‘Remote only’ delegation meeting would have denied access to some

Rumors have floated that the Sullivan County delegation would meet in person on Friday to convene and organize. I received messages calling this action irresponsible considering the recent virus spikes. It would have been better if those folks had just asked instead of accusing. They were upset for nothing.

There is an option for a very limited number of the public to attend in person, and there will be no more than three representatives attending in person. They will do so not because of “personal preference” (one of the unfounded accusations), but rather because they don’t have the technology, connection or ability to join remotely.

This option is important because ZIP code, income, technology comfort level or connection should not be a limiting factor in who gets to participate in government. If you live somewhere rural, you may not have a good enough connection to stream video. I don’t have cell service at my house. Some have very slow internet and no cell service. This should not disqualify you from serving.

Likewise, New Hampshire guards its transparency laws vigorously. Your government has to operate out in the open, and this is protected by law. You can read it yourself here, and you should (www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/vi/91-A/91-A-mrg.htm). Everyone living in New Hampshire has this right, and connectivity is not an excuse for the government at any level to operate behind closed doors.

I encouraged all members of the delegation to participate remotely and I encourage all members of the public to participate remotely.

I was asked why I did not simply call a meeting that was remote only. The answer is simple: If you are unable to attend remotely, you must not be excluded from the process. For that reason, there should always be an in-person option and it should be used sparingly. That is what will happen on Friday, and all CDC and state protocols will be followed.

STEVEN D. SMITH

Charlestown

The writer represents the Sullivan 11 district in the New Hampshire House and is chair of the Sullivan County delegation.

UVM cuts gut curriculum

The heart of any university is its humanities curriculum. To eliminate classics, ancient history, modern languages and other humanities majors is to gut the core of what a university is.

There is a great push get students to take “STEM” courses — for science, technology engineering and mathematics. It should be “STEAM” courses — adding the arts and humanities so that people are informed, well-rounded contributing members of society.

Instead of pandering to this fad, the University of Vermont should be encouraging its science, math and engineering students to enroll in humanities courses. To be a real university, it must continue to offer all the disciplines.

SUSAN BROWN

Enfield

No mask: An open invitation

A biochemist friend of mine explained something I had not understood about the new coronavirus. She said the virus is not viable until it can get into a host, which enables it to replicate. So, if you are going around with your mouth and nose uncovered, you are in fact telling the virus, “Welcome, come on in.” It is just what it is looking for. Is that what you want?

MARTHA MANHEIM

Strafford

Thanks for Armenia support

I would like to thank the congressional delegations from Vermont and New Hampshire for their support of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Special thanks to House members from both states, and to the senators co-sponsoring support, including Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, who has traveled to the region, Bernie Sanders for his leadership support, and Patrick Leahy, along with both delegations, for his support of refugee relocation and genocide recognition.

HARVEY BAZARIAN

Hartford