Thursday's letters: New College trustee wrong to accuse student of battery

Spitting charge against student unfounded

I am writing in response to the article regarding charges of battery against the New College student.

I think it is extremely important to note that Board Trustee Christopher Rufo doxed the student accused in the incident, making their personal information public and opening the student up to harassment and personal attacks.

Gov. Ron DeSantis showed up on the day in question without notice to sign his heinous bills. The students still managed to organize and protest, causing several – including the student in question – to suffer heatstroke.

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Rufo taunted the group as he exited, blowing kisses at them, but they were kept at a safe distance by police.

Rufo has harassed students in person and belittled and insulted faculty, parents and students at board meetings and on social media.

In addition, Rufo is profiting from his online Substack subscription publication. He is not fulfilling his fiduciary duty or behaving ethically as a trustee, and several complaints have been filed against him with the Florida Board of Governors.

I am disgusted by this unfounded and unwarranted legal attack on a student. Threats to students and intimidation tactics bring out parental mama-bears and strategic counterattacks from well-funded alumni.

This will not go well for you, Mr. Rufo!

Tamara Solum, Sarasota

Grandfather a role model for us all

The July 10 letter from a proud grandfather should be required reading for everyone, especially the increasingly intolerant anti-LGBTQ movement that has gained steam under our absentee governor, Ron DeSantis.

The author’s 18-year-old grandchild has found happiness as a transgender female. He loves his grandchild, “a gentle, caring and kind child who has never caused harm to anyone.”

Can’t we all just be happy that a person has been allowed to become whom she always wanted to be, and that her loving family is proud of her?

And whose business is it anyway when a person is happy and kind and productive and free to live how they want?  Every single person I know (and I know a lot of people) knows and loves a member of our LGBTQ community.

And to the Moms for Liberty, please know that no one is “grooming" your kid to be gay. Firearms and drowning are what you should be worried about if you really want to protect Florida’s children.

Thanks to the letter writer and the vast majority of Americans who oppose the unpopular and hateful policies Gov. DeSantis is attempting to impose upon Florida, and the GOP is trying to ram down the throats of our nation.

Con Nicholas, Sarasota

United we stand and soar like an eagle

One of the patriotic musings that stuck with me during our Fourth of July celebration was the majestic symbol of the soaring American eagle.

But this glorious image is not sustainable when the bird becomes too dependent on one wing. It cannot soar or even get off the ground. Only a functional left and right wing allow for sustained flight. 

I fear the same holds true for the political metaphor that strives for altruistic, patriotic goals but falls far short when dragged down by nationalistic mindsets that prove divisive, mean-spirited and nonempathetic to those holding different viewpoints.

Our eagle will never soar when our entrenched powers ignore majority-held positions, hide behind gerrymandered supermajority legislative bodies and avoid transparency and accountability through “shadow dockets” or the failure of elected and appointed officials to accept minimum ethical standards.

Let the eagle soar and freedom ring! Our children deserve no less!

Bob Robinson, Venice

Tranquil union could slip from our grasp

Tranquility and welfare: These two promised tenets in the 52-word Preamble of the Constitution have tormented our nation for over 200 years. In 2021, a handful of men and women brought us ever so close to a failed democracy; a precious few pulled us from the brink by the skin of their teeth.

Had the Jan. 6 anarchists succeeded, our rights would fade away − gone like a setting sun. Who knows if another Washington, Lincoln, or FDR would rise to lead our way once more?

Consider a candidate offering this platform: Set term limits on all appointed or elected individuals, let mathematics set House district borders and limit annual public donations to $1,000 per citizen 18 years or older.

Only the top two parties would receive U.S. government election funding. No other political backing allowed.

There are 179 judgeships in the U.S. Courts of Appeals. Let these seasoned professionals select or remove the U.S. attorney general. How can checks and balances serve independently if the executive and legislative branches control the judicial branch?

If we want a “more perfect union,” tranquility and welfare need our help. It is our vote that can make the difference – or not!

Jim Tuggle, Sarasota

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New College trustee-student body relationship hits new low