Dann needs to concentrate on more important matters

Dann needs to concentrateon more important matters
EDITOR:
Like so many pseudo-intellectual ideas, appointed state Sen. Marc Dann believes he can solve the problems of the political malaise rampant throughout the United States by passing another bill. This one would mandate that each college student in Ohio must take a course in government as a graduation requirement.
Sen. Dann, all seniors in high school already are mandated to take a government course in their senior year. What's the difference if you are 18 or 19 when you take the course?
Dr. William Jenkins of Youngstown State University points out that "75 percent of Americans with bachelor's degrees vote, and 82 percent are registered." States that have a college-mandated course don't do any better than that. Opportunity for a college education is the significant factor, not a duplication of subject matter on those already blessed in our society.
Perhaps the factors of low pay, bad housing and disillusionment with the political system keep the great masses away from the polls. I'm sure all the unemployed and troubled in our society take encouragement from this earth-shattering proposal to address their political malaise.
Senator, let us address hunger, drugs, slums and deprivation in all its forms, and stop wasting the public's time on unnecessary bills that would serve no purpose. Get to work and do the job they appointed you to do; fight to solve the real problems facing us in these perilous times, not the ones that superficially read nice but have no meat to them.
Gadzooks! Where did we and our public servants go wrong? Sen. Dann says of his bill, "It's important." No it isn't, Marc. A healthy economy with less unemployment, less poverty, less hopelessness ... now that is important. Get it?
ANDREW R. HAMADY
Poland
Berry laid foundationfor a new high school
EDITOR:
As a Youngstown resident, I believe that Plimpton Ross Berry (1835-1917), an African-American who for more than 40 years was a brick mason and architect in Youngstown who designed and built many landmark buildings, such as the Mahoning County Courthouse, the first Rayen School, Tod Mansion, the National City Bank Building and First Presbyterian Church, is truly deserving of his name being placed on a new high school.
I am a product of the Youngstown school system, along with all of my family members, relatives, friends and neighbors, who are black, white and Hispanic, as well as Christian, Muslim and Jewish.
We all agree that it is important that there be a role model for the new direction of the city school district with a large black student population.
We all urge the Youngstown school board and Superintendent Ben McGee to name the new high school after Berry.
WILLIE JAMES RICHARDS
Youngstown
Let's not overreactabout strip-searchesEDITOR:
There has been a public outcry about strip-searches conducted by the Warren Police Department. ("Warren Probe: Strip Searches Illegal," July 20)
The searches trouble me on several levels, but not because of a violation of any police protocol. Rather, we should always be concerned when "the rights of the accused" are held above common-sense standards of police conduct.
Warren is located in a corridor of high crime and drug traffic; as such, the strip-searches are not an unreasonable measure.
Before we get all self-righteous or call in the ACLU for one of their ridiculous lawsuits, ask yourself one question: If the strip-searches conducted by Warren police prevented one drug-related murder, weren't they worth it?
JASON C. REEHER
Grove City, Pa.