Grade changing is nothing new

There is nothing new about the deans at Marshall making chages to grades. In the mid '70's, I was teaching criminal justice at MU. Two male students were on my list of students, but I never laid eyes on them. At the end of the semester, I gave both a grade of "F." I was contacted by a dean and told that I could not fail them because they were "star athletes."

I told the dean that I would not recognize them if they were standing in front of me and that I would not change the grade I had given them. I was told that he would have to make the change so the two "athletes" could continue on the team.

Paul D. Harvey

Barboursville

Fox News despised for reason: opinions

Journalism was once a highly respected profession -- using Walter Cronkite as a model -- but Rush Limbaugh destroyed the credibility of the press by sensationalizing the news with his ridiculing people, name calling and racist remarks.

On the 13th birthday of Fox News, Bill O'Reilly asked, why do people despise us?

Sticking to Fox News, because O'Reilly asks the question, they bring the hate on themselves.

In O'Reilly's own words, there is no question that FNC leans toward the right. Many news programs simply recite the day's events. That will not cut it any more. You have to give viewers something unique and entertaining.

If FNC has become an extension of Comedy Central, they should advertise as such and viewers would know not to take seriously such buffoons as Hannity and Beck.

Fox News admits to opinionating 24/7. You would think FNC's O'Reilly, Hannity and Beck would stay away from such tactics, but it seems ratings are more important than truth being paramount.

O'Reilly on Beck: Here's a guy with an opinion. He's not a journalist, he's just a guy. Dictionary meaning of opinion -- a view not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.

Fox is not balancing out ideas. It has taken a position to get the president, and it shows in its broadcasts.

Opinion is not news. It's buffoonism at its worst. Fox's Hannity wants to awake Iran and North Korea. As O'Reilly would say, "you know, something just a guy would say." Something a guy like Charlie Manson would suggest.

Fox News has divided the nation on all issues to the point of no return to normalcy just to be unique and entertaining.

They chose the Limbaugh talk-radio model -- instead of the Cronkite mode.

Steve Kopa

Weirton, W.Va.

Beck appreciated for views, personality

What I like about Glenn Beck is that he is transparent about his own problems with alcohol and attention deficit disorder. He is overcoming these problems with the love of God and family and good counsel. Glenn helps others with his humbleness.

I appreciate Glenn for saying what we need most as individuals is to get on a right relationship with God.

Glenn is humble but he loves himself, too. The 9/12 project makes sense to me, because on 9/12/01 were were united in our grief about the terrorist attack on our soil.

I appreciate Glenn's sense of humor. Glenn has read more about our founding fathers and the writing of the Constitution than I have. I see Glenn as a man who loves his country and exercises his God-given right to speak freely.

Glenn has written three books that I know of and all three were on the New York Times best seller list.

Ruth A. Bragg

Huntington

Stores casualties of past mistakes

Once again we hear the cries of the businesses in downtown Huntington. George H. Wright has been the latest casualty.

In the past, the old money of Huntington did not want an interstate highway congesting its downtown area. Second, in 1980 they had a choice of constructing a new mall in Huntington, but once again the old money said no, and thus we now have 10 of 34 storefronts empty on 4th Avenue, and now after 30 years the old money has closed its doors.

They made their beds and now must sleep in them. The sad thing is that new business in Huntington will be unable to survive because of a mall that could have been Huntington's and a highway that would have made it more accessible from other areas. Sorry, Huntington, but you lose.

Daniel Isaacs

Barboursville

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