Letters to the Editor | Dec. 25, 2023

On Aug. 4, as the Phillies returned from a 10-game road trip, shortstop Trea Turner was not playing to a level anywhere near his $300 million contract. So WIP radio producer Jack Fritz had an idea. “A standing O on Friday would go a long way,” Fritz wrote on Twitter, referring to that night’s game against the Kansas City Royals at Citizens Bank Park. When Turner came to the plate for his first at-bat in the second inning, the crowd at The Bank responded with a lengthy ovation. Turner responded by doffing his helmet in thanks, and in the final 48 regular-season games, he hit .337 — with 16 home runs, 42 RBI, and a 1.037 OPS.

After a disappointing three-game losing streak, it may be time to do the same for Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. On Christmas Day, the fans at Lincoln Financial Field should get to their feet and maybe turn his season around. One standing ovation helped take Turner and the Phillies to a National League wild-card berth and within one game of the World Series. Maybe another standing O could help propel the Eagles to another Super Bowl.

Joe Miegoc, Carbondale, Pa., jmiegoc@gmail.com

The holiday season can be a stressful time for many, but for the more than 400,000 families and friends serving as unpaid caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia in Pennsylvania, the holidays can be especially challenging. More than 20% of Pennsylvania caregivers report feeling depressed and 56% have a chronic health condition, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Add in the holidays, and caregivers may feel overwhelmed by maintaining traditions while providing care. The Alzheimer’s Association is available to provide support through its 24/7 Helpline. When calling, people can speak confidentially with master-level care consultants for decision-making support, crisis assistance, and resources on issues many families face. Those in need can call 800-272-3900 around the clock, 365 days a year. To learn more about local resources, support groups, and education programs offered by the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter, visit alz.org/crf.

Kristina Fransel, executive director, Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter, Philadelphia

I really appreciate The Inquirer’s coverage of Liz Magill’s resignation at Penn, publishing quotes from those with differing points of view. I think we can all agree that hate has no place in any school environment, and tolerance is the goal. I was thus rather taken aback by a comment by a Penn professor, who was quoted as saying, “I do not think it’s a coincidence that the lone president [who testified in Congress] who had to walk the plank was the white Catholic.” What an intolerant statement. Articles have pointed out several reasons that put Magill’s position in jeopardy. To have her religion cited as one of them hardly seems apt.

Len Perlman, Philadelphia

As the Penn board of trustees searches for Liz Magill’s successor, and attempts to restore luster to its tarnished brand, the ideal candidate should be cut from the cloth of its storied, pristine past, and Michael Fitts fits the bill. The scion of prominent past leaders of Penn Medicine and Wharton, Fitts himself dedicated three decades in service to the university at Penn Carey Law School, first as a professor and later as dean. In his 2014 departure from Penn to lead Tulane University as its president — a position he still holds — Fitts confessed his affection for the university, declaring: “Penn is in my bloodstream.”

Under Fitts’ stewardship, both institutions soared to new heights. As its dean, Fitts increased Penn Law’s endowment, financial aid offerings, faculty size, disciplinary focus, and restructured the school’s campus — all through self-raised funds. Fitts likewise reshaped Tulane, heightening its national prominence while fostering a collegial environment. The Penn board must not just select a candidate with proven administrative prowess. Its choice must also represent an emphatic, direct response to the reason it finds itself in this posture: the utter lack of confidence Jewish students and alumni had in Magill’s leadership.

Here, Fitts’ animated rebuke of a campus-adjacent, pro-Palestine demonstration — calling it “violent, deplorable, deliberately provocative, and exploitative of the profound sorrow and anger” felt on the significantly Jewish university — leaves little doubt on this important marker. In this moment of intracampus division and strife at Penn, Fitts’ track record inspires confidence that he can extinguish the fires world events ignited on campus. The choice for Penn’s future rests in its past.

Z. Austin Schultz, Philadelphia

Steven G. Fukuchi recently left Chester County Hospital — a tremendous loss for the hospital and community. When he entered the room, you felt a presence. A state of stillness in a rushed and hurried world. He communicated with his patients on a professional and personal level that was unique. He created comfort and confidence in the most serious of moments. He was genuine. You knew you were in the presence of someone special. He listened with a sharp, intense intelligence. The community wishes to thank him for his years of service. He will be missed immensely. We need to place the highest value on our health-care workers — from the aides to the assistants to the nurses and physicians — if we are to consistently achieve and maintain the level of excellence we knew with Dr. Fukuchi.

Eileen M. Lyons, West Goshen

In response to the recent op-ed, “New Mütter Museum policy on human remains is a disgrace,” I offer these facts as well as a continuing request for community participation as we shape the future of the Mütter Museum. I have no wish to impugn the motives of the author, who is a respected fellow physician and museum supporter, but no one has “unilaterally decided to sanitize” the museum, and we encourage visitors to come and see for themselves that this is the case.

It is true that we removed online videos of human remains. It is also true that we removed two specimens (out of thousands on display), chiefly for maintenance purposes (in one case, for example, the specimen jar was leaking). And finally, it is true that, like museums around the world, we need a comprehensive policy that reflects changing ethical standards about the respectful display of human remains. As part of that effort, we have launched a two-year public engagement process, and we encourage supporters and critics alike to join us in planning an even brighter future for the museum.

Regarding the planned donation cited in the op-ed, this case underscores the importance of developing a comprehensive policy on human remains that spells out expectations and obligations for all sides. The museum has paused accepting all donations until this policy is finalized. Thousands of people love the Mütter, including us, and we are heartened by the passionate support it receives. But like all museums that care for human remains, the Mütter is evaluating its practices to ensure that the human remains under our care are displayed in a maximally respectful, ethical, and educational manner.

Daniel Dempsey, interim co-CEO, College of Physicians of Philadelphia

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