COMMENTARY

Paris burning

MSU is considered a party school with rambunctious students. We like to celebrate, and riots have been known to happen with either a sports victory or defeat. However, the riots in East Lansing over the years don't compare with what's happening in France. Rioting by French adolescents spread across 300 towns in 14 days of violence and led to several injuries, including 36 police, and one death. More than 1,200 rioters were arrested, and more than 2,000 cars were burned. French officials have been unable to stop the riots within their own country, which have already spread into Belgium and Germany. East Lansing police could probably handle it. In comparison, the situation in France shows the perception of the April 2-3 disturbances as a "riot" is overblown. When a riot or disturbance occurs on campus, those who participate aren't filled with anarchy but just want to rattle cages.

COMMENTARY

Fire MSU President; Simon unsupportive

Fire MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon. That is the only option after reading her despicable letter sent out to permanent residents dated Oct.

COMMENTARY

Students are here permanently also

The fact that the MSU students have been classified as temporary residents in all the articles I have been reading lately is disappointing.

COMMENTARY

American culture driven by fear of unknown, avian flu just new fad

Paranoia grips the American culture. It's not just the recent crop of scary movies, but Americans like to fear some of the strangest things. Some fear is justified — fear of death, losing a loved one or losing control. However, a lot of it isn't rational.

COMMENTARY

Oh, that war

Amid an ongoing war in Iraq, post-Hurricane Katrina reconstruction and many scandals in government, we seem to be forgetting something. Oh yeah, Afghanistan. As the United States passes its fourth year with military presence in Afghanistan, we have spent $1.3 billion on the country's reconstruction. Fighting in Iraq, we have spent more than $212 billion.

COMMENTARY

Vote, please

Vote. On the Opinion Page, we print letters from readers who are concerned about issues affecting them in East Lansing. We know you're out there.

COMMENTARY

Dairy industry not truthful of cruelty

The dairy industry is in trouble again for another ludicrous advertisement. Its latest "Got Milk?" television ad depicts a baseball player getting pulled from a game "after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance." In the next scene, a coach pulls a carton of milk from the slugger's locker.

COMMENTARY

E.L. residents should know noise issues

The permanent residents in East Lansing who complain about student noise should stop whining. Let's look at this realistically. You are a potential home buyer and are considering purchasing a home in an area highly populated by students.

COMMENTARY

Assumed opinions not factual in column

When my roommates asked what I thought of Chris Barsotti's "Sox success irks Cubs fan" (SN 10/25), I sat down to read it. All four of us are avid sports fans and — between two of us — hold three sports column awards from the Michigan Press Association in the last three years.

COMMENTARY

Writer has mediocre knowledge of law

Undergraduate student Peter G. Ashmore's response to my recent letter, "Columnist correct, court case unlawful" (SN 11/01) is disappointing (to say the least), although he has succeeded in baiting me into a response. While he is apparently able to regurgitate the talking points of gay rights opponents and critics of the legal community, I'm disappointed his reactionary fervor has made him unable to discern that my letter simply laid out the facts of the Romer v.

COMMENTARY

Vic Loomis and John Fournier

Each of the East Lansing City Council candidates has his own vision for the city's future. The State News met with all four candidates and grilled them about relations between permanent residents and students, the April 2-3 disturbances, housing and other issues East Lansing has potential to improve on. We've done the research and made decisions about what we think is best for the city. Agree or disagree, it's now left in your hands to vote on Tuesday. You can learn more at www.votesmart.msu.edu and www.youvote.msu.edu. Don't waste the liberties given to you as an American citizen. Out of four leaders, we need the two most capable of helping the city grow. Those two are John Fournier and Vic Loomis. Fournier's campaign is professional and mature.

COMMENTARY

Torture not allowed from anyone, bill should restrain CIA actions

On the front page of Wednesday's Washington Post read the following large, bold words: "CIA Holds Terror Suspects in Secret Prisons." According to the article, suspects held in these prisons are subjected to interrogation techniques such as "waterboarding," whereby a victim is submerged into a vat of water until drowning is imminent, revived and nearly drowned again as necessary.

COMMENTARY

Republicans should practice preaching

This is in response to "Rally opposes war in Iraq" (SN 10/27). The best way MSU College Republicans' Second Vice Chairman David Coogan can support U.S.

COMMENTARY

Bice disregards good uses of afterlife idea

Like most of his previous diatribes, John Bice's recent column, "Consequences in afterlife prevent promotion of contraceptives" (SN 11/02), about belief in an afterlife, points out the ill uses to which religious beliefs can be put. Such a belief, however, is what makes it possible for rational beings to endanger their own lives to protect others, even though they are not close biological kin.

COMMENTARY

Online program more painful than helpful, students all around suffer

A professor runs 1.45 miles to class in 33.7 minutes. What is the professor's average speed in meters per second? Or how much force, in newtons, does it take to hold a 113 kilogram man completely underwater in the ocean?

COMMENTARY

City needs to treat students like adults

As an MSU alumna, I am very disappointed to see the lack of trust and disciplinary role the city is continually taking toward college students.

COMMENTARY

Iraqi consititution isn't end to Iraq war

I sincerely wish that passing this Iraqi constitution will do everything President George W. Bush claims it will. I would love nothing more than to be proved completely wrong on every assumption that has led me for the past two years to look at my newspaper every day and think to myself: "I told you so." I'm willing to give up my pride and my frustration with this administration just to see something that resembles peace happen there. I'd also like to win the lottery. I'm wary, to say the least, because Bush and his supporters have a kind of twisted optimism bordering on willful ignorance that is extremely disturbing.

COMMENTARY

Smart spending

When elected officials spend money, those who elect them need to see results. ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, plans to spend the $11,000 it recently allocated for updating office equipment, software, signs and insurance.

COMMENTARY

Ill intention

At least President George W. Bush is being proactive. Bush's announcement of a $7.1 billion plan to research, develop and stockpile vaccines to prepare the country for a possible flu pandemic is a preemptive approach to protecting the country. Many scientists believe a deadly flu outbreak is one of the greatest dangers for the United States and the world.

COMMENTARY

Incumbents' visions aren't all inclusive

As the East Lansing City Council election draws near, it is becoming increasingly clear that incumbent City Council members Bill Sharp and Vic Loomis have a vision for East Lansing.