Readers Write (May 4): University of Minnesota athletics, racial climate at St. Olaf, Minneapolis police-mayor dispute,

Chip Scoggins' May 2 column ("U asks for fan input to regain their trust") detailing the progressive initiatives that University of Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle has instituted to increase fans' engagement with the three revenue sports, together with the news last week of the anticipated completion of the $166 million Athletes Village facilities, causes me to reflect on extremely positive changes and progress that have occurred in Gophers athletics since the highly publicized problems of recent years. Always included in that negative publicity was blame and criticism of university President Eric Kaler.

Now we have an outstanding new athletic director, an excellent basketball coach, a dynamic new football coach, the Athletes Village and major success in the "nonrevenue" sports — all achieved under Kaler, yet I have not seen a word of recognition or praise of him.

Previous U presidents complained about the deficiencies of our athletic facilities compared to those of competing schools, but never offered any suggestions of a solution. Kaler proposed the Athletes Village and undertook the extremely difficult task of raising the funds to finance the project.

When then-athletic director Norwood Teague resigned in August 2015, Kaler wisely realized that quality candidates for the position would be reluctant to leave their employment early or during the school year and delayed his search and hiring until spring 2016, which resulted in attracting Coyle.

I believe it will be very appropriate for the Star Tribune and other local media to detail all the progress and change that have occurred in U athletics during Kaler's term.

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Kudos to Scoggins for his May 2 column. In my opinion, this was a balanced presentation of the issues revolving around the pricing of tickets to athletic events. We should be careful not to lay too much blame at Coyle's feet. He inherited a terrible mess. He has a steep hill to climb. The current policy for football was put in place by an incompetent AD.

As an Asian minority (although, as pointed out by a fellow Korean adoptee in a May 2 letter, one not as discriminated upon because I was raised by white people, therefore some of their white privilege rubbed off on me), I was appalled about the racist incidents happening at St. Olaf College ("St. Olaf students demand change," May 2). I was disgusted by what happened to students who received threatening messages, how it was affecting the campus, how no one seemed to know who is doing it, and angry at this coward who hides behind notes, sneaking around to spread hate. I applauded the students for their coming together, supporting one another, making a stand to say this is not acceptable. I even was impressed by the response of President David R. Anderson.

Yet something does not quite feel right to this "privileged minority." Maybe it is the list of "demands" that were basically forced upon the president and negotiated in the complete opposite way that the "demands" demand, like a hostage/ransom situation. Maybe it is the overreaching and arbitrary issues that were brought up, like stipends, hiring practices, forced curriculum, timelines, registration. No. I think maybe it is the first demand — the removal of a campus advisory board member because of religious and political views as a Christian Zionist. Is this irony, hypocrisy or both?

I'm baffled. In a May 2 editorial about how poor communication between Police Chief Janeé Harteau and Mayor Betsy Hodges reflects on Minneapolis, there is no mention of the police chief's responsibility to communicate a top appointment more than a day or two ahead of announcing it. During Lt. John Delmonico's 16 years leading the Minneapolis Police Federation, the police could do no wrong. He always sided with the police when wrongdoing was alleged. He is not the right leader for the Fourth Precinct in north Minneapolis. (On Monday, Delmonico removed his name from consideration for the position.) I commend Mayor Hodges for the courage to do the right thing during an election campaign, and I expect a more balanced editorial from the Star Tribune.

Please. One more time, government is not like a household. Politicians and pundits drag out this old canard when it comes to matters of the budget. You've heard it: "We don't spend more than we have in our household, so why should the government get away with it?" Or: "Minnesota has a big surplus thanks to our taxes. How come I'm not getting a big rebate check?" One May 3 letter writer, correlating Minnesota's budget surplus to her "large balance" in her checkbook, drew a parallel between government spending and giving the balance back to her employer to spend.

Again, governments and households are very, very different. If we get into a financial bind, our options are limited. We can take on another job. We can use credit cards. Until we can't. If we're lucky, we have a rich uncle to give us an interest-free loan. We can pray we win the lottery. When the government needs cash, yes, it can raise taxes. It can also issue bonds with very low interest rates. It can even print money.

This past Sunday night, 150 emergency shelter beds for adult men and women were lost when "winter shelters" in Hennepin County closed down until November. On Monday, more than 100 of these people were unable to be sheltered anywhere else and, on an unseasonably cold night, were without a safe, warm and dignified place to lay their heads. Some found abandoned buildings or someone's car for shelter. Others — many others — relied on Metro Transit, riding through the night on a bus or the light rail. Sadly and ironically, those riding the Blue Line attempted to get some sleep as the train passed by the $50 million Nicollet Mall makeover and the $1 billion football stadium on its way to Target Field and the Mall of America.