“Live bears” across Missouri breathed a sigh of relief this week.

Student Body President Chris Polley announced the University has squashed the Student Government Association’s plans to bring a “live bear” to football games. No reason was given outside the administration’s discomfort with the idea.

by Jason McGill Welcome to the discussion! Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or just picked up The Underground for the first time, thank you. You’re the reason we do what we do. Since you’re reading an alternative newspaper, I don’t have to convince you of the sorry state of the news media. […]

by Jason McGill Missouri State University President Michael T. Nietzel discussed his intention to step down as president at a press conference on November 3. Nietzel, 62, said he would remain in the post through December 2010 to allow adequate time for the Board of Governors to find his successor. Nietzel began thinking of leaving […]

The large media outlets, for a number of reasons, have never been so cozy with the people they are supposed to cover. The watchdog function of the media has been left to independent media, which is gaining in audience and importance.

Jonathan Stratman’s Roberto and the Robot, a film produced from MSU’s Electronic Arts program in spring 2009, is released on DVD.

I feel like the fire has gone out of my belly when it comes to politics. Am I just burned out, or am I afraid to have my worldview challenged?

by Jason McGill Following up on my column, “How Dumb is Congress?” I found that Laura Flanders has taken the idea of preventing an organizations under investigation from receiving federal funds to the next level. Wasn’t there something in the rule book about those without sin?

The 9-12 protest seems to represent an incoherent anger at the government that can’t neatly fit into the media’s left-right paradigm.

The House and Senate has added amendments to spending bills singling out ACORN as ineligible for the money, in clear violation of the Constitutional prohibition against Bills of Attainder.

by Jason McGill When I walk the crisscrossing sidewalks up to Blair-Shannon, or by the row of trees to the south entrance of Cheek, or up the steps to Meyer Library, what do I find when I get there? Three or four pairs of glass doors, with another set of doors just beyond. This double […]