Civility and respect

Civility and respect seem to be lost concepts these days among some University of Iowa faculty with their treatment of our new president, Bruce Harreld. As a proud UI alum (J.D. ’87) and a member of the Presidential Search Committee, which recommended four finalists to the state Board of Regents, I was shocked, saddened, and frankly embarrassed by the conduct of the UI faculty and Faculty Senate in how they treated Harreld during his campus interview and repeatedly after he was selected as the 21st UI president. Everyone is entitled to her or his opinion and has the right to voice it, and I understand why the faculty may have preferred to have a fellow academic as their president. But enough already — the regents have chosen Harreld, and it’s now time to move forward.

Huge challenges confront higher education in Iowa and across the country. Reduced federal and state funding, higher tuition, increased competition and rapid technology shifts are all front and center. I salute the regents for their courageous decision to pick a strong business leader in Harreld to help manage these issues and lead Iowa forward.

On Oct. 13, Harreld delivered a message to the entire UI community on why he came to Iowa. It is very positive and inclusive. He is reaching out to his detractors and deserves a chance to succeed instead of being repeatedly attacked before he even begins his job as our new president. Now that opinions have been voiced, it’s time for the UI faculty and the Faculty Senate to stop being part of the problem and start becoming part of the solution. It’s time for the UI faculty, staff, and students to work together with the new administration and move forward in unison to make a great university even greater.

Jeff Courter

Much needed change in the City Council

This November, voters have a chance to elect a City Council that plans Iowa City’s future more wisely. A council that supports responsible development, not the current kind that deepens city debt, overcrowds downtown with luxury high-rises, and encroaches on residential neighborhoods. A council that demands higher sustainability standards and more affordable housing units in new construction projects, not settles for the minimum. Four candidates will give us that council: Jim Throgmorton and Rockne Cole (both at-large), Pauline Taylor (District A), and John Thomas (District C).

In addition, each advocates greater openness and inclusiveness in city government, pledging to listen seriously to residents’ concerns before making decisions. Councilor Throgmorton has already distinguished himself by considering all points of view, not just those of city staff or the business community, before casting his vote. Cole, a local attorney, has spoken out forcefully on building, zoning, and affordable housing, among other issues.Thomas, a former member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, offers experience and expertise to back his message of sustainable, socially responsible, and fiscally sound growth. Taylor’s years as a nurse and union activist have instilled in her the patience, negotiating skill, understanding of compromise, and willingness to listen that a councilor needs.

The culture of City Council must change. Iowa City needs to grow not just in height but in breadth, becoming a more diverse, inclusive community that seeks the best for all its citizens, not just some. Jim Throgmorton, Rockne Cole, John Thomas, and Pauline Taylor represent that much-needed change.

Phil Beck

Tim Conroy for City Council

I wish to express my support for Tim Conroy, an at-large City Council candidate. Knowing Tim as I do, I am confident that he will help make this community one that I will want to live in for many years to come.

Tim will cut through the rhetoric associated with the divisive issues facing our community. Tim makes informed decisions that rely on a variety of perspectives and objective data; his thoughtful, analytical approach to problem solving is what this community needs from its leaders.

As a Realtor, Tim works with a range of clients along the socioeconomic spectrum and must represent each of their interests to the best of his ability. Tim understands the power of real estate development to transform a community on many levels, from tax base to job creation to affordable housing options and community amenities. Tim can fairly evaluate current and future development options while respecting Iowa City’s rich history.

Finally, having grown up in the Iowa Writers’ Workshop with his father as the program’s longtime director, Tim has a profound appreciation for the arts and will support programs that grow our community’s reputation as a revered Midwestern hub for arts and culture.

For these reasons and many more, Tim Conroy is an ideal choice for City Council.

Daniel Matheson