UTC grad ashamed after reporter fired
When UTC fired Jacqui Hilbert from WUTC radio for doing a story about high school students from a Bradley County gay-straight alliance group meeting with elected officials to express their concerns about the transgender “bathroom bill,” that action was absolutely outrageous and completely unconscionable.
The university, which is supposed to stand for freedom of inquiry, murdered its own credibility. The stated justification that she did not adequately identify herself as a reporter is a transparent fig leaf – it fools no one and conceals nothing.
This was naked exercise of power pushed by one or more bullies offended by a story (the politicians) and accepted by a coward afraid to lose funding (the university). I graduated from UTC, and now I’m ashamed of the school. A university that can’t stand against this kind of pressure does not deserve our respect.
An elected official who wants to use this kind of power, or who is not willing to have a public meeting with constituents go on the record does not deserve the office.
Rich Bailey
***
Look up ‘liar’ to understand Trump
To better understand the president, Google “define a compulsive liar.”
To me, he appears to meet all the requirements.
Edward A. Rouse, Ooltewah
***
Outcomes important in health care choice
With all the discussion of the Affordable Care Act versus the American Health Care Act, no one seems to be concerned with the ultimate goal of health insurance – a nation of healthier citizens. It is not access or mandates that should concern us, but outcomes. Are Americans healthier and how does good health affect our lives?
Four years is a relatively short time, but has anyone looked at infant mortality rates, obesity rates in children, pregnancies carried to full term, diabetics successfully managing their disease? Are bankruptcy rates lower, hospital emergency rooms seeing fewer visits for minor conditions, hospitals writing off fewer unpaid accounts? Are school attendance rates rising, disability claims dropping or employee absenteeism declining?
These are questions in search of answers.
The ACA has been in force only a few years, but surely some data is available. The ACA is supported by the American Medical Association and AARP. Perhaps they have answers.
Clare M. Sawyer, Soddy-Daisy
***
UTC buckled under pressure
I am shocked and dismayed to read last Saturday’s story headlined “Reporter is fired after lawmakers make complaints.”
How pathetic that UTC officials allow themselves to be influenced by some Republican politicians to fire a young reporter. Are we living in Putin’s Russia? What happened to basic rights? Has UTC stopped serving as an educational institution? What are we trying to teach young people?
I hope my retiree colleagues as well as the UTC faculty will express their outrage, condemn this stupidity and insist that the young reporter be reinstated with a full apology.
Fouad Moughrabi