Letter to the editor: Columns take a curious stance on COVID-19 To the editor: I am usually bemused by the assertions of our frequent guest columnists, Mark Franke and Leo Morris. And I was not disappointed when I saw they had both written columns in the Saturday-Monday, Dec. 26-28, edition of the Daily Reporter. And that bemusement became incredulity as I realized the lengths both went to convince us of their point of view. Their assertions about the COVID-19 crisis and its effects on society are typical of conservative voices. In the first few paragraphs of the column written by Mr. Franke, he makes typical conservative assertions about COVID-19. These include that facts about the coronavirus are often confusing and contradictory and that these facts change frequently. He notes that in a politicized climate he can no longer trust scientists any more than he does politicians. And of course, he is not going to leave the topic of mistrust without mentioning the national news media. Early in this same paragraph, Mr. Franke says he does not know or care much about the science behind understanding COVID-19. A curious statement, made even more curious since Mr. Franke spent many years working for and then heading Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. This school recently became solely Purdue University Fort Wayne.