Letters: Xavier petition based on Deters' record not cancel culture

Regarding the March 26 guest editorial by Judge Megan Shanahan, "Don't let Xavier become the next Intolerance U": I was taken aback by Megan Shanahan’s opinion about "cancel culture" at Xavier, and even more so by the fact that she is a candidate for the Ohio Supreme Court. Her comments about the petition against state Supreme Court Justice Joe Deters as "justice in residence" reflect an extreme right-wing culture that has captivated many supporters of the Republican Party.

I happen to know the student who initiated the petition, and it was his honest conviction that Deters’ record did not merit the appointment. This has generated healthy discussion and debate. Do we want our educational institutions not to question, not to have students and faculty think critically? I taught at a similar university for 29 years, and similar debates arose about administrative actions. It is all part of normal life not only in higher education, but in other domains of society where conflicts arise.

When Justice Deters comes to the Xavier campus, I hope he and his critics have a constructive conversation about their differences.

Ruth Bamberger, Ludlow, Ky.

Republicans seem of 2 minds on parental rights

The Republican Party can't seem to make up their mind if parents have rights or not. On one hand, they have sponsored the Parents Bill of Rights Act. It's main purpose is for parents to be able to intervene in a school district's curriculum. In other words, an authorization to ban books and restrict equality for transgender students. On the other hand, there are a record number of state bills taking away a parent's right to make medical decisions with their transgender child and qualified medical doctors. For a party that claims to want less government, they sure are set on having more.

Melinda Lampke, Covington

Why are non-Xavier teachers signing anti-Deters petition?

So let me get this straight. Judge Meghan Shanahan states in her March 26 op-ed that the media reports that some of the 636 signatures of the anti-Deters petition at Xavier University aren't even students. Then in rebuttal, an assistant professor of English at the University of Cincinnati, no less, (R.J. Boutelle) confirms this is true by admitting he also signed the petition as a teacher. Not a teacher at Xavier, but at UC. Let's up the ante and see if we can get a "University of Somewhere" president to also sign it. And people wonder why I can't stand UC. It's not the Bearcats, it's some of the instructors there.

Gene Burchell, Edgewood, Ky.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Letters: Xavier petition based on Deters' record not cancel culture