Letters to the Editors

Don't misstate FSU's views on higher education

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 5, 2000

Re: In for the kill, April 19.

I was surprised that you failed to check your facts before publishing this editorial misstating Florida State University's views on a number of higher education issues. Please let me help you set the record straight:

As president of FSU, I have publicly stated my opposition to proposals that would dismantle the Board of Regents and replace it with individual boards of trustees supervising each of Florida's universities. I share the Times' belief that a first-class university system demands statewide governance. My preference would be to bring all the higher education agencies -- universities, community colleges and the planning function -- into one agency, but I do not believe that a single board can effectively govern both K-12 and higher education, and I fear the results of separate boards for each of the universities.

The "persistent rumors" you refer to in your editorial have no basis and should be put to rest: FSU is not seeking to take over USF's marine sciences department in St. Petersburg.

The assertion that FSU "would be happy to see USF carved up" is wrong. We know that every university in Florida builds on the strength of its sister institutions, and we will not build a better system if universities are motivated by jealousy and spite. We have condemned that attitude in others and we are not about to wish evil on our sister institutions. We have never opposed USF.

Florida State University embraces collaboration. We would be delighted to work with USF as we have with the Universities of West Florida and Central Florida, Miami and the West Indies, and with Florida Atlantic University and the Open University of Great Britain, with the University of Florida and FAMU, and with the 18 community colleges with which we cooperate to deliver distance learning opportunities to Florida students.

Even now, efforts are under way to link us with the Ringling Museum in Sarasota where we have already established relationships with the Asolo Theatre, the Sarasota Ballet and the Mote Marine Laboratory. These opportunities arise because we are an enthusiastic partner and because FSU has distinguished programs in the arts and in science.

I hope that we can develop collaborative working relationships with USF but the misinformation which has found its way into your editorials makes it very difficult. I look forward to seeing the Times return to the statewide outlook which has characterized its editorial policy for most of its history. When it does, I am confident that your paper can again play a constructive role in shaping higher education policy.
-- Talbot D'Alemberte, President, Florida State University, Tallahassee

Citadel's practices are questionable

Re: Citadel's top female cadet is demoted, May 1.

First of all, I do not understand why a surprising number of bright, young women so desperately struggle to be accepted into The Citadel. So often, these women become victims of gender harassment -- whether it may be a prank (of school tradition) or otherwise. For in the long run, it may actually do more harm to their emotional well being than good.

Secondly, I cannot understand why The Citadel would even condone such inappropriate conduct (putting condiments on an upperclassman's shoes) from their cadets, unless of course, the distinguished members of the administration were once cadets, and they, too, have partaken in the same outlandish behavior and thereby believe that it is an important part of the school's history.

Lastly, I wonder what will become of the cadets once they graduate and enter the "real world." Will they be viewed by their peers as mean-spirited individuals or will they magically be transformed upon graduation into model citizens who treat their fellow human beings with due respect?
-- JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater

An obviously male prank

Re: Citadel's top female cadet is demoted.

What is this world coming to when the top-ranking female cadet who has consistently made the dean's list is demoted at The Citadel because of her reaction to a prank? This happened to Petra Lovetinska, who was demoted from cadet major and battalion executive officer to senior private and given the punishment of doing marching tours.

That prank was obviously thought up by the male species... very immature and definitely not meaningful to education. However, because Lovetinska's reaction was considered immature, she was demoted. There is obviously something wrong with this picture when the person who performed the prank won admiration of classmates, commanding officers and other upperclassmen.

The Citadel is a wonderful role model for other institutions of higher learning -- not to mention our middle and high schools. How many schools would tolerate this type of behavior and reward the prankster? Obviously, only one that is male-dominated!
-- Sandra Wallauer, New Port Richey

Just compensation is a right

The representation of amortization as a form of "just compensation" in William Yardley's April 27 article, Bill could thwart billboard removal, needs clarification.

The federal government has found amortization to be an unfair and unconstitutional method of compensation. The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states: "Private property shall not be taken for the public use without just compensation." By passing this bill, Florida would join 38 other states that have "just compensation" laws on the books.

