We felt compelled to write in response to Bryan Dahl's column, "Teacher's unions are to blame for lax improvement in public schools" (SN 12/1). Dahl's article contained gross inaccuracies based on overzealous opinions.
I taught composition at Eastern Michigan University for a few years, and I hated when my students started a paper by quoting the dictionary.
It's true that abstinence is a 100 percent effective way to prevent STDs and unwanted pregnancy.
I'm writing in response to Lindsey K. Anderson's column on jeans sizes and self-esteem ("Jean sizes put weight on esteem" SN 12/1). I agree with most of what she said in her column. There is certainly an excessive amount of pressure being put on people, especially women, to be a certain size.
In the letter, "Critics of liberals need to 'lighten up'" (SN 11/30), Andy Keast refers to "little nuggets of hypocrisy on the right" while applauding columnist John Bice for labeling religious individuals as "ignorant," "less intelligent" and that the reason they voted for President Bush is because they are "uninformed." I have a little "nugget of hypocrisy" for both of you.
Bryan Dahl needs to do his homework before criticizing teachers' unions and advocating school vouchers and charter schools ("Teacher's unions are to blame for lax improvement in public schools" SN 12/1). In 2000, 69 percent of Michigan voters convincingly defeated a ballot proposal that would have allowed school vouchers.
The Dec. 1 column lambasting teachers unions for holding back school improvement "Teacher's unions are to blame for lax improvement in public schools" (SN 12/1) was shoddy and irresponsible. While Bryan Dahl is entitled to his opinion, he is not entitled to lie - or to fail to check his facts. Among the many errors in the column is the statement that Gov.
At this time last year, a federal grand jury was told what the rest of us had been wondering since home-run records began shattering seven seasons ago: Who in baseball is using performance enhancing drugs. In December 2003, some Major League Baseball players were subpoenaed to testify about their involvement with the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative - known as BALCO, but better known for being to baseball what Enron Corp.
With all of the talk that has been flying around over the last week or so about ASMSU, I feel that I need to clarify a few facts about the organization.
I used to love the environment - then I started driving my dad's sport utility vehicle. It started simply at first.
This is in response to Brandon Sethi's letter, "Student groups can benefit from funds," (SN 12/1). In your letter, you mentioned that you are not too familiar with how ASMSU does things, and clearly this is true.
There needs to be some clarification on what ASMSU's risk management account is and what ASMSU is doing with that $600,000.
Sept. 6 was a particularly dark day for "Jeopardy!" champion Ken Jennings. He only won $10,001.
In response to the editorial "Burn one down" (SN 11/30), I think there is a huge misconception presented here.
Michigan Rep. Ken Bradstreet, R-Gaylord, is calling for outright discrimination by moving to exclude domestic partner benefits from state employee contracts. Unfortunately, Proposal 2 passed in Michigan, but the exact language of the amendment is vague, leaving individual interpretations to determine if domestic partner benefits get thrown on the chopping block. A piece of legislation this vague might not have been the best thing to pass.
I am writing in response to Brandon Sethi's letter (SN 12/1) calling for ASMSU to use some of their extra funds for some student groups on campus.
The public school system in the United States is not great. Many would argue it's not even good.
A federal appeals court is barring the government from enforcing a law based on its potential to spur discrimination.
Regarding Tim Phelps' request to return the $600,000 risk management fund to students in his letter, "Distribute ASMSU's funding to students," (SN 11/30) I would note that students can obtain a refund of their ASMSU tax ($13.75) - thereby making the suggested distribution unnecessary. Also, there already has been call within the assembly to drain the fund, using the money for what it was originally intended: Students.
In the name of all things sacred and good in this world, don't raise the price of hard liquor. We're talking to you, Quality Dairy, looking at you, Big Ten and Country Markett.