Letters: Ohio State student journalists stood up for Kristina Johnson records and won

Proud of The Lantern

As a former editor of a college newspaper, albeit 47 years ago, I am so proud of the Ohio State University student newspaper, The Lantern for legally challenging and prevailing the University in the courts to obtain the former University president's separation agreement as a public record after the university denied the Lantern the document claiming "attorney-client privilege."

More: Kristina Johnson loses compensation if she speaks poorly of Ohio State, agreement says

Also, a "thumbs up" to the court for bucking the trend of public entities labeling documents "attorney-client privilege" as a means to deny the public and the press access to clearly public records.

Looking forward to future coverage by the Lantern and other local media revealing the total cost (internal and external) the University spent fighting the disclosure of this public record.  Way to shine Lantern staff.

Judith Ann Zimomra, Grove City

Nice, but we are still footing the bill

In the July 18 "Tierney: it's time to ‘focus on the future'," Brian X. Tierney said many positive things.

Somehow he didn’t mention that we Ohio utility customers are still footing the bill for two old, money-losing nuclear power plants, one of which is in Indiana.

More: Who is FirstEnergy's new CEO and what are his plans to move past HB 6 bribery scandal?

Tierney (and our governor as well as the state legislature) seem to think that the fleecing of Ohio taxpayers and utility customers brought about by House Bill 6 and Larry Householder and the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history, is OK.  Let’s repeal HB-6, Tierney.

Chet Ridenour Sr., Worthington

VA MIA for veterans

I believe there is an issue with veterans and their dependents not being adequately served at the Franklin County Veterans Service Commission.

It appears that they are MIA since the COVID pandemic when they were working from home. It was understandable then, but we are no longer in or under pandemic guidelines.

Veterans and their dependents in need of VA claims assistance do not have the ability to walk in to see a service officer as they did before COVID, and you cannot get a call through to make an appointment to physically see someone.

I assume taxpayers are paying for staff to sit at home five days a week drawing a paycheck while veterans needing VA claims assistance for disability, non-service-connected pension, burial claims, and survivor’s benefits are wondering who is out there to help them.

Solution: Re-establish the five-day workweek representation with veterans’ service officers at all of the veteran services buildings, including the VA hospital and in downtown Columbus.

If we're going to serve veterans in this county and state, then let's do it right!

Darrel Peaks, Delaware

Imagine President Jesse Jackson

Rev. Jesse Jackson has resigned from his leadership position at the Rainbow Push Coalition. It is impossible to turn back the pages of time but just imagine how our country would be different today if the Reverend had been elected President in 1984.

More: Rev. Jesse Jackson will retire, relinquishing longtime civil rights leadership role

Michael Oser, Columbus

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State student journalists stood up for former Kristina Johnson records and won