COMMENTARY

Out of time

Every year, more than a 1,000 students sign up for an MSU housing contract that, for some reason or another, they must break. A new housing contract plans to stop this epidemic by giving students, who sign a housing contract for next fall, only 14 days to break it, or face being locked into that dorm room. While it is irresponsible for anyone to break a contract, this 14-day stipulation does not take into consideration the rapid changes in lives of students, especially freshman who have only finished one semester at MSU and are not sure where they belong on campus (such as those who are secluded on the remote island that is Brody). University Housing believed the old policy allowed students to use dorm rooms as "back-ups" while they searched for a house or apartment for the fall. University Housing said the revision will free up more space for students who really do want to "live on," and will force students to be more cautious before they sign that binding contract. However, housing should have devised another method that made students think twice about moving off campus.

COMMENTARY

Ballot blues

How long must a piece of policy be enforced before it becomes a sedentary chunk of the status quo? Is there a statute of limitations on the pulse of popular American forethought?

COMMENTARY

Fiscal fixes

Just like contestants on the popular television show "Extreme Makeover," Snyder-Phillips Hall will receive its own facelift in 2005. While re-guts, nips and tucks for residence halls are an important part of making them more attractive to prospective students, MSU officials should remember that in the midst of a budget crisis, fiscal responsibility is extremely important when renovating. We don't need another Shaw Hall equipped with whirlpools and state-of-the-art dorm furniture.

COMMENTARY

Firearm owners are not evil 'gun nuts'

When I read the article "Moore tackles gun culture with grim accuracy, dead-on aim" (SN 1/13), I have to say I was a little shocked.

COMMENTARY

Raelian cult beliefs just as nutty as the Christian majority's

Recently, I was recalling the stupidest news events of 2003. Obviously, Bush was a recurring figure, but the story I fixated on was the comical cloning saga trumpeted by the Raelians.

COMMENTARY

Scientists base claims on faith, too

First of all, let me define faith for you: confident belief in the truth, value or trustworthiness of a person, idea or thing. Everyone has faith.

COMMENTARY

Exam screams just part of college life

This is in reference to a letter to the editor regarding the "unlaughable degradation" of midnight screams on our campus ("Midnight scream no longer laughable" SN 1/13). Midnight screams are a release, a chance to be a bit crazy for a few fleeting moments before heading back to the books for another long study session.

COMMENTARY

Child obesity problem ignored in edit

This letter is in response to "Sugar bust" (SN 1/14). I'm not sure if the editorial staff is familiar with the childhood obesity statistics in the United States, but since 1980, obesity has tripled and juvenile diabetes is more prevalent than ever before.

COMMENTARY

'Bushisms' successful at hiding negative reality of legislation

President Bush is not stupid. Judging by the "Bushisms" desk calendars on mall shelves this Christmas, he is indisputedly inarticulate, but he definitely is not stupid.

COMMENTARY

Voting ease

Voter apathy, thy name is college student. In the 2000 general election, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that of the nearly 24 million United States citizens age 18-to 24, only about 8.6 million registered and cast a ballot four years ago this November.

COMMENTARY

'U' should tighten belt, make money

When I peruse the never-ending list of courses offered, the profs who "teach" them, and the physical real estate they occupy, I cannot envision how so many of them in this floundering academic abyss contribute to the "excellent education" MSU President Peter McPherson professes the students receive. Further, I cringe to see the combined salary of Tom Izzo and John L.

COMMENTARY

Students are being silenced at games

Munn officials should stop trying to quiet the students. Earlier this season, members of Slapshots were asked to sit down during the game because it blocked other fans' views.

COMMENTARY

Sugar bust

As if the budget crisis did not hurt public schools enough, a new bill proposed by a Michigan legislator is aimed at getting rid of yet another source of much needed cash - pop vending machines. The bill, introduced by Sen.

COMMENTARY

All students need a little extra sleep

I have started to wonder why it seems the university likes to screw science majors when it comes to scheduling and classes.

COMMENTARY

Columnist ignorant of worldly beliefs

I really hope you just published Brian Beute's opinion article ("Truth is absolute, every action is either right or wrong") as a way to illustrate to the entire campus that he is an ignorant, closed-minded moron.

COMMENTARY

Travel stops

Fingerprints and photos are taken upon entering any local or state jail facility, but now, thanks to the U.S.

COMMENTARY

Faculty needs to walk like students

This letter is in response to MSU's decision to add yet another "Faculty/Staff Only" parking structure on north campus.

COMMENTARY

Faith can never prove creationism

The infantile nonlogic of letters, such as Steve Duane's, ("Creationism a belief, can't be disproved" SN 12/4) is unimaginably taxing on my confidence in this university's student body.

COMMENTARY

Slot support

Adding slot machines to area horse race tracks could mean more money for agriculture and higher education, and more money in a time of low funds is always good. Legislation was recently proposed to create racinos, which add video, telephone and Internet wagering to Michigan horse racetracks and also could provide higher education some much-needed extra cash. In declaring his immediate support of pro-racino state legislation as a means of possibly generating university revenue, MSU President M.

COMMENTARY

Flint offers more than just basketball

When I picked up the Dec. 3 issue of the newspaper. I was pleased to see the article featuring the MSU basketball players from Flint ("Hard life to hardwood" SN 12/3). However, as a Flint native, I was disappointed as I read through the first few paragraphs of the story.