Morgan State simply seeks excellence

Morgan State University has recently become a topic of much discussion ("Morgan cries poor; Md. lawmakers disagree," Aug. 4) on the extent to which Morgan is appropriately funded to accomplish its mission as the state's public urban university.

Morgan is the first to concede that over the last 15 years, the state of Maryland has made a major investment in the university. This investment has supported the renovation or replacement of the most deteriorated campus structures and the construction of two additional facilities.

These campus improvements have contributed enormously to the success of the university in nearly doubling enrollment, improving the quality of academic programs, recruiting quality faculty members and increasing the research and grant dollars the campus attracts by more than 500 percent.

They have been a major factor in the university being recognized nationally for its major role in promoting the education of African-Americans generally and, in particular, in science and engineering.

Morgan's retention rate now rivals those of some of the best public urban universities in the country whose student bodies are similar to ours.

But as proud as we are of the efforts to restore the existing plant, the restoration has taken precedence over the kind of expansion and growth in new facilities seen at other state campuses with which Morgan is seeking parity.

And the renovation and replacement effort has taken an unusually long time.

The state's process provides for about a five-year to seven-year period from the request for a facility to its completion. But at Morgan, that process has taken an average of 14 years per building. The new Fine Arts Center, for example, took 20 years.

Meanwhile, the university has accumulated a large backlog of building projects that desperately need funding. Chief among those projects are dedicated facilities for architecture, hospitality management, technology transfer programs, graduate studies and student services.

So what some may perceive as "Morgan crying poor" is really a loud and urgent plea for funds to move the campus to the next level.

Morgan does not begrudge other universities the higher level of funding they have received. Such funding is critical to their competing with the very best public universities in the country.

Morgan simply wishes to have the same opportunities for funding to achieve similar levels of excellence and distinction in fulfilling its mission.

Earl S. Richardson

Baltimore

The writer is president of Morgan State University.

State shows Coppin no respect at all

After reading the article about Morgan State University's money crunch, I was totally shaken by the disparity in money among state's colleges and universities ("Morgan State cries poor; Md. lawmakers disagree," Aug. 4).

I do not hold any ill feelings toward Morgan, but what about the school on North Avenue? I cannot believe that the state has treated Coppin State College so poorly -- in fact, I am totally embarrassed by the state of Maryland.

The state's Democratic Party has ignored the plight of Coppin for years -- and then some Democrats had the nerve to suggest the Coppin choir should not sing for a Republican candidate ("Sour note on fund-raiser," April 2). I hope Coppin sings for anyone willing to put money into the school.

This is not a black and white issue. It is a case of visible, total neglect, without regret.

George K. Tilghman

Baltimore

Issue 'call to arms' to vanquish Hussein

Just as I feared it would, less than one year after Sept. 11 the world's leadership, including President Bush, is hedging its bets in the war on terrorism.

I speak of the lack of support around the world, and the waning support within the Bush administration, for an invasion of Iraq.

I am a liberal Democrat. I would love to have world peace. Unfortunately, war was declared against the West long ago (well before Sept. 11). We can run or we can fight.

There is no dispute that Iraq has chemical weapons, which it has used against Iran and against its own people. There is little dispute that Iraq is developing a nuclear capability. There is no dispute that Iraq supports world terrorism.

Europe sees no need to take on Iraq. But just open any history book and look up the term "appeasement" as it relates to Germany in the 1930s.

It's a good thing that the passengers on Flight 93 were not so complacent.

I, for one, ask that President Bush issue a "call to arms" (much as President Roosevelt did in 1941) for every able-bodied American man to join an overwhelming invasion force "for the duration" and once-and-for-all rid the world of this incredible Iraqi threat.

I'm 44 years old and a bit out of shape, but I'm a good shot and I ain't afraid to die.

President Bush, "Let's roll."

Keith Biddle

Pylesville

Treatment works better than prison

I think there is an adequate solution to over-crowded jails and high crime rates in Baltimore, and it is one that has been shown to be effective ("Overheated, underfunded," editorial, Aug. 16). But it requires a rethinking and revamping of current laws.

Approximately 85 percent of our prisoners are in jail for drug-related offenses. Those incarcerated for these offenses are not rehabilitated in jails, as past recidivism rates attest.

Jail is expensive to the taxpayers, who get no return for their money as the cycle of addiction and crime only continues once the offenders get out.

On the other hand, drug treatment is much more cost-effective and its success rate much higher. So instead of just throwing people in jail for a third or fourth drug offense, why not mandate that they must go to treatment?

Especially in the case of the influx of heroin addicts to our jails and the heroin-related crime on our streets, mandating methadone treatment would be a much better alternative. Successful "Methadonians" are productive citizens, with no need to steal, kill or break the law.

Addiction is a medical issue and will never be alleviated through so-called correctional solutions.

Kate Bieler

Bel Air

The writer is an addictions counselor at the Harford County Drug Abuse Program.

Inmates' demands are often unfair

I was appalled at the complaints written by an inmate ("The cruel state of women's jail," letters, Aug. 10).

I am a nurse who worked at the women's detention center and has seen it all in this environment.

Yes, the jail is somewhat crowded, dirty and hot -- it's not a resort. But most of those brought to the jail seem to feel it should be the Hilton or the Sheraton.

I have had female detainees request manicures, pedicures and teeth whitening.

And many detainees come right off the streets with drug and alcohol addictions or similar dependencies and expect the jail to provide top-notch service and amenities.

The nurses go through pure hell as the inmates demand drugs to help with their withdrawal -- only for them to be released, then come back to jail two weeks later, repeating the cycle again and again.

