This summer we marked the 40th anniversary of one of the darkest events in American politics — the resignation of President Richard Nixon due to his administration's efforts to cover up the burglary at the Watergate office building. There are many legacies of that series of events, but easily the most persistent, and quite possibly the most annoying, is that 40 years later, whenever anybody at any level of government does something wrong, the media quickly labels it _________gate.

I am not really sure how this lack of creativity came about, but come on; get out your dictionary or thesaurus. We don't need another 40 years of you-name-it gate.

Tom Baumann, Isanti, Minn.
HIGHER ED

Costs, internal conflict are stopping progress

A Nov. 10 counterpoint ("Again, why have college costs outpaced inflation?") was right on target. I was interim president of the University of Minnesota in 1988. One of the reasons I left higher-ed administration was because of frustration with trying to make substantive changes within the constraints of the academic culture. While tenured faculty have some of the most secure jobs in our society, they are risk averse. Look at what is happening to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Chancellor Steven Rosenstone as he tries to make overdue changes ("Chancellor defends crash course in change/MnSCU faculty revolting against Rosenstone's plans," Nov. 9). Couple this with no significant focus in higher education on making real productivity gains for a long time.

Why shouldn't we expect the same productivity gains in our colleges and universities as we expect from most every other sector of our economy? Freezing tuition is not enough. We need to reduce costs for students in a major way or we will keep disenfranchising more and more young people from the opportunity to obtain a higher education.

Richard Sauer, Blue Springs, Mo.

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Recently, there has been a cascade of "no confidence" votes by MnSCU faculty at four- and two-year schools and by students at those schools. As a reaction to those votes, Chancellor Rosenstone called for mediation and tried to suggest that rejection of mediation on the part of the unions demonstrated their unwillingness to work with him. However, as a member of the Inter Faculty Organization board of directors (and presumably someone who would vote on accepting mediation), the first I heard about mediation was through the press, rather than from the chancellor. Further, there was no follow-up from the chancellor beyond his news release. This exemplifies why we don't trust him, and why we called it a "bad faith" offer.

The Watergate Office Building in Washington.

Roger Severns, North Mankato, Minn.
VETERANS

Could Congress pass a GI Bill today?

As a Vietnam vet (U.S. Air Force) who also advised many veterans at the University of Minnesota during the last 20 years, I want to thank the Star Tribune and Kevyn Burger for the wonderful article on the GI Bill ("Out of the military, into the middle class," Nov. 11). The only thing that I wish had been added was that passage of the GI Bill hinged on a single senator's vote in conference committee. Had this bill been proposed today under our present Congress, it is very doubtful that it would have passed. Where would our nation be then? This was perhaps the greatest piece of legislation in the history of our country. It created the middle class.

Phil Stedje, Minneapolis
SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS

Single parents can do just fine, thank you

Families come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. To say the discipline problems in our schools are the result of not having both a mother and a father in the home (Readers Write, Nov. 11) is preposterous. I raised two children as a single parent, and neither child ever got suspended from school. They have both grown to be honest, reliable, productive adults. Perhaps we need to look at the quality or lack thereof of parenting in order to find ways to reduce suspensions and truancy.

Brenda B. Becker, Edina
RACE AND JUSTICE

System has always been about control

In response to the Nov. 10 commentary "On race and justice system, Minnesota is still in denial," signed by Hennepin County District Judge Kevin Burke and others, I'd point out that loitering statutes and drug prohibition were originally implemented to allow law enforcement to control the lower classes. Whether we're discussing marijuana prohibition aimed at Latinos or New York City loitering statutes aimed at the Irish and Italians, even if we could magically remove all African-Americans from the lower economic strata, the question is: Has that process of control ever been just?

John Norblom, Minneapolis
STRENGTH TRAINING

Frailness is what we're trying to prevent for all

As longevity increases across Minnesota, quality of life has not kept up alongside this societal change. A Nov. 10 article ("Strength over thinness") spoke of the trend involving women and strength training. I agree with much of it, but I'd also like to expand the importance of strength training to everybody, especially the elderly.

On average, a third of those age 65 or older fall and are injured, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2014. This statistic is alarming, but the injuries are preventable. Exercise scientists around the globe have continuously shown the correlation between strength training and a decrease in falls. Essentially, proper strength training assists in balance, weight loss and functionality.

At the gym where I am a trainer, our sole objective is strength training. I challenge other gyms in the area to change their focus for the betterment of our older population.

Melia Rosen, Minneapolis

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As the owner of a fast-growing personal training studio in northeast Minneapolis, I'm thankful that people recognize the power and benefits of strength in fitness. My active client base has grown from 26 in January 2013 to 175 today. Eighty-five percent of those clients are women. All of those women are lifting weights and growing stronger. Each of them defines what strong means to them in an environment that isn't about competition or mirror flexing.

For my 83-year-old client, strong is standing before hundreds to lift 130 pounds from the floor while setting world records; for my 28-year-old client, the mother of a toddler, strong is uncovering confidence and physical strength, previously undiscovered, as she shed more than 50 pounds.

Strength is for everyone. Developing it has huge physical benefits, and all of our clients will reap those benefits, however they determine is best for their lives. But it's really about being stronger — physically, mentally and emotionally. People can tackle so much more in life when they realize they embody the strength and confidence to power through it.

Jason Burgoon, Minneapolis