Granholm Speaks in Favor of Promise Scholarship Across the State

By: Christian Hokans

Just when students across Michigan had conceded the loss of $4,000 they were “promised” by the Michigan Promise Scholarship, there may be some reason for hope. Governor Granholm embarked on a campaign on Nov. 18 to revive the scholarship, making MSU her first stop on the way. She also stopped off at several other Michigan universities on her whirlwind tour to gain student support for her initiative.

As students filed off to class on a cold Wednesday morning, many turned out to voice their opinion on the matter in front of the Hannah Administration Building. Local news reporters combed the crowd, students carried signs while others distributed symbolic $100 “coupons” to be torn up later. A variety of student groups were represented including ASMSU/COGS, College Republicans and Democrats, Undergraduate Alliance and others.

Some were there in protest to the specific policies that necessitated the removal of the Promise Scholarship including Griffin Sharp, spokesperson for the College Republicans.

“Govorner Granholm’s failure to cut spending has led us to cut vital services like higher education,” Griffin Sharp, spokesman for College Republicans, said. “We believe that the Promise scholarship would still exist if Granholm and Cherry did not tax everyone out of Michigan starting seven years ago.”

Others were present merely to support the Governor’s efforts, including Mitchell Rivard President of the College Democrats.

“We are here to stand in solidarity with the Governor in her fight to bring back the Promise Scholarship,” Rivard said.

After other figures including President Simon spoke, Granholm took the podium. She too stressed the importance of the Promise Scholarship to the future of Michigan. Granholm went further, though, stressing the need for students to get involved in bringing back the scholarship. The Governor called for students to “make their voices heard” by writing their representatives in Lansing.

“A promise is not a promise if you have to rip it up,” Granholm said. “I am encouraging you to engage in democracy, I stand with you.”

The Governor’s campaign brought her to Saginaw Valley State University next where she met with larger crowds. At her stop at Central Michigan University, though, the Governor was criticized by student groups inquiring as to how she would find the money needed to fund the scholarship.

A CMU student editorial later said, “all she did was highlight the benefits of the Michigan Promise without giving a clear solution on how to bring it back.”

Later in the week, however, Granholm visited Eastern Michigan University with a plan in hand. She explained how allocating funds from the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit will provide the necessary funds. The MEITC is intended to award money to working class families throughout Michigan struggling to provide for themselves amidst tough economic times.

Throughout the campaign, though, the necessity of student involvement was the Governor’s overarching message. The Governor consistently called for students to contact their legislators and ask them to support the reinstatement of the Scholarship. But as next semester’s tuition bills come calling, thousands of Michigan students are left wondering if the Governor’s efforts are too little too late.

Islam Documentary Screened at Fairchild Theater

By: Nicholas Kowalski

The East Lansing premiere of the documentary “Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think” was held at Michigan State’s Fairchild Theater on Friday October 23.

Executive producers Alex Kronemer and Michael Wolfe described their work as “a documentary film based on the Gallup poll of worldwide Muslim public opinion.” The event was sponsored in part by the Association of Michigan Muslim Physicians and the Michigan State University Muslim Studies Program.

Dr. Mohamed Elnabtity began the evening with a brief opening statement. Elnabtity began by proclaiming that there are approximately 1.57 billion – not one billion, as the title of the film suggests – Muslims worldwide, which equates to about one in every four people. The licensed neurosurgeon also argued that non-Muslims commonly misperceive the Muslim religion and its followers, continuing that their misperceptions are predicated on inaccurate beliefs, or what Elnabtity called, “projects of the media.”

Following an introduction by Master of Ceremony Saeed Khan, Dr. Paulette Granberry-Russell, Director of the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives at MSU, offered her gratitude and excitement for the event. Granberry-Russell stated that the documentary was a six-year work-in-progress, essentially since the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

“As a non-Muslim, I look to have the myths debunked about the faith,” Granberry-Russell said.

Alex Kronemer, executive producer of the documentary and co-founder of Unity Productions Foundation (UPF), addressed the crowd. Kronemer injected humor into the pre-film presentation by using a joke about a rabbi and the Pope to illustrate to the audience that, according to him, disputes over religion “lead to tragedy not comedy.” Kronemer ended his speech by thanking the MSU community for their advocacy in global peace.

