Opinion: USF board wisely includes those who hire grads

These people are extremely desirable because they represent the market for USF graduates: the people who hire the graduates. My high school has a School Advisory Committee made up of similar (though not so high-powered) people, those who hire our kids. My vocational class itself has an advisory board, made up of -- guess what? -- the people who might hire or deal with my students in the future.

Look at the background of these people and note that they have considerable experience with education -- their own. Also note how many are on boards of other schools.

I have dealt with schools as an industry representative, telling schools what we needed for our industry, so that we could hire their graduates.

They are diverse without being artificially diverse: Consider their economic, ethnic, cultural, religious and educational backgrounds as well as their genders and ages.
-- John McNamara, St. Petersburg

Intellectuals in short supply all around

Re: Searching (fruitlessly) for intelligent life in Tampa, by Sandra Thompson, July 21.

Although I am from Pinellas County, I thoroughly enjoyed Sandra Thompson's column on intelligent life in Tampa. It seems as if this side of the bay is bereft of intelligence as well. Indeed, it is becoming more and more apparent to me that this side of the Atlantic is at a loss for people who have the skills to think critically, act rationally, speak thoughtfully, and write cogently.

Thompson lamented the lack of intellectuals in the executive levels of USF, but it is not limited to USF alone. Throughout the country, more and more colleges and universities are replacing executive-level intellectuals with capitalists. The reason for that, I believe, is that the bottom line and the continued profitability of for-profit learning institutions has become more important and has earned a higher priority than developing the strategic skills that learners need to make the transition from student to intellectual.

I know whereof I speak and am qualified to make these observations as I have been a high school teacher, college instructor, professional trainer, and curriculum developer. I have also worked in the fields of education and training and development for more than 30 years. I read and hear how poorly English is written and spoken at all levels in American society, and I am greatly disheartened that the emphasis placed on English skills (in fact, communications skills) is so underwhelming.

But perhaps we can all look toward a brighter day. After all, George W. Bush has an master's degree and has promised to reform and enhance our educational system. That certainly must count for something, shouldn't it?
-- David B. Dubin, Redington Beach

Principle should be upheld

Re: Sheriff: Back off the shirt patrol, July 20.

It is an unfortunate day for law enforcement in Florida when the Pinellas County sheriff "backs off" from charging people who wear "cop gear." As a private citizen, I am required to cooperate with anyone who represents himself to be an officer of the law. I want to cooperate with law enforcement officers, and it is important that I can reliably assume that anyone wearing law enforcement gear is in fact legitimate and acting in accordance with the law. If I cannot trust that someone who looks like an officer is indeed an officer and is likely acting with legal authority, the basis for cooperation with law enforcement officers breaks down.

The judge and the sheriff have erred seriously in not upholding this important principle. Perhaps this particular case should never have gotten to trial, and the young lady should have been privately counseled/persuaded to obey the law. But it did get to trial, and once it did, it was important to uphold the principle. The judge should have supported this important concept but did not.

The sheriff has decided not to vigorously enforce this law because "We had a three-day trial over a $300 fine." This would have represented a trivial cost had it been invested to enforce this important principle.

When the judicial system and the law enforcement system no longer choose to support important principles of justice and law enforcement, and act instead in ways that erode the community's ability to trust police uniforms, our community is in serious trouble.

Sheriff Everett Rice, please reconsider your decision to "back off" on enforcing the impersonation laws. There are other judges, and the next such case may be properly decided. If such cases are vigorously pursued, there will be fewer of them in the future, and the ability of private citizens to "trust the uniform" will be maintained.
-- J. George Caldwell, Clearwater

Try a little more discretion

Re: Kimberly Sult.

It seems that even though there should have never been a Florida vs. Kimberly Sult trial, maybe there was a good reason for it after all. My hat is off to her even though she was found guilty. She stood up for what she believed was her right: a trial by a jury of her peers. With this, she brought to light something that happens in Pinellas County almost every day -- arrests made for some of the most trivial situations.

What if law enforcement officials in this county would give their officers a brief course in using some street-side discretion? Maybe this would help in saving the taxpayers some money and the courts some time. Think about it!
-- Anthony Milito, Madeira Beach

Selective enforcement is bad news

I agree that the T-shirt law is stupid, senseless and in no way needed. However, it is the law. The sheriff has now elected not to enforce it. Does that mean that law enforcement can enforce only the laws it agrees with?

