After president’s departure, University of Florida deserves an ‘F’ for being a GOP tool | Opinion

Sasse’s b-boying

My proud university gets an ‘F’ for out of control leadership and for being a GOP tool. Exit Ben Sasse, former University of Florida president, as bad as the Olympic Australian breaker dancer scam. Turns out subversive behavior and political operations in Gainesville and Paris show a pattern of abuses.

While the Independent Florida Alligator started the investigation in October 2023 into slush funds pouring out of the UF president’s office, only now has more evidence of shady practices been shared across the state. The GOP brotherhood has spread into Florida’s higher education with the help of Gov. Ron DeSantis and the “don’t ask, don’t tell” philosophy. Just look at the appointments of university presidents and trustees who have sent a chilling message to students, instructors and staff.

Sasse quit recently. Perhaps things were getting a bit too swampy for him once a light was shined in his direction.

Frequently unsavory characters in Florida government are swept under the rug. I’m still waiting to see if the state senate shadow candidate scam by Frank Artiles and his GOP leaders, who said they “did it” will come to justice.

Sasse and others with political aspirations have hurt the university. Break dance on your on dime.

George L. Ellis,

Miami

Eyes on the kids

My heart breaks as another child drowns in South Florida. It only took a second for a child to wander off while the adult family member got distracted. Three-year-old Malaysia Dantzler became the latest victim as she drowned at a lake at Amelia Earhart Park recently during a birthday party.

Whenever there is a body of water or a pool near where children are playing, a minimum of two adults should be assigned to watch each child. It would also be a good idea for the children to wear a swim vest around water just in case they do wander off unnoticed.

There are numerous community organizations that offer swimming lessons for free or a small fee. The National Drowning Prevention Alliance, ndpa.org, has useful resources and educational literature for parents and caretakers. These include implementing the five layers to prevent drowning: barriers/alarms, supervision, water competency, life jackets and emergency preparation.

A little precaution and watchful eyes would go a long way to prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again.

Jacqueline Gutstein,

Miami

‘Talk is cheap’

Miami-Dade County School Board Vice Chair Monica Colucci’s comment regarding vouchers to private schools being an opportunity for public schools to become better is a perfect example of “talk is cheap.” Taking money from schools with students of little means to give to private schools is plain wrong.

Attending a private/religious school is a choice that should not affect others. Private voucher-supported schools are appearing seemingly every two blocks. That is a lot of money being depleted from the public sector.

Otto Zequeira, a MAST Academy teacher, is correct when he sees vouchers as a way to “divide people.” I have close relatives of very good means using vouchers for their children to attend religious schools. We do not discuss the voucher topic.

Teresa Fernandez,

South Miami

Transit wreck

I certainly appreciate the opportunity to vote on whether we feel that Miami-Dade County should expand its existing rapid mass transit system.

I only wish we would have been given the opportunity to vote on whether we really needed to subject our city to the construction of those arches on I-395.

How could we have used those millions to improve our current commuting nightmares?

Josie Oteiza,

Miami

Bad service?

A recent news report stated that the U.S. Secret Service is reducing the number of agents protecting President Joe Biden to provide more agents to former President Donald Trump.

What is going on in this country when someone as undesirable as Trump is more important that our president?

Who is running the Secret Service?

Carol Hamilton,

Miami Springs

Some more dollars

The price of groceries, an issue that affects every working American, remains much higher now than before the coronavirus pandemic. The initial cause was the disruption the pandemic created in our supply chain for so many products.

Today, the pandemic is over but prices remain much higher than they were before it occurred.

Is this still a supply chain issue or is it just plain old corporate greed?

Publix, the second largest employer in Florida, posted a 49% growth in earnings in fiscal 2023. Publix’s sales for the three months ending in March 30, 2024 were $15.1 billion, a five percent increase from $14.3 billion in 2023.

Vice President Kamala Harris talked about price gouging in her address on proposed policy changes in her administration if elected. Online, I immediately started seeing right wing posters crying “communist” and “socialist” on her comments about getting corporations to charge working Americans fair prices.

We are all in this together and the rich corporate owners need to understand that their blind pursuit of only profit is hurting real American families.

Can they morally justify this to themselves for the sake of a few more dollars in their pockets?

Ray Belongie,

Fort Lauderdale

Voting rights

Bea Hines’ Aug. 18 Neighbors column, “Trump’s ‘You don’t have to vote again’ mocks rights battles,” was excellent and on target. May her words resonate with many people.

Kathy Terry,

Coral Gables

Pants on fire?

We all know Vice President Kamala Harris’ stance on the economy, inflation, border security, taxes and foreign policy. Now, as she is running for president, she is doing a 180 on them.

Was she lying then or is she lying now?

Jay Kaba,

Miami

Revealing plans

I usually enjoy reading Bea Hines’ Sunday columns in the Herald Neighbors. Not this Sunday.

Instead of going on and on about former President Donald Trump’s lack of qualifications, why not inform our readers of Vice President Kamala Harris’ plans for her presidency?

Democrats need to explain to a mostly uninformed public the issues that their candidate promises to improve or solve. Trump has already spoken about his plans enough.

The Herald’s influential writer could have taken advantage of the opportunity to inform the readers on such an important and relevant topic.

Marilu Galvez,

Kendall

These countries?

Former President Donald Trump has taken to branding Vice President Kamala Harris as “communist” for wanting things like universal health care.

Using deranged Trumpian standards, here are just a few of the “communist” countries that not only have universal health care but are also higher ranking on the human wellness index than the United States: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Australia, Liechtenstein, Belgium, Finland, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada and Luxembourg.

Darrell P. Arnold,

Surfside

Facts only

Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, should not do one debate without instant fact-checking. Defending oneself against lies does not make for a great debate over substance. The MAGA team does not operate with facts.

I try to listen to MAGA and it is getting more difficult because with every lift in the polls for the Harris-Walz ticket, their rhetoric gets worse.

Fact-checking should be a prerequisite in this arena.

Linda Gefen,

Boca Raton

Not so happy

With a record high level of suicides in the United States, it doesn’t seem that Democrats’ current political platform of “Joy” or “bringing back the joy,” has ever been evenly distributed during their control of our country.

Richard K. Claycomb,

Wilton Manors