U. S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-MI) was slated to speak prior to the showing; however, the Congressman was unable to make it out of Washington. An official correspondent on behalf of Rep. Rogers remarked that the Congressman has been kept busy by a tightly packed schedule in the House Committee on Intelligence.

“Since MSU is promoting global peace, it is fitting to display documentaries portraying often misunderstood religions, such as Islam,” Kronemer said.

The film itself was a presentation of a series of statistics gathered by Gallup through surveying people from thirty-five nations over the span of eight years. Much of the documentary is devoted to displaying a range of facts from a sampling of opinions from a broad test group through various graphs and data tables.

One of the primary speakers in the film is Dalia Mogahed, Senior Analyst and Executive Director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, a nonpartisan research institute that strives to provide analysis derived from data on the views of Muslim populations. In the documentary, Mogahed claimed that “Americans” – presumably those native to the U. S. and not Central or South America – and Muslims are equally likely to find terrorist attacks on civilians as morally unjustifiable, and that a large majority of Muslims, if it were up to them, would include a free speech provision in a new written constitution.

The film also attempted to display the discontent towards the United States in the Middle East. The film highlighted a poll that showed 60% of Egyptians hold a negative view about the United States, while only 3% hold the same view of Canada.

“Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think” is being viewed in cities across the United States and Canada with confirmed dates up to February 20, 2010.

Panel Discusses International Relationships outside of MSU

By: Christian Hokans

With friends, entertainment and food all readily available, it can seem like the entire world is bundled up into the campus here at Michigan State University. MSU, however, has been venturing out into the world beyond the realm of the Red Cedar for decades now. This international engagement was the hot topic when the Director of the United Nations Information Office in Washington D.C. came to campus over the weekend. After meeting with students and faculty all day, Director William Davis participated in a three-part panel on Monday night at the Kellogg Center to discuss the relationship between MSU, the United States, the U.N., and the rest of the world. The discussion also included Chris Holman and Dr. John Hudzik.

Eric Freedman, the Assistant Dean of International Studies and Programs introduced the speakers. Freedman also added that the event was commemorating the 64th anniversary of the founding of the U.N. which took place on October 24.

Dr. John Hudzik, Vice President of Global Engagement and Strategic Projects at MSU, took the stage first. Dr. Hudzik started out by telling the story of MSU’s long commitment to international affairs. Dr. Hudzik said this engagement started in the years immediately following World War II. He said that this history of outreach actually went back much farther as he brought up MSU’s land grant history; MSU was one of the first institutions to make higher education available to the average person and is still concerned with advancing education today.

“MSU’s land grant has now become a world grant,” Hudzik said.

He emphasized the scope of Michigan State’s study abroad programs, research on international problems, and large population of foreign students. Hudzik went on to emphasize that MSU has to continue to widen its international presence to compete.

William Davis took the stage telling a story of how he watched U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, President Bush, and Vice President Cheney have a very productive meeting – the day after an unfortunate hunting accident occurred involving the Vice President. He told this to dispel the common belief that the U.S. and the U.N. have a rocky relationship, and then went on to tell about the U.N.’s truly global presence.

Davis told of how the U.N. sets business standards for everything from airports to cell phones around the world. He ended his speech by reaffirming that the U.S. cannot ignore the U.N.

“We live in a world where pulling your head back into your shell isn’t possible – even for the world’s lone superpower,” Davis said.

Next came a short address from Chris Holman, a well known civic leader and business owner in the Lansing area, on the important role of small business in the global marketplace. Holman highlighted the role small business is playing in Michigan.

“Small business is providing net job growth in Michigan,” Holman said.

He then went on to say that small businesses too can take advantage of the new global marketplace.

The presentation was concluded with a question and answer session that included such topics as refugee health care, sustaining America’s life style and meeting the millennium development goals. As the crowd shuffled out, this reporter too returned to that seemingly enormous campus called home. Only now realizing the important fact that navigating this globalized world will require a level of involvement never seen before. Strolling over the rippling Red Cedar, and passing the imposing Breslin Center, it suddenly became apparent that this campus extends much farther than it seems, much farther indeed.

