Tuesday's letters: Former president calls out State College over rejection of artwork

Ex-president: Censorship at SCF appalling

As a former president of State College of Florida, I find it offensive and backward leaning that the school’s leadership has chosen to remove artwork that celebrates diversity.

SCF has always been a place for intellectual discernment and growth, thoughtful reflection and widening the width and breadth of the students’ ability to grapple with the world around them.

More:Art exhibit canceled after objections to 'diversity' and 'inclusion'

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Art is but one way to help educate and challenge students’ thinking, offering them the ability to see and experience things for themselves by opening up a world that is beyond the confines of one particular thought, philosophy or ideal.

To remove art, especially centered on issues of diversity, is to limit thought and the growth of empathy, insight and wisdom. We are doing a terrible disservice when we limit higher education to a small box of hateful, mean-spirited and fearful thought and curriculum.

Lars A. Hafner, St. Petersburg, fifth president, State College of Florida

See outdoor art exhibit, judge for yourself

I was shocked and frankly scared when I read “Diversity art exhibit is pulled from display" Feb. 17, about Embracing Our Differences canceling its show at State College of Florida.

Attending is one of the most moving experiences one can have. To see students and teachers from around the world exhibit art depicting love and tolerance is remarkable.

Each billboard-size painting is accompanied by a beautiful quote. I was so impressed with this exhibit that I suggested my hometown do something similar.

More:State College objects to artworks in outdoor display

I must say, watching Gov. Ron DeSantis’ attacks on education and his underlying fear of diversity, I worry about the future of Florida and our country.

Everyone, please take the opportunity to see one of these exhibits. I am confident you will be moved as I was. If you agree, speak out so we can continue to be a welcoming and tolerant society. What is DeSantis so scared of?

Kenneth Olshansky, M.D., San Rafael, California

Elections chief encourages vote by mail

Sarasota County citizens should be grateful to have a forward-thinking supervisor of elections. Thanks to his office, registered voters in the county just received a postage-paid, preaddressed card to both verify their current address and request a vote-by-mail ballot for elections through Dec. 31, 2024.

Many voters don’t know that prior vote-by-mail requests were sunsetted by the Florida Legislature. Even though we registered to vote by mail for “all subsequent elections,” these requests have expired. We will not receive mail ballots for the important 2024 elections unless we make a new request.

More info:Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office

Thanks to Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner’s office, voters in Sarasota County have an easy, convenient card to use to make this newly required request.

Marie Keeney, Sarasota

County’s defiance should anger DeSantis

In a Feb. 14 story about Manatee County becoming a Second Amendment sanctuary, it was revealed that the Manatee County commissioners unanimously voted to support a resolution stating that local officials will not enforce any federal or state gun measures.

Will Gov. Ron DeSantis suspend local officials who don’t enforce the laws, as he did with former Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren? DeSantis accused Warren of “incompetence and willful defiance of his duties.”

More:Manatee County to become a 'Second Amendment sanctuary'

What actions had Warren taken? He signed two letters, one pledging to avoid enforcing the new law preventing abortions after 15 weeks and the other protesting the criminalization of transgender people.

I’m not a lawyer but pledging not to enforce gun laws sounds like willful defiance to me. However, I’m not going to hold my breath waiting for our governor to suspend any Manatee County officials, are you?

Michelle Golden, Sarasota

Don’t move City Hall, police station

It seems that the city of Bradenton is determined to sell City Hall and the police station. That would incur a lot of debt to rebuild those buildings in another place.

More:Five developments will transform downtown Bradenton

I deem it prudent that those buildings be left alone. I think it would be more practical, since we have a functioning City Hall and Police Department, to pay attention to the sidewalks and streets in our fair city.

Joel V. Henry Sr., Bradenton

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Ex-president offended by censorship at SCF, Haley gives up senior vote