15 percent of the total revenue generated by those coupons. However great and cutting edge this might sound, the way student organizations communicate with the student body won't exactly be revolutionized. Although the amount of messages a student will receive on a day-to-day basis hasn't yet been disclosed, the chances are on the high side that there will be generic junk messages destined for the trash folder. Some features being considered, such as notifications of canceled classes, availability of event tickets, administrator messages, student group messages and emergency notifications, serve a practical purpose for a large number of students.

COMMENTARY

Column gives bad view of Christians

I was shocked to read what Beth Swanson wrote in "Not all people fall on one side or another; person's beliefs can vary" (SN 1/26). The statements she makes that the Bible was written by white men and that passages in the Bible should not be taken seriously are outrageous.

COMMENTARY

Bice only criticizes, offers no solutions

In John Bice's latest column, "Lazy analysis of scandal, government spending gives narrow view" (SN 1/24), on the "simplistic" ideas of Libertarian concepts of reform of the corruption-laden Republican Congress, he merely attacks Libertarians as simpletons who offer unattractive reforms. He could've spent the time to discuss what he would offer as pragmatic and sound reforms.

COMMENTARY

How did ancestors live, work without David Bowie, other essentials?

It occurred to me a few nights ago that music, like some sort of clever parasite, has taken over my life. As usual, I was fixated in front of my computer with a lot of work to do and not enough time to do it all, which, in my case, makes starting almost impossible. I told myself I'd begin as soon as Charlie Parker put down his saxophone. That recording ended and I was just about ready, but naturally I needed a new album to play while working.

COMMENTARY

Countdown

East Lansing officials plan on making some significant changes to the way the city handles celebrations and disturbances, such as last April 2-3. And many of the changes sound good.

COMMENTARY

Sticking to the plan

The East Village master plan is still in limbo. The East Lansing Planning Commission hopes to finally bring the plan to a vote at its Feb.

COMMENTARY

MSU students have fine grasp on history

In a recent column entitled "What MSU students don't know is appalling; Lincoln is basic history" (SN 1/25), the State News opinion writer Rebecca McNulty asserted that "basic knowledge," such as understanding that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves and was the 16th president is a prerequisite to higher education. She goes on to describe the incompetence of some fellow MSU students in having any sort of knowledge of our cultural roots.

COMMENTARY

Candid about killer cola

Beverages are under attack at MSU these days. East Lansing police don't want us consuming alcoholic beverages in the midst of beer pong, and Students for Economic Justice, or SEJ, don't want us to drink Coca-Cola products. SEJ had a "taste test" of sorts in front of the rock on Farm Lane on Monday, promoting alternative pop choices that are Michigan made, such as Faygo and Vernors. It was a creative approach to bringing to light an issue that some MSU students, faculty and staff might not have heard about yet. The possible Coca-Cola scandal is worth looking into. The soda giant is facing worker and environmental abuse allegations in Colombia and India made by the University of Michigan, New York University and at least 10 other U.S.

COMMENTARY

States should have rights to decide issue

I couldn't agree more with the State News editorial "Stating their rights" (SN 1/24) on the Oregon assisted-suicide case. The decision should go to the states because the federal government lacks the proper legislation on assisted suicide. Two things should follow. If the federal government wants to outlaw assisted suicide, it should pass explicit legislation doing so.

COMMENTARY

Playing games

First, they went after partying on and off campus, imposing party noise ordinances that can slap students with hefty fines. Now, they want the outdoor beer pong tables.