COMMENTARY

Say what?

We still can't figure out what she's saying. MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon announced a "major change" in MSU's mission at the Sesquicentennial Academic Convocation Thursday: The university will strive to become the top-ranking, land-grant institution in the entire nation by 2012 under her new "Boldness by Design" initiative. Sounds like a Bob Vila show to us. Achieving a top rank will include expanding the university's global networking to areas in China and South America, creating another residential college, increasing the National Institutes of Health research past $100 million and increasing MSU's involvement in local and government communities. Becoming No.

COMMENTARY

Piece of peace

Both Palestinian and Israeli leaders are now one step closer toward peace in the long run. The Israeli flag was lowered Sunday, completing an entire Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip after almost 40 years of occupation. But it's only a start to ending the deep-rooted conflict. The withdrawal began on Aug.

COMMENTARY

Activist group does promote violence

I am writing in response to the article you ran titled "Local terrorist activity suspected," (SN 8/30). I found it absolutely comical that members of the group Direct Action took offense to speculation by law enforcement that they were involved in terrorist activities.

COMMENTARY

Enforcement zones 'a gift' from police

The editorial on seat-belt enforcement zones, "Traffic Trap" (SN 9/7), seems to be a pretty ungrateful response to a gift from the police department. These enforcement zones couldn't be further from "traps." The dates of the zones have been released ahead of time, and last time I checked, they even put up signs to let you know you're entering the zones.

COMMENTARY

MSU should focus on state before China

Before MSU opens an office in Beijing, MSU should expand university presence in the metro-Detroit area.

COMMENTARY

Tragic mistake

As the pumps continue to drain New Orleans, authorities are finding what lies beneath the murky Louisiana waters. We can't imagine what it's like down there - our homes are intact and our lives are scarely altered by this extreme tragedy. The volunteers, citizens and journalists who are presently in the area are the only people who know the reality of this event because they see it. They're living it. When politicians and public figures, such as former first lady Barbara Bush at the Astrodome in Houston, say things such as "So many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them," it shows the disconnect between leaders and the people they represent. Bodies lie in the streets of New Orleans.

COMMENTARY

Iraqi war misguided, exit strategy needed

Cody Zoppa's letter "Sheehan's stand bold, impractical" (SN 9/1) touches on the issues America should have been debating long ago. Now that most of us can see how politically and morally wrong the Iraq invasion was, the next question is "what is the exit strategy?" I would advise Zoppa not to fall for the establishment's excuses against an early withdrawal.

COMMENTARY

MSU drops the ball on drinking policy

You have to be wondering if Athletics Director Ron Mason is privately fuming about MSU President Lou Anna K.

COMMENTARY

Resident angered by tragedy response

I just wish to express my outrage toward the blatant self-absorption and lack of humanity by the majority of the students on this campus regarding the tragedy happening to the poor people of New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast. On the afternoon of Aug.

COMMENTARY

1,000 words

Journalists can not let the First Amendment be disregarded again. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's request not to take photos of dead hurricane victims cripples journalists' duty to accurately document what is happening in the affected areas.

COMMENTARY

Band member wants MSU fans' respect

MSU student section, show some respect for yourselves, for others and for your university. The band is not trying to stop the "one, two, three, first down bitch" chant because we want to ruin your fun.

COMMENTARY

Direct Action members criticize State News for misrepresentation

"Local Terrorist Activity Suspected" (SN 8/30) was an inflammatory, inaccurate article featured in The State News.

COMMENTARY

City parking should be free during class

As I type, I'm missing my first class of the day because I'm not allowed to park off-campus at Hannah Plaza.

COMMENTARY

Hopeful vow

In a victory for the minority, the California Legislature is the first state-governed body in the nation to approve a bill that could legalize gay marriage. Massachusetts is the only state that currently permits gay marriage, and Vermont allows civil unions. The bill, passed 41-35, stipulates that marriage is the union between two people and does not specify sex. All of the Republicans in the Assembly voted against the bill, defending Proposition 22, a ballot initiative against same-sex marriage that was passed by a statewide vote in 2000. Democrats passed the bill through and await Gov.

COMMENTARY

Bice takes Bible out of context in column

Bice portrays the Bible as a discriminatory book that promotes gender and ethnic inequality. He does this by selecting solitary quotes, taken out of context, that support his writing motifs.

COMMENTARY

Faculty member upset about Sparty being segregated from fans

The view from Spartan Stadium's upper deck was spectacular. Sun shone on Beaumont Tower. It was warm, but not so warm that you couldn't feel chills when the band exploded through the tunnel. The Spartan offense was potent; the opponent overmatched.

COMMENTARY

Student angry about Welcome Week attack

In the few years of being here I have experienced a wide array of racism - mostly indications of ignorance. While walking down Albert Avenue on Saturday night (8/27) during Welcome Weekend, my friend was stopped by a white male in FUBU clothes.

COMMENTARY

Residents need to accept E.L. partying

In response to Tali Hylen's letter "Students, city need better relationship" (SN 8/31), it is unacceptable that fellow students are vandalizing residents' homes. On behalf of the majority of MSU students, I would like to offer an apology to those East Lansing residents that have dealt with this embarrassing problem. What residents need to remember is that East Lansing is a "college town." If it makes you feel better to view East Lansing as more of a city and less of a college town, then feel free.

COMMENTARY

Still sharing

Is the battle over file sharing and copyright laws going to end soon? Absolutely not. The never-ending argument was reopened yet again with the Australian court deciding that Kazaa - a popular downloading program used for file sharing - has violated copyright laws.

COMMENTARY

SN Plan B editorial ignores hard facts

The editorial on Plan B emergency contraception, "Backup plan" (SN 8/30), was so remarkably ill-informed that I am led to believe that there was political motivation behind it.