Morgan shooting tragedy

It’s a travesty that there was a shooting at the Morgan State University campus (“Reactions mixed to Morgan State’s plan to build security barrier after campus shooting,” Oct. 12). In many instances, such shootings are perpetrated by people who are not students. Why can’t the local universities invest in high-tech powered lights to “saturate” the campus so that one cannot differentiate day from night? I would like to see not some, but many police kiosks on local college grounds. In the meantime, we are simply left to pray to our respective Higher Authorities that the local campuses remain places of higher learning, devoid of “incidents” like what occurred at Morgan State University.

— Patrick R. Lynch, Towson

Deny CSX permit

Over the past decades, Baltimore communities have demanded that state officials address the terrible health and environmental injustices of the coal export piers in South Baltimore with little success. We believe Gov. Wes Moore can show real leadership and finally help our communities.

The air quality in South Baltimore is among the most toxic in the country, and the ever-present soot from mountains of coal, piled up on nearby piers before export, is a major reason for the respiratory problems many community members experience on a daily basis. On top of that, coal is one of the largest contributors of greenhouse gases warming our planet. But CSX, the owner of this coal, has been allowed to operate in multiple violations of its permit to our detriment, including a failure to monitor methane gas, which led to a giant silo explosion in December 2021.

Most recently, state agency officials began meeting with community members to discuss the renewal of a 5-year operating permit for CSX that should have expired in September 2023. But we’ve heard little since. At a time when state officials are finalizing a climate report called the Climate Pathways report, Governor Moore has a big chance right now to both fulfill his climate pledge and his promise to leave no one behind. By denying this CSX permit until the company makes some dramatic changes to how it treats our communities, Gov. Moore can launch a bold new era in the state.

— Dave Arndt, Baltimore

Journalism is pandering

Sun editorial writer Peter Jensen was spot on in his recent article about the demise of journalism and the press (“Your future is tied to the future of journalism,” Oct. 10). When I was young, there were three major papers in Baltimore: The Morning Sun, The Evening Sun and the News-Post. There were also different daily editions, keeping up with the latest news. Newspapers were a nickel on weekdays, 15 cents on Sunday. Most of their profit came from local advertising.

Since 2004, over 2,500 local newspapers have folded; others face staffing cutbacks. Just recently the stalwart Washington Post offered buyouts to 240 members of its staff. Unfortunately, taking the place of traditional journalism today are media, both print and broadcast, that offer a warped perception of factual reporting. Mr. Jensen writes that, “If telling the news straight doesn’t sell … you can still make money by becoming an echo chamber of the MAGA crowd.” In other words, pander to your base, simply writing what it wants to read or hear.

This brought to mind a story told by the late Sen. Russell Long of Louisiana about a young schoolteacher seeking a job. “Tell me, young man,” said the president of the school board. “Do you believe that the Earth is round or that it is flat?” Replied the job seeker, “I don’t know, sir, but I can teach it either way.”

— Otts Laupus, Elkridge

Require financial literacy

Great article in today’s Sun relative to math and financial literacy on page 8 (“Financial literacy may pay dividends,” Oct. 12). Thirty states require the successful completion of a course on financial literacy in order to graduate. Maryland doesn’t. Why? Every year it seems, bills are submitted to the legislature in both the House and Senate requiring this, but they never get out of committee hearings because the Democrat-controlled chambers block their approvals. Excuses are they don’t want to dictate to the Maryland State Board of Education what courses are required, and they don’t want to give the Republicans a win. Maybe the Maryland State Department of Education and the Democrats should take the course themselves. And maybe it would help the state’s poor math results!

— Richard T. Webb, Parkton