Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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closeWhen something gets stuck in Laurel Piippo's craw, somebody is going to hear about it.
She won't be happy until she's been heard.
Every issue doesn't resolve to her satisfaction, but her point is always clear.
These days, Piippo is hot on the trail of Washington State University President Elson Floyd over the mess surrounding his choice of provost.
We aren't any happier than Piippo about Floyd's decision to stick WSU Tri-Cities with the controversial former provost, who has since stepped down to become an overpaid professor.
Even so, we can't help sympathizing with Floyd.
We know what it's like to be on the sharp end of the stick when Piippo is at the other end -- it's not a good place to be.
Piippo recently announced her intent to become a citizen lobbyist and take her campaign to Olympia. We suspect a lot of people will get a civics lesson in the bargain.
Former students of the retired and revered Kennewick High English teacher (1962-1982) aren't likely to be surprised.
If Piippo was ever shy, she's cured herself of it long ago. One of her hobbies is keeping the Tri-City Herald -- especially those of us on the opinion page -- apprised of grammatical errors.
Herald readers are subjected to fewer misuses of "who"/"whom" and "affect"/"effect" as a result of Piippo's efforts.
She is a world traveler and has shared insights gained from her adventures in many travel columns for the Herald.
Perhaps even more meaningful than jetsetting around the globe, though, is the service and activism she brings to the Mid-Columbia.
She is an active member of her Kiwanis group, a tireless advocate for saving the Fast Flux Test Facility and quick to devote her considerable energy to any cause she deems worthy.
Anyone who ran into Piippo during the signature drive to get the death with dignity initiative on the ballot knows what we're talking about.
She's a proud Democrat in one of the reddest region's in the state, but vocal about her support for deserving Republican politicians.
She's a prolific correspondent, in batch e-mail messages and letters to the editor.
Here are a few highlights from letters we've published:
On the Washington Assessment of Student Learning -- "If I had to pass the WASL to graduate, I never would have graduated. Without math, I managed to earn two college degrees and have an outstanding career as a teacher of English, save for a nice retirement and be a contributing citizen."
On racism -- "Change was effected only through constant protest and pressure from black people, not from white leadership. Education is a painful but necessary process to strip our illusions from ourselves."
On health care -- "During a six-year senatorial term, 153,000 Washingtonians will be afflicted with cancer and 66,600 will die while the senators sit on their hands."
Reporter Michelle Dupler's profile of Piippo in Monday's Herald won the self-described "cranky" woman a lot of new admirers.
Piippo tells us the response to the article has been overwhelming, ranging from the encouraging words of strangers to offers of donations (politely declined) to an invitation to the governor's Inaugural Ball.
We're not surprised by the response. Piippo reminds us that America is still a country where one person can make a difference.
Twenty-seven years after retirement, school's still in session.
Watch out, Olympia -- our Mrs. Piippo is coming to town.
Editorials are the consensus of the Tri-City Herald editorial board.
Editorial board members are Rufus Friday, publisher; Chris Sivula, editorial page editor; Ken Robertson, executive editor; Matt Taylor, contributing editor; Lori Lancaster, editorial writer; Shelly Norman, editorial writer and Jack Briggs, retired publisher
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