The Big Game: UM Seeks Revenge on Sparty

By: Shane Henry

Can you feel the earth tremble beneath your feet?

Do you hear the sound of forests crashing to the ground?

You should, because Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue-Ox are back in town for this upcoming weekend as Sparty plays host to arch-rival Michigan.

After an embarrassing home loss last year, the Wolverines have come back to East Lansing to reclaim the rights to the Paul Bunyan Trophy, not to mention bragging rights in the series in which Michigan leads 67-29-5.

Head Coach Rich Rodriguez took the reigns for the program last year and ended the season a disappointing 3-9, the worst record in school history. After reloading the program with a great recruiting class which included the likes of quarterbacks Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson, Big Blue is now 4-0 this year and looking for revenge.

The exact opposite can be said for the Spartans.

After piling up a 35-21 victory last year against the Wolverines, MSU finished the season an impressive 9-4 season under Head Coach Mark Dantonio. This year, MSU has struggled to find its rhythm, starting the season 1-3 through its first 4 games.

With the graduation of Javon Ringer and Bryan Hoyer from last year, the Spartans have suffered from a lack of leadership on offense, particularly at running back.

But Dantonio amassed a great recruiting class of his own, bringing in true freshman running backs Larry Caper and Edwin Baker. And along with the red-shirt freshman Caulton Ray, they have managed to fill the running back slot. Yet the Spartans have yet to find a middle ground at the position as they have started the season a disappointing 1-3.

But the offense isn’t the only of the Spartans’ struggles. Their defense has given up an average of 26 points per game, two of which 30 or more points were allowed.

On the other hand, Michigan is having defensive struggles this year as well. Still, the Wolverines’ deadly spread offense has compensated for the defense by averaging 38 points per game and an impressive 240 yards rushing per game.

Last year, the Spartans had Javon Ringer amass 194 yards on the ground along with two touchdowns in a game in which the Spartans managed to pass for 306 yards under the arm of Bryan Hoyer.

This is a much different Spartan team, and an even more improved Michigan team.

Simply put, if the Spartans wish to maintain control of the mighty Paul Bunyan Trophy, they are going to have to stop the powerhouse offense of Michigan and take advantage of the Wolverines’ undersized defense.

If the Spartans fail to stop Forcier and the endless onslaught of Wolverine running-backs, then we may be in for one hell of a shootout.

Speaker Brings Controversy to Campus

By: Christian Hokans

If you drove by the Kellogg Center on Tuesday evening, you might have been a bit surprised by what you saw. The sidewalk was flooded with a medley of individuals, from top hat wearing “coal barons” to activists shouting for health care reform. Why was the sidewalk littered with this colorful assortment? Because of one man: Glenn Beck.

Beck was the keynote speaker at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “Future Forum.” The event was hosted by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Sep. 15 at the Kellogg Center. The main topic was the state of Michigan and its future. Other speakers included State Senator Mike Bishop along with President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Thomas J. Donohue.

Glenn Beck is a radio personality and talk show host on Fox News. He was also recently featured on the cover of Time magazine. Because he deals mainly with current political issues, Beck regularly draws a great deal of controversy.

The MSU College Democrats organized the protest against Beck. Dem’s President Mitchell Rivard said, “We are not here to protest Glenn Beck. We are here to protest his statements and urge his financial backers on Fox News to remove their support for him.” They were not the only side of the issue present however. Supporters for Beck were present as well, one organizer saying, “I have been watching Glenn Beck for years and he makes sense, I think Washington has gotten arrogant and out of touch with the rest of the country.”

It was not merely a clash of two ideologies. The protest represented a variety of issues, including alternative energy, health care reform, corporate corruption and race. People held signs with slogans such as “Corporate Greed Kills,” “Health Care Reform Now,” and “Say No to Socialism.” Individuals themselves varied as well. Students and other community members alike stood side by side with signs in hand. The comic relief when a small gathering of “Coal Barons” arrived in top hats with giant dollar bills spilling from their suit coats. They were present in support of the Power Shift Michigan Conference that is taking place in Lansing from October 9-11.

As the gathering grew, both sides split into opposing factions on each side of the Kellogg Center drive way. Members of the MSU ACLU looked on “to make sure that basic rights [were] protected,” said one representative. Local News stations were also present covering the event.

