University of Baltimore professor Jennifer Keohane’s tolerance and support (as expressed in her Dec. 20 op-ed, “DeVos' UB speech rings hollow”) for the recent incivility and intolerance of a bunch of ill-mannered graduates who stood with their backs turned during Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ commencement address is a disgrace. If this is a reflection of the kind of graduates your university’s heavily-taxpayer-funded educational efforts turn out, then UB is a waste of taxpayer money. Your condoning and supporting this type of student behavior is counterproductive to the mission of higher education in a democracy to promote respect for the free exchange of ideas and opinions.
This type of incivility seems to be a growing reflection of the failed public educational system. Further, it confirms my and others’ opinions that UB continues to operate as a third-rate university.
Jim Russell, Ellicott City