COMMENTARY

Discriminatory

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.

COMMENTARY

Student assembly should fund more

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.

COMMENTARY

Teacher's unions are to blame for lax improvement in public schools

The public school system in the United States is not great. Many would argue it's not even good.

COMMENTARY

Ban the banner

A federal appeals court is barring the government from enforcing a law based on its potential to spur discrimination.

COMMENTARY

Disagreeing with government is key

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.

COMMENTARY

Costly cocktail

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.

COMMENTARY

Distributing ASMSU funds is misplaced

This is in response to Tim Phelps' letter, "Distribute ASMSU's funding to students" (SN 11/30), regarding the $600,000 that ASMSU is "sitting" on. First of all, I am all in favor of receiving money, always.

COMMENTARY

Student assembly could use outreach

This is in response to Tim Phelps' letter "Distribute ASMSU's funding to students" (SN 11/30) that ASMSU should refund students' money. Great idea!

COMMENTARY

Secondhand smoke not viable 'choice'

When I order a double cheeseburger, I don't force-feed you half of my French fries. When I order a draught, I don't funnel a third of it down your throat.

COMMENTARY

Student groups can benefit from funds

I just transferred into MSU this semester from another Big Ten institution where I was involved in their undergraduate student government.

COMMENTARY

'Legitimacy'

Right now, ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, stands as a house divided - literally. Under the current scheme, ASMSU has the Student Assembly and an Academic Assembly to deal with the off-campus issues such as tailgating and on-campus issues such as tuition, respectively.

COMMENTARY

Burn one down

For a few years now, television ads sponsored by an anti-smoking Web site have offered some interesting fun facts regarding tobacco use and put tobacco companies and their lobbyists in some rather compromising positions.

COMMENTARY

Distribute ASMSU's funding to students

It's great to hear that ASMSU is sitting on $600,000 of our money, ("Some reassembly desired," SN 11/29). As if we needed another reason to think that ASMSU is a wasteful organization that serves no reasonable purpose in the daily lives of students here at MSU. I'd like to propose a solution that probably would seem absurd to most folks around MSU. Instead of looking for somewhere to spend this cash, why not just give it back to the students.

COMMENTARY

Recent cabinet resignations do not bode well for Bush's second term

As forethought to this column, it's important to express that although the election outcome was unfortunate, I believe it's necessary to move forward.

COMMENTARY

'Turkey pardoning' column was not left

In response to Jennifer MacGregor's letter "Turkey pardoning column leans left" (SN 11/23), I'd just like to ask if perhaps I had read a different article than she did. I assume, as I usually do when I read an article by Patrick Walters, that he was relating more of a human interest story rather than a hard-nosed exposé. I think that Walters' writing style is nothing short of entertaining and informative - hard things to make work together in an article. I have enjoyed Walters' columns for more than a year now, and I can honestly say that I look forward to every single one.

COMMENTARY

Critics of liberals need to 'lighten up'

Kudos to John Bice's display of common sense with his column "Columnist clears up misconceptions on Bush, religion, voting trends" (SN 11/23). It's a shame that the difference between intolerance and criticism needs to be drawn out in crayon for some. Common sense always seems to typify those little nuggets of hypocrisy that liberals like myself might notice about the right.

COMMENTARY

Anti-1980s column left out notables

This is in response to Mike Townshend's opinion column "Pop culture icons from 1980s prove it was disposable decade," (SN 11/29). Although Mr. T has some good points, I suggest he not draw all his conclusions about that dark time in history from "American Psycho" and VH1. First of all, in the realm of pop cinema, the '80s gave us really innovative science fiction, fantasy and children's films. Also, it gave the prototype for today's blockbuster.

COMMENTARY

SN needs to better assault coverage

On behalf of The Listening Ear Sexual Assault Counseling Program, I'm writing this letter to express our disappointment with The State News' coverage of the recent sexual assaults on campus.

COMMENTARY

Pop culture icons from 1980s prove it was disposable decade

Take your pick - either watch the movie or read the book, but there's a lot of cultural truth in Bret Easton Ellis' "American Psycho." It's not like everyone during the '80s was out killing random people while listening to Huey Lewis & the News, but the culture and music meant little more than novelty. In any other decade, "American Psycho's" anti-hero Patrick Bateman probably would have fared much better. How will our generation communicate or even explain the culture of the 1980s to our own children?

COMMENTARY

NBA brawl sheds bad light on Detroit

I am writing this in agreement of Darrell Hughes' column, "'Basketbrawl' is giving city of Detroit, its residents negative image" (SN 11/24). As a Pistons fan and Detroit native, it annoys me to see my hometown being portrayed in such a negative light over this ridiculous fight, since - as Hughes mentioned - the Pistons don't even play in Detroit. I have been to Pistons games and there are a good number of fans that live in the surrounding suburbs.