While the protest went on, members of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, a private organization representing Michigan’s business interests, flowed in and out of the convention center. Some joined in with the protest, others just looked on. A pair near the door had their own outlook on the issue. “He’s just an entertainer like Cher or Michael Moore. I don’t see the problem.”

Maybe the best perspective on the matter, though, was summed up by a Vietnam veteran who sat on a bench across the street from the protest. “I’m just thankful that people can do this in our country.”

Defending America

By: Fred Fico

Freedom is the foundation of America and freedom is what makes America the greatest nation on earth. Freedom in America is defined and governed by the civil rights of individuals that are independent of and superior to generic identities such as race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or national origin.

Freedom is the identity that enables all these other identities: human beings are either free or they are not free, and they must be free before they can choose anything else. Moreover, freedom enables what universities claim to honor: the open enquiry that aims to illuminate what is true.

Yet, freedom is under attack at the colleges and universities where it ought to be most valued, including here at Michigan State University. The intellectual part of that attack takes place under the names “multiculturalism,” “diversity” or “cultural relativism.” The actual attack takes place through “speech codes,” prohibitions of “hate speech,” and, here at MSU, through “anti-discrimination” policies.

America practices a process for political decision-making that reflects three simple and easily observable principles that govern the relationship of individuals to one another and to their government. The first is that the majority rules, based on the free electoral choices made by individuals. The second is that individuals who make up minorities have the rights to freedom of conscience, expression, and organization that give them the possibility of becoming a majority. The third is that individuals who make up majorities and minorities accept and honor the first two principles as the “ground rules” for all other political struggle.

The university-based assault on this notion of freedom exalts a “multiculturalism” in which the U.S. idea of freedom is merely culturally determined and not fundamental to human nature. Not all people are, in its view, capable of this freedom or even want it. Further, the “moral” argument is made that this western idea of freedom should not be “imposed” on others.

More fundamental still, the idea of cultural relativism is anchored not in individual rights but in group, class, race or cultural identity. In effect, individuals have no rights; indeed, the idea of freedom is grounded in individual rights has no meaning in the context of multiculturalism or cultural relativism.

This attack on freedom in our universities has three origins. First, many faculty oppose any possibility that America might become militarily involved to “spread democracy.” Second, given militant and violent threats from secular and theocratic dictatorships, faculty cultural relativists resort to passivity as a safer course than confrontation. And third, cultural relativism is consistent with a distorted ethic of “tolerance” widely held and acclaimed by liberal faculty. “I’m OK, you’re OK” has metastasized into “My political system is OK; your political system is OK.”

Faculty who exalt this kind of multiculturalism thereby shirk their duty to value and defend our freedom and undermine the very ground they themselves stand upon. In particular, such faculty cannot credibly respond to attempts to destroy our freedom because it “offends” some accuser’s culture. More broadly still, faculty cultural relativists cannot credibly respond to those who would use democratic process to abolish democracy because they consider the collective will to be superior to individual rights. And worst of all, such faculty inculcate these doctrines in the classroom and thereby intellectually disarm the students they teach.

An organization started here at MSU last year, Conservative Faculty and Staff, is committed to defending the intellectual foundation of our freedom and freedom’s practical exercise here on campus. We will invite appropriate speakers to campus and address student organizations and groups to make these points. We will publish opinion pieces and disseminate information on this topic.

We will also identify the attempts to suppress freedom of speech (often carried out by faculty in classrooms in the name of “diversity” and by administrators implementing speech codes and anti-discrimination policies) and defend those so attacked, especially students. Ideological indoctrination in our classrooms and suppression of free speech in public forums is unacceptable and we will oppose these utterly and vigorously.

To summarize this as simply and clearly as possible, we will protect and defend freedom here at Michigan State University. To learn more, contact us at cfsatmsu@gmail.com

——
Fred Fico is the Chair of Conservative Faculty and Staff at Michigan State University, he is also a Journalism professor.

Bouchard Encourages Student Involvement at Campus Talk

By: Christian Hokans

With anxiety over more and more government regulation in the wake of the current economic recession, it may seem counter intuitive to elect a police officer to our state’s highest office. But don’t tell that to prospective gubernatorial candidate and current sheriff of Oakland county Mike Bouchard.

