To the editor: UT takes cheap shot at mayor

5/21/2018

The president, athletic director, and trustees at the University of Toledo can’t be serious concerning their criticism of Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz for presenting a key to the city of Toledo to University of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh. 

It was a class move by the mayor to recognize that  Mr. Harbaugh raised $100,000 on behalf of those in the area who need legal support and representation. The mayor presented a key to Mr. Harbaugh even though the mayor is a die-hard Ohio State fan.

Criticism arose because the mayor did not present a key to the city to University of Toledo football coach Jason Candle for the Rockets’ championship season. 

Mr. Kapszukiewicz did not take the oath of office until January 2. The Rockets completed their season with an embarrassing loss to Appalachian State before he took office.

Prior championship coaches at the University of Toledo have not been given such an honor. 

Such names as Lauterbur, Murphy, Stobart, Pinkel, Saban, Amstutz, and many others never received a key for their coaching achievements. I don’t recall Sharon Gaber or UT athletic director Mike O’Brien singling out any other mayors for not honoring other successful UT coaches.

I am sure that should Urban Meyer, Brian Kelly, Luke Fickell, or any other individual do something as significant to benefit Toledoans as Mr. Harbaugh did the mayor will recognize his or her action too.

Ms. Gaber, Mr. O’Brien, and others at the University of Toledo should be ashamed of themselves. 

Actions like theirs have caused the university to acquire the nickname “Bancroft High.” Their lack of professionalism and their sour grapes attitude dealt Mr. Kapszukiewicz an undeserved cheap shot.

JAMES F. REILLY
Sylvania

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Iran deal was not legally binding

The upset over the Iran deal is misplaced. 

News reports say that neither the Iranian parliament nor Ayatollah Khamenei signed or ratified the deal. 

So what we  had was a verbal agreement with no force of law.  This reflects badly on John Kerry’s tenure as secretary of state. Therefore, Iran has always been free to pursue nuclear weapons. 

This whole episode amounts to “much ado about nothing.” It was an executive order signed by former President Barack Obama and easily undone by the next president

To be a treaty, it would have needed to go before the Senate where it was doomed. News reports said more than 60 senators opposed it. The Senate needed a two-thirds vote to ratify it, or 67 out of 100.

JAMES MORIARTY, SR. 
Sylvania

Cabinet members hurt departments

A simple solution would be to eliminate “pothole” and officially re-name them as random inverted speed bumps. A nice touch would be to post signs in problem areas warning drivers who choose to drive at the posted speed would do so at their own risk.

NED PLUMMER
West Toledo