We call these people "frequent fliers." Jail must not be too bad for them to keep coming back.

Many inmates thrive on abusing the law and the system over and over again.

Many pregnant women are injecting themselves with heroin on the streets and coming to jail expecting taxpayers to pay for methadone to prevent fetal drug withdrawal. Taxpayers are also paying for the delivery of infants of pregnant women sentenced to jail.

And, as for activities and amenities in jail, isn't the opportunity to obtain your GED, get three meals a day and health, dental and eye care, take aerobics and substance abuse classes, have access to books and the library, and receive clothing and a place to sleep out from the bugs and the elements -- all for free -- enough?

The best advice to any inmate complaining about jail conditions is to get a job and stop breaking the law.

M. Peters

Finksburg

Removing rubbish from Jones Falls

Until recently, the Jones Falls Watershed was choked with tons of garbage. Beginning in 1997, spirited volunteers working weekend after weekend hauled the trash out, and the city trucked it away. The change was thrilling, but did not last. We soon discovered that, at least for now, periodic cleanups are a must.

So, prompted by the gracious but persistent nudges of chief stream steward Elspeth Wheeler, on the second Saturday of each month a group cleans up the area along the Jones Falls from the Streetcar Museum to Union Avenue and along Stony Run.

We meet at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Fox Industries building at 3100 Falls Cliff Road and work until noon.

And the work has made a world of difference.

Here is a list of items nine volunteers collected on Aug. 10:

A sofa bed.

An air-conditioning unit.

A barbecue grill.

A nicely carpentered box with Kentucky Cardinal Apples painted on it.

A 5-feet-by-2-feet, broken, framed mirror.

A dresser.

Two bicycle wheels, and one bicycle rim with tire.

An orange-and-white traffic cone.

Lumber -- about 15 two-by-fours.

A rusty, old shopping cart retrieved from the river.

A heavy iron roller.

Many beer and soda cans and plastic bottles and bags.

Syringes.

A child's cap.

Three steel cabinets.

Ceramic tiles.

Much plastic foam, many wrappings, chip bags and cups.

Plastic milk bottles.

We know many people are too busy to participate regularly. But surely everyone can give just one morning a year to keep our city neat.

If 10,000 people all gave one morning a year, this city would look fabulous. And that would still be only 2 percent of the population.

If 300,000 people gave one morning a year, we would be admired the world over. So let's start a cleanup epidemic.

Michael Beer Baltimore

The writer is on the advisory board of the Jones Falls Watershed Association.

Who needs the Olympics?

Am I the only person thrilled that the Baltimore-Washington area is out of the running for the 2012 Olympics ("D.C.-Baltimore loses Olympics," Aug. 28)?

Am I the only person relieved that my commute on Interstate 95 every day won't become downright unbearable for three weeks in 2012?

And would the time, effort and cost of preparing for these games really be worth it, given the security hassles, the crowds and the traffic?

Do Washington Mayor Anthony A. Williams and Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley really believe that the world would view Washington and Baltimore differently just because the area hosted the Olympics? If you saw the looks on their faces after the United States Olympic Committee's decision was made, you would've thought that they were attending a funeral. It was as if the fate of the region rested on luring the Olympics here.

But did the Olympics really change the lives of Albertvillians after 1992? Did Salt Lake City become CondM-i Nast's top travel destination after February of this year? Are visitors being turned away by the thousands in Lillehammer, Norway, because it hosted the Games in 1994? Does anyone remember anything from the Atlanta Games other than the bomb exploding in Centennial Park?

Did any of the companies that spent millions to bring the games here even consider any of these questions?

Brad Dwin

Silver Spring

Character really can be taught ...

Alexander E. Hooke's arguments against character education lack credibility ("By nature, character cannot be schooled," Opinion

Commentary, Aug. 23).

Moving from his curious premises that character can be learned but not taught, and that character education is "feel-good politics," Mr. Hooke equates "character" with "political character."

He then commits the Logic 101 fallacy of false alternatives by asking if teachers of character education want law-abiding citizens or practitioners of civil disobedience. In fact, citizens of good character can manifest both behaviors.

And every day, staff at Boys and Girls Clubs, volunteers with Boy and Girl Scouts, and adult mentors in faith-based and other community programs provide bona-fide character education through role-modeling, informal counseling and structured programs and activities that promote positive values, responsible behavior, reflective thinking and good citizenship.

Kids can and do learn how to develop good character from caring, committed adults.

I urge Mr. Hooke to commend teachers of character education rather than pity them.

Don Mathis

Aberdeen

The writer is executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County.

... but 'self-esteem' is its nemesis

Villa Julie philosophy professor Alexander E. Hooke criticizes Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend for supporting "character education" in schools ("By nature, character cannot be schooled," Opinion

Commentary, Aug. 23).

But he confuses character education with character itself, which is like mistaking the seeds for the garden. I think Ms. Townsend's position is right on.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hooke misses a deeper problem entirely -- the impermissibility of the "failure experience" in the lives of students today.

As psychologist-educator Judith Schlesinger argues, educators today would rather safeguard students' self-esteem than teach them what they need to know ("Hypocrisy in college grading yields a flood of mediocrity," Aug. 18).

Teachers have stopped making students suffer any "risk of embarrassment" by confronting them with their ignorance.

But character involves the willingness to take risks, large or small, on behalf of one's hoped-for better self or in service to other people or the larger community.

At root, the person of character is heroic and self-sacrificing. A school that cossets its students' self-esteem but doesn't insist on academic risk-taking scatters the seeds of character education on sterile ground.

Eric P. Stewart

Catonsville