Pelini should apologize for use of vulgarities about women

Pelini should apologize for use of vulgarities about women

When Donald Sterling’s racist comments were secretly taped and later made public, he was forced to sell his NBA team and justifiably there was public outrage. When Bo Pelini’s sexist comments were secretly taped and later made public, he held onto a severance package of up to $7.6 million, and his photo was on the front page of the website for Youngstown State University, where he will be on the payroll.

People may say that he just has a foul mouth and that everyone talks like that in football. This is problematic because language matters. What does it mean that calling someone extremely vulgar names for female genitalia is the worst possible insult? Is possessing female genitalia the most degrading of conditions? When people in positions of power, such as teachers or coaches, use such derogatory terms to describe someone they hate, this reduces women to a body part, and to a lowly objectified thing which is to be loathed and hated.

Now that we as a nation are finally talking about penalties for domestic abuse in the NFL and gang rape in fraternity houses, can we not also start up a dialogue about how misogynistic language has an insidious effect on our attitudes about gender and gender relations? I’d like to see some more public outrage (especially in Youngstown), rather than amusement or dismissiveness, about this type of behavior. If racist comments should not be tolerated, then why should sexist comments be?

As mothers and fathers, professors, professionals in the community, and advocates for girls and women, that type of language degrades girls and women. It’s also not healthy for boys and men.

We feel a public apology, specific to using negative language toward women, is warranted, because boys and girls everywhere are watching and learning from him. In our opinion, that type of behavior, left unchecked, promotes negative attitudes towards girls and women. With domestic violence and sexual assault deeply embedded in the fabric of our society, it is our job as parents, coaches, teachers, professors, and professionals to show respect for girls and women. All of our daughters deserve to be respected, and all of our sons deserve to be taught how to respect girls and women.

Diana Palardy, Youngstown

Palardy is director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program at Youngstown State University.

By his failure to say ‘no’ to Bo, Tressel acts like football coach

I believe Jim Tressel missed a chance to show that he had really graduated from a football coach to a university president when he allowed the hire of Bo Pelini.

Tressel’s background is prominently that of a football coach. He claimed to have made mistakes while at Ohio State and vowed to learn from them. Knowing his football players violated NCAA rules and allowing them to play anyway was mistake No. 1. Lying to the NCAA about his knowledge of any violations was mistake No. 2. Although he was probably a scapegoat for the athletic department in his ousting, he vowed to learn from his mistakes.

Fast forward to two weeks ago. Now he is the president of YSU. His job is to do what is best for the university. YSU announces the hiring of Bo Pelini and, the same day, Nebraska media leak an audio tape of Bo’s exit meeting with his players. Bo probably had good intent at this meeting. He truly seems to care for his players and they for him. But the meeting deteriorates into a personal tirade against the athletic department and specifically his ex-boss, the athletic director. It deteriorates further when he stoops to calling the athletic director two vulgarities for female genitalia.

Some say this was just locker room talk. They were not in a locker room. He just called his ex-boss and these players’ current boss the worst names in the book. This was not the first time Bo was taped tirading.

Although Nebraska’s timing of the release of this audio was sneakily the same day as YSU’s announcement of the hiring, he had not signed a contract yet. Here is where Tressel needed to step in and be a president instead of a football coach. Pelini would be a good football coach if wins and losses were all that mattered. But as a president what is best for the university is what matters. Tressel was supposed to have learned from his mistakes. He made his mistakes to increase the chances of the football team winning. Imagine that Nebraska had just fired a history professor and during his last class he called the chair of the department these words. Would YSU hire him? I don’t think so.

I do want YSU football to be a success, like everyone else. But this move reeks of desperation. What message does it send to the current professors who are in negotiations with YSU? What message does it send to the students, parents of students, and the community? Other coaches out there could win at YSU and be respectful at the same time.

Jim Tressel did not learn from his mistakes. He is still acting like a football coach and not a university president. He should have said ‘‘no” to Bo.

Ron Prizant, Poland

Don’t quash freedoms of students by forbidding concerts in churches

A recent letter to the editor ostracized school choir concerts performed in church settings. The writer found fault with religious aspects that students would be subjected to (of course, choir members would be excused if necessary).

Factually, the American Civil Liberties Union is comprised of non-believers with like viewpoints intended to change our way of life. After the proposed ban of concerts in the church — what next? The music itself? (Fair to assume the music is Christmas carols.) This is followed by the defense of freedom of speech.

Caution to the wise — fear not that “students must be protected from freedom of religion” but from unjust atheistic attitudes and restrictive intervention of our freedoms.

Delores Falgiani, Boardman

Music program in 7th grade had lasting impact on woman

I am writing regarding the recent letter of Samantha Basista on arts in the schools.

Lansing, Mich.’s, school system afforded incoming seventh graders to junior high school, an opportunity to select a music program. This program provided beginning music classes for an instrument of choice. How fortunate for me personally as my dream was to learn to play the flute with hopefully better results than four years of piano lessons.

We learned to read music, how to play together, and fundamentals to further our causes to play the instruments of choice.

As life progressed and I had the benefit of private lessons in addition to the school classes, I learned enough that I was encouraged by both public school teachers and private lesson teachers to pursue a musical career on a professional level.

That did not happen; however by having the choice of a music class starting back in the seventh grade, as life went on, I had enough of a foundation that eventually gave me the opportunity to play in four orchestras, many solo appearances and on and on.

My life became richer and more meaningful to me thanks to having been able to have a music class in a public school system.

All students should have the benefit of music and/or art as I had, so that in the future, he or she can write of a wonderful enhancement to life as I have done.

Shirley A. Bartlett, Austintown