PUBLIC VIEWPOINT: Community College Has Credibility Issue

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — There seem to be several things NorthWest Arkansas Community College does consistently. One is to raise tuition every year and the other is to get itself in trouble regarding money matters.

Let me explain. Several years ago they doled out raises to top administrators despite the fact the state of Arkansas said they could not do this. The college went on to feebly explain why they did this - additional job responsibilities, yada, yada.

Now, it seems the college cannot get paying its taxes on time or correctly. Again, lame excuses come out from the administration.

It seems time for a complete leadership change at the college beginning withthe current president who, thank goodness, is retiring in the not-too-distant future.

Next, they need to get someone in the fi nancial arena who understands something other than raising tuition. Something as simple as paying income taxes on time. Until the college cleans its house, there will be a credibility issue hanging over its head.

PETE RATHMELL / Garfield

NOT A LIAR, NOT A WHINER

I would like to thank Mr. Steve Hill for his letter (June 3) accusing me of being a liar, a hypocrite and a whiner. He seemsto think lies do not count and they are and should be part of free speech and the American way. Lying can be slander, libel or perjury. It is also against one of God’s commandments.

I want to point out Mr. Hill’s uncivil, accusing tirades against me. I did not demand an apology from the newspaper for printing Mr. David Lawrence’s letter of April 29. I just pointed out that it did print someone’s lies and hate against the president of the United States. Refer to Mr. Louis Houston’s letter (May 14) pointing out the same, that Mr. Lawrence’s letter had bogus facts and implied that our president is an evil man.

I did not imply that all gun owners were nuts. I am a gun owner and learned to usemany guns when I served in the U.S. Army. My reference was only to the gun owners who have threatened the life of our president verbally or physically.

Mr. Hill’s whining nonsense against my free speech should classify him as a holier-than-thou hypocrite.

If a conservative or liberal expresses false facts and outright lies for political purposes, then anyone should have the free speech right to question them.

If political propagandists can get away with lies then many gullible people will believe them. Dictators around the world have used that method as well as Rush Limbaugh.

RICHARD SNIVELY / Fayetteville