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Opinion | 1000

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COMMENTARY

Iraq worth debate, but not by council

I believe it is appropriate to comment on the story regarding the action in Academic Council relating to a discussion on a possible war in Iraq ("Academic Council axes talk on warfare," SN 11/27). I would like to point out that I never received an e-mail from Professor Richard Peterson, making me wonder if he truly considers the student representatives on the council real members of the assembly. As for his assertion that "the close of today's meeting of Academic Council was a shameful moment in the history of MSU," I cannot disagree more. The action taken by the council, while being morally repugnant to some people, was in keeping with the two of the greatest gifts that we have as Americans - democracy and free speech. A majority of the council representatives believed that the body should not discuss the matter, therefore we did not.

COMMENTARY

Saddened silence

The student segment of Academic Council was astoundingly united Tuesday in its effort to sway the assembly to not discuss the possibility of warfare in Iraq.

COMMENTARY

Money talk

Employees who perform unsatisfactorily are rarely given a bonus after being booted out the door. But the MSU athletics department is developing a troubling habit of rewarding those it no longer wants to have around. On Wednesday, officials announced MSU will pay former football head coach Bobby Williams $550,000 to end his contract.

COMMENTARY

Columnist's words were hypocritical

I was floored by John Bice's column "Religious majority doesn't understand atheist views" (SN 11/26). I found his arguments to be intolerant and ignorant of opposing views. Bice complained of a "surprising level of hostility toward secularism," but only offers an even more hostile attitude toward theists. He chose to highlight only negative acts committed in the name of religion, leaving the benevolent actions of religious figures like Mother Theresa, Ghandi and organizations, such as the Salvation Army, out of his equation.

COMMENTARY

U.S. foreign policy is an academic topic

I'm writing in response to the article "Academic Council axes talk on warfare" (SN 11/27). My inclination is to be surprised at the apoliticalism and moral complacency of those students who voted against discussing the possibility of war in Iraq.

COMMENTARY

Story about Virginia party left questions

Wednesday's article about the University of Virginia Halloween party incident left me very confused ("'U' reacts to costume party incident involving Virginia fraternities," SN 11/27). The story had half a dozen quotes from MSU leaders that said essentially the same thing - this was a horrible event and these types of things should not be tolerated. What exactly are "these types of things"? Nowhere does anyone explain why they are upset about it, and I think the reporter should have made a point to ask that question. I still don't know why two white guys dressing up as the Williams sisters for a Halloween party offended so many people.

COMMENTARY

Statistics make Detroiter cringe at thought of going back

Have you seen the music video for Mary J. Blige's "No More Drama?" At the end of it, she's standing in front of a bunch of television screens depicting the images of the war on terrorism, and she's just going crazy. That is how I feel right about now. As if war with Iraq wasn't enough to deal with, there's another war going on right here, in Michigan. In Detroit, at least 23 youths aged 16 and younger have been killed this year; most of them by gunfire. A study by the Detroit Free Press showed Detroit surpassed 10 other major U.S.

COMMENTARY

Rogers provided season's highlights

Thank you, Charles Rogers. In an otherwise disappointing football season, you gave Spartan fans a reason to continue watching games. I only wish you would have been able to showcase your skills for a winning team and a New Year's Day bowl game. I think that the catch you made in the back of the end zone against Notre Dame might be the best I've ever seen.

COMMENTARY

Pro bound

It's official. Charles Rogers is taking his leave of Spartan Country, forgoing his senior year to enter the NFL Draft.

COMMENTARY

Peace will come when religion goes

I thought John Bice's column "Religious majority doesn't understand atheist views" (SN 11/26) made an obvious point to the open-minded and objective thinking people of this world. As he stated, depending on where you live, one might be afraid to speak openly why people are "killing" in the name of God. John Lennon was a famous person who wrote a song called "Imagine." He was very brave to suggest that people imagine a world with no religion. Most people live in fear of being ridiculed for not believing, so they lie.

COMMENTARY

Job search

Now that the Spartans' lackluster football season has come to a close, the squad is desperately seeking a head coach.

COMMENTARY

Atheists not willing to understand faith

John Bice is yet another atheist in a long list who seeks to defame his opposition without understanding it, all the while accusing them of the same wrong ("Religious majority doesn't understand atheist views," SN 11/26). Life is not so polarized that anything religious makes it inherently contradictory to science. Creationists do not blindly believe evolution to be false, but rather, believe in creation because they are aware of the inherent flaws in a naturalistic worldview.

COMMENTARY

Professors should have a go at writer

It is clear Mike Pendracki is a member of the "Chefs," the 1979-81 original pie pranksters ("Pie prankster gag was not original," SN 11/26). He has encoded his confession in his writing and who else would get so worked up about pie pranks as to know about the radio spot, the book about pie attacks and the Web site to find the book? Pendracki refereed to the original pie "hits" as a "reign of terror," clearly reminiscing about the good ol' days with his pie-tossing gang. Although the 25 professors who endured the creamy attacks decades ago are really old now, and probably can't throw a cream pie all too well, I suggest they team up, find Pendracki, and give him the pieing of a lifetime.

COMMENTARY

Holiday lights are not cause for worry

The same old argument is once again being made in the letter to editor the "Hall decorations promote Christmas," (SN 11/21). While I do understand the author's disappointment in the university for, perhaps, showing some sort of religious bias, I must ask: Is it such a pressing issue that someone must once again criticize the lights the university has displayed during the winter every year I've attended MSU? Is a giant jack-in the-box, a snowman, snowflakes or a Santa Claus really something that makes MSU exclusively Christian? Santa and snowflakes are not Jesus Christ.

COMMENTARY

Granholm rising

Now that the dust has settled on the gubernatorial race in Michigan, Jennifer Granholm has emerged as the new leader for the state, and it looks like she's on the right track. After receiving the nod to be Michigan's next governor, Granholm responded to President Bush's radio address concerning homeland security. In a recent radio address, Granholm showed her desire to emerge as an effective leader only weeks after being elected, making sure the public understands what her intentions are for Michigan's stake in homeland and economic security. She highlighted her plans with the possibility of creating new jobs, making health care affordable and keeping communities safe. Instead of sitting idly by as Gov.

COMMENTARY

'U' should do more to improve quality of dorm living

On one recent chilly morning, my roommate and I woke to begin our daily routines. As we made the tedious trek to the community bathrooms, we were greeted by toilets that didn't flush, sinks with no water and showers that wouldn't run. After filing a complaint with our resident mentor, we learned that the water had begun to flow again. Ecstatically, I ran to the sink, turned the faucet and watched the water turn clear to brown.