This amendment is a straightforward attempt to place the outdoor advertising industry on level footing with other business interests. We want the right to exist and do the business we are legally permitted to do, just like any other industry.
-- Charlotte P. Brand, executive director/CEO, Florida Outdoor Advertising Association, Tallahassee

TGH should avoid political control

Should Tampa General Hospital stay a private, not-for-profit hospital or revert to being a publicly controlled institution? What should the electorate expect if public funds are utilized to underwrite certain types of essential and indigent health care services at the hospital? These questions seem to form the current debate about the funding of Tampa General Hospital. Are these to be decided by the golden rule: "He who has the gold rules"? Or should good business practice formulate a more appropriate relationship?

Tampa General was once controlled by a hospital authority that was appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Under the old system, authority members asked for many kinds of reports, with some frequency. If the information were not by statute subject to public disclosure, the information might nevertheless be made public by virtue of providing the information to authority members in a public forum. As a result, the common practice under the old public hospital authority system was for the attorneys of competing hospitals to request the hospital authority minutes within a day of the completion of each meeting. On occasion, significant information was passed to competitors with the potential to undermine the creative profit potential of new ideas at the hospital.

Under the old hospital-authority-controlled system, a politician could call or visit the hospital chief executive and request that a constituent be given special consideration in hiring or contract matters. The abuse potential of political control seems to foster inefficiency and scandal. Clearly, political control is not a wise way for the electorate to hold a hospital accountable. A much better way is clearly defined reporting of how public funds are spent. Reporting at intervals that allow plans to develop is much more enlightening than watching month-to-month volatility of statistically insignificant data trends. We believe that an arm's length, well-defined business relationship using language similar to the current hospital lease would provide appropriate accountability. Part of a well-defined business relationship between county government and hospital administration should be a clear commitment to steer clear of political patronage.

The Hillsborough County commissioners should consider these options closely. Which makes more sense: political control or goal-defined accountability backed by an independent audit? Note that the county commissioners, while offering to pay for approximately 1 percent of Tampa General's expenses and only 8 percent of its unfunded health care, seem to want major, and some would think inappropriate, control of the institution. We strongly encourage the commissioners to see the danger to themselves and the public in their quest to turn the hospital back into a public, politically controlled institution. We encourage the County Commission to choose an audited business relationship with Tampa General Hospital instead of resorting to old-style politics.
-- Margarita Cancio, M.D., chief of the medical staff; Loren J. Bartels, M.D., vice chief of the medical staff; Charles Wright, M.D., secretary of the medical staff; John T. Sinnott, M.D., past chief of the medical staff; Tampa General Hospital, Tampa

Let free market handle organ trade

The recent Times articles on body-parts commerce point out the futility in attempting to stifle the free market. The 1984 federal ban on organ sales is ill-conceived and based, in part, on class envy ("Why should a rich guy be allowed to buy a kidney when a poor person can't").

Free-market sale of organs would increase the overall supply, would increase utilization of currently wasted organs and would lead to a decrease in prices that would eventually eliminate deaths resulting from an inadequate supply. If I want to sell my kidney to a willing buyer, where in the Constitution does the government find a rationale for blocking such a transaction? If a well-off person on the waiting list buys a kidney that would otherwise never be in the supply pool, this frees up one organ for another person on the list. The free market works miracles.
-- James W. Benefiel, Dunedin

Census sows confusion

Re: Job applicants wait for census to call, April 22.

I am another one complaining about the census hiring deadlock as reported in the Times. In 1970, in Connecticut, I had worked on two levels of the census and in 1980 I was asked to be a trainer. I had to refuse as I was working full-time.

Now I am retired and was living in Hawaii last August when the first article asking for census workers appeared. The listed number gave me a recording asking that I leave my county name and my telephone number. I received a return call within hours. When I said that I was planning to move back to Florida, the woman suggested I call the listed number again and leave the Florida information, which I did. No one ever returned that call.

Once in Clearwater, I checked with the employment office monthly. The people there would have no information until January. I took the first round of tests, scoring a 95, but still had not been contacted by the census office. In March, after receiving yet another notice that the Census Bureau needed help, I finally had a number and got through to a person. I explained that I was experienced and waiting for a call. I was assured that my name was in the computer in Atlanta and I would be contacted as soon as a position became available.

In May, I was finally called. But my continued experience with this organization and its ongoing confusion leaves me dismayed.

Is Florida the only state having these problems? How were the people in the filled positions hired? Have things changed that much in 30 years?
-- Mary Nix, Clearwater

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