On Wednesday, Sep 8, Bouchard came to campus to tell students why he is the right man for the job and to ask for student involvement in his campaign. Bouchard addressed the MSU College Republicans at 8 p.m. in the Wonders Hall Kiva and laid out his plans for Michigan’s future. His talk included the auto industry fallout, student involvement in campaigns, and making Michigan more attractive to business.

Bouchard started his talk by telling of his past experiences at MSU where he graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice before becoming a state police officer. As an officer, Bouchard says he saw firsthand how judges “weren’t remembering victims’ rights, only criminals’.” This injustice motivated him to run for local office, thus starting his political career.

He went on to tell of his time in the state legislature where he passed almost 90 bills, nearly nine times as many as his fellow senators. Today Bouchard heads up one of the largest sheriff’s offices in the country, serving 1.2 million constituents. As a member of the police department, Bouchard said he had a chance to see firsthand the evils of government waste.

“Government has to reflect the reality in Michigan,” said Bouchard, as he talked about his plans to cut state spending on wasteful projects such as new snack stands in the state capitol.

As the sheriff of Oakland County, Bouchard has cut over $20 million from his budget in a number of creative ways, such as privatizing the meal services to prison inmates.

Along with fiscal responsibility, Bouchard says making Michigan attractive to outside business is also important. Reforming the state tax code would be among his top priorities as governor. Bouchard was not overly utopian in his goals, however, as he acknowledged that he will need to “work across the aisle” to bring a change in state policies.

Student involvement in the upcoming campaign was also one of Bouchard’s top priorities during his speech. He explained that there are many opportunities for students to get involved in politics, including everything from attending rallies and putting up signs to going to the upcoming Mackinac Island Republican Leadership Conference which runs from Sep 25-27.

Bouchard then illustrated how important every person is to a campaign by telling the story of a downstate candidate he knew that won by a single vote. Bouchard ended his speech with a rousing “Go Green” and was presented a MSU Republicans T-shirt by the group president Louie Glinzak.

The 2010 Michigan Governor’s race will hold primaries in Aug 2010 and elections on Nov 2, 2010. Other prospective Republican candidates are Sen. Tom George, Attorney General Mike Cox, Rep. Pete Hoekstra, Rick Snyder, and Timothy Rujan. For more information on getting involved in the upcoming elections, contact the MSU chapter of College Republicans.

Finding the Best Nooks

By: MaryKate Carter and Louie Glinzak

Spring is here. That means it’s time to come out of hibernation, leave your UGGs behind, and soak up some sun. When the temperature climbs over 50, every grassy knoll becomes a beach. Weather sun bathing, volleyball, or frisbee is your game, it’s time to head outside. With only a few weeks of school left, be sure to explore. Michigan State is proud to have the biggest geographical campus in the country. Don’t miss out on some great spots to kick back and relax a little.
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Pro-Life Students Rally in Ann Arbor

By: Aaron Majorana

On April 4, Students for Life of Michigan held its annual conference at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The conference was intended to assist student activists to become more effective in promoting pro-life issues on their campuses. The conference hosted various breakout sessions and panels and was attended by both Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox and Michigan Congressman for Western Wayne and Oakland Counties Thaddeus McCotter.

Before the conference began, students gathered outside a local Planned Parenthood in Ann Arbor, which serves as an abortion clinic for the area, for silent prayer. The silent protest showed the movement’s multi-denominational roots as students prayed different prayers according to their traditions. Catholic students in particular prayed the Rosary while others simply prayed according to their beliefs.
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Conservative Columnist Talks Free Speech

By: Jacob Bodnar

Townhall.com columnist and University of North Carolina at Wilmington professor, Mike Adams, spoke about standing up for conservative values on campus at Anthony Hall on Thursday, April 17.

The group, Conservative Faculty and Staff, brought Adams in to speak; Adams spent most of the time discussing cases that he’s dealt with on college campuses regarding administrators abusing their power.

Adams began his talk with a story describing how he got a national column and got involved in fighting for First Amendment rights on campuses. Adams said that after the attacks on the World Trade Centers on September 11, he received an email from a former student who is a communist. The student’s e-mail claimed that the United States was at fault for the attacks.
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