I don't think selective enforcement is the answer. I would feel much better if the law, and many others, would be repealed. The sheriff does not have the authority to decide which laws should be enforced. Bad news indeed.
-- Bob Wild, Redington Shores

Public apathy is frightening

I have dedicated my last summer before I graduate from college to working with the Florida Public Interest Research Group -- an advocate for public interests -- on a campaign for clean water. We have been going door to door in a number of Tampa-area neighborhoods to raise public awareness on this matter, one that greatly affects our health, economy and quality of life here in Tampa.

After talking face to face with hundreds of residents, I have been pleasantly surprised by the number of people who realize there are serious decisions being made by our representatives, and we owe it to ourselves to at least become educated on the issue. But these are not the people I am worried about.

What scares me the most is that even in the 21st century, there are a significant number of citizens who are so apathetic to the world around them that they have convinced themselves that they cannot spare 30 seconds of their day to hear about the condition of the state and town in which they live. It's not as if we're asking the citizens to dedicate their summer to the campaign as well -- rather, we're working hard to at least ensure that the public is informed on the conditions that surround them and the political decisions that are being made. There are enough polluting corporations out there that would like to see this ignorance persist, so someone has got to step up and call attention to these matters!

Since I am graduating from college in a matter of months, people are always asking me what I'm going to do once I'm out in the "real world." To me, the answer is obvious: I'm going to face head-on the issues that make up our "real world." There is nothing respectable about a person who hides behind a lame excuse of being "too old," "too busy" or just "not interested." What a shame that these folks have to go through their lives in constant fear of being told what's going on outside their "bubble." It's ignorance that brings down the quality of life, not information.

So, the next time Florida PIRG is in your neighborhood, please consider unplugging your ears for all of 30 seconds. We're out here working for the public interest. Who knows -- there might even be something in it for you.
-- Kim Wolf, Tampa

How to contact Sen. Graham

Re: Any answer is preferable to none, letter, July 21.

I am writing in response to the letter writer who e-mailed my office with a question, unfortunately did not receive a response and was understandably upset. After speaking with the letter writer, members of my staff were able to ascertain what happened. A constituent sending a letter via e-mail to bob_graham@graham.senate.gov will receive an automated response instructing him to go to our Web site and send a message to us through the site. This is done to enable our system to get the message to the appropriate person as soon as possible.

The letter writer never received the automatic response, suggesting that he inadvertently sent the message to an incorrect address. This was a perfectly logical mistake -- and not on the part of the letter writer. Several Tampa-area phone books have the wrong e-mail address listed.

The best way to contact my office electronically is through our Web site, graham.senate.gov/, where constituents can write to me on a variety of subjects by clicking on the "Share Your Views" icon. Constituent concerns are the first priority in my office, and I look forward to hearing from all Floridians.
-- Bob Graham, U.S. senator, Washington, D.C.

A different view of Crist

Re: Voters will judge Crist, letter, July 24.

The letter writer seems to think 1,800 people with a lot of money equals strong support from the people of Florida. I beg to differ.

My thoughts run to the fact that Charlie Crist seems to be able to glad-hand rich people enough to get some money from them. He looks like a good used car salesman, at best. As for me, my vote will surely judge Crist as a person who enjoys bellying up to the public trough.
-- Chris Howard, St. Petersburg

A puzzling move

I have been a loyal Times reader for many years, and at present I'm a subscriber.

As a senior citizen and a retiree, I find it's always a pleasure trying to solve the crossword puzzles. As a matter of fact, when I talk to other older seniors, they all seem to buy or subscribe to the Times mostly because of the puzzles.

Therefore, when I opened to Page 2 of the City and State section a while ago, I was really shocked to see that the "Crossword Puzzle is moving."

I can't possibly understand why the Times would fill the rest of that page with material that belongs in the Weekend edition.

Your action was a real disservice to your true established readers.

When my subscription runs out, I will certainly think twice before renewing it.

In the meantime, I wonder whether you gained new readers or lost some of the older ones because of your action?
-- William Seaman, Gulfport

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