After reading the article "Towson MBA in peril as House takes up bill" (March 28), I think everyone is missing the point in this conversation.
You cannot legislate buyer behavior (that's one of the things they teach you in business school). Students enter MBA programs primarily to enable themselves to obtain higher-paying professional jobs. Thus the No. 1 criteria in choosing a business school are the quality and reputation of its program, because that reputation can translate into a higher-paying job.
The market for MBAs in the Baltimore metropolitan area is strong and can support programs at a number of schools.
Unfortunately, because program quality and reputation are the No. 1 factor in choosing a school, it takes time and investment in quality professors and marketing to grow an MBA program.
I am concerned that the debate in the legislature, while well-intended, will have the unintended consequence of damaging both Towson University and Morgan State University, because it may eliminate Towson's program just when it is reaching critical mass in size and reputation and put more stress back on Morgan's program at a time when it is re-building and will need two to three years of investment to regain its stature.
No one will be a winner in this process, except perhaps the local private colleges with business programs and the University of Baltimore, whose programs will maintain their strong reputations, high demand and limited competition from other state schools.
Greg Corrigan
Ellicott City
O'Malley should act to solve MBA spat
After reading the editorial on the dispute between Morgan State University and Towson University over their MBA programs, I find the whole situation most disturbing ("Unfortunate competition," March 30).
Morgan State is greatly concerned about the possibility of some keen competition for its MBA program from Towson.
But if the General Assembly should pass the legislation related to this dispute it is now considering, Morgan could be allowed to sue Towson.
If such an action should materialize, the unfavorable publicity would indeed be embarrassing to all Maryland's state universities and, in all probability, would also severely damage the reputation of Morgan.
Therefore, I strongly recommend that Gov. Martin O'Malley hold a meeting with both university presidents and their appropriate board and staff members, and take the necessary action to resolve this disagreement between Morgan and Towson professionally, definitively and peacefully in the interest of all concerned - particularly the students who wish to enroll in the MBA programs.
Quinton D. Thompson
Towson
Let state purchase ground rent rights
As a ground rent owner in Baltimore, I would like to propose a solution to this problem ("Senate passes bill to aid residents in purchase of ground rents," March 31).
Because a ground rent owner no longer has the option of seizing a home if the homeowner does not pay the yearly fee, why not have the state buy out all the ground rent owners at a fair market value?
Then the state could turn around and sell the land to the owners of the houses.
That sounds like a win-win situation to me.
Joyce Wright
Coral Springs, Fla.
Swift Boat donation sullied nominee
The current administration tries to win friends and influence voters with the battle cry of "freedom," conveniently forgetting its corollary, "responsibility."
So how delicious it was to read that Sen. John Kerry was able to pin a political donation of $50,000 on President Bush's choice to be ambassador to Belgium - a donation that helped finance the scurrilous Swift Boat Veterans for Truth during the 2004 election campaign ("Ambassadorial nomination withdrawn by White House," March 29).
And how refreshing it was to hear that the president had to withdraw the nomination in light of public knowledge about that candidate.
Martha G. Little
Baltimore
It's right to reject West Bank brutality
Thank you for The Sun's article "Grim image of Israeli occupation" (March 31).
This article told the story of a courageous and honest ex-soldier, part of a group called Breaking the Silence, who found a way to atone for the role he played in what he describes as indiscriminate deadly raids on a West Bank Palestinian population.
A sacred Jewish value is that life comes first, even before land.
As a Jew, it has been especially painful for me to read of the mistreatment of Palestinians subjected to acts of collective punishment for the crimes of others.
It is also painful to see the unwillingness of most American Jews to question the policies of the Israeli government - even while, as Americans, they are well able to question the reprehensible policies of their own U.S. government.
Devotion to a cause should not require blindness to the facts.
Thank you for reporting some of those facts and the story of Yehuda Shaul, who I believe is not a traitor but a real Jew.
Gwen L. DuBois
Baltimore
Arab intransigence keeps conflict alive
Once again, The Sun has chosen to show its bias on the Middle East in John Murphy's article "Grim image of Israeli occupation" (March 31).
While it is unfortunately true that Palestinians on the West Bank do suffer, that is not the result of the behavior of the Israeli leadership.
It is the fault of the Palestinian leadership, which refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the state of Israel, renounce violence and honor prior agreements.
When will everyone accept the fact that all Israel wants to do is live in peace among its neighbors?
Israel proved its intentions with Prime Minister's Ehud Barak's offer of a Palestinian state during talks at Camp David in 2000.
Until the Palestinian leadership is also willing to live in peace beside its neighbor, Palestinian civilians will continue to suffer.
Larry Feldman
Baltimore
Bay matters more than state shortfall
The Sun's editorial "The bay can't wait" (March 29) hit the nail on the head.
The Chesapeake Bay is Maryland's most important ecological, cultural and economic asset. It is more important than any structural deficits we Marylanders have brought on ourselves, and certainly more important than slots.
Without a healthy bay, all the other amenities Maryland offers will be of little value.
The people of Maryland, and the Senate of Maryland, for that matter, have a responsibility to restore the bay to a sustainable, healthy condition - not only for future generations of Marylanders but also for the future of the other species we humans share the bay with.
Bravo for The Sun's excellent editorial.
Alan Gephardt
Baltimore
The writer is a volunteer for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.