With Penn State Homecoming weekend upon us, I am disgusted by our university’s hateful actions toward alumni.
The board has recently ended our democratic elections for trustees, a practice established 149 years ago by our founders. On top of that, the board has muzzled trustees so that dissenting opinions cannot be expressed – a disgraceful situation for an institution of higher learning, where it should be understood that diversity of viewpoints leads to increased understanding. Even worse, two trustees elected by the alumni are about to be removed from the board because of asking too many questions and taking their public accountability responsibilities seriously.
Even our own Alumni Association refused to help save our trustee elections, with two former presidents (Matt Schuyler and Kelley Lynch) and several alumni-elected trustees (led by Brandon Short) voting to disenfranchise the alumni voice. As a 1996 graduate, I’ve watched many cycles come and go with Penn State, but I do not recognize my alma mater any longer.
Jeffrey W. Simons,
Dallas, Texas
Project 2025 Not a Campaign Platform
In Jesse Barlow’s recent letter to the editor (Project 2025 Spells Disaster for Public Education, Sept. 16), he attempts to connect an over 920-page document written by a conservative think tank with all our Republican candidates in this election. This is yet another fine example of the Democrat playbook rule: repeat a lie often enough, and it will magically become the truth. He proceeds to take bits and pieces from the 42 pages of recommendations for reform of the federal Department of Education, detach them from any reasoning or alternate solutions and untruthfully attach them to Trump, Vance, Dave McCormick and GT Thompson.
He neglects to mention, for example, that Congressman GT Thompson was co-chair of the bipartisan Career & Technical Education Caucus, and authored the federal law that modernized technical education, helping to train individuals for better opportunities and high paying jobs, enabling them to pay off their own student loans. Thompson has supported millions in federal funding for Head Start programs in Centre County, even taking to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to recognize Head Start for “giving every child a chance to succeed.” These are not the actions of a representative who wants our students to fail.
Before falling victim to the Harris, Walz, Casey, Womer, Barlow fear-mongering of the left, I would suggest actually reading the recommendations of Project 2025. If 922 pages is just too much for you, try focusing on the 42 pages on the bloated and redundant work of the Department of Education. Not every idea in the document is a keeper, and none of the ideas come from Republican candidates for office. However, understanding the arguments for reforms might open a dialogue that could improve our educational system. Have a look at them for yourself within the context of the full document.
PS Majewski,
Halfmoon Township
‘Don’t Pull This Again, Glenn’
Our congressman, Glenn Thompson, was among seven Republican congressmen in Pennsylvania who recently refused to respond when asked by the USA TODAY Network if they would commit to certifying the results of the presidential election no matter who won.
Don’t pull this again, Glenn. For our system of government to function, a party can’t accept the results only when their candidate wins. If you cannot handle that basic civics lesson, you don’t deserve the public trust and should find another job.
Beverly Crow,
State College
No Time for Complacency
With no moral compass and self-interest as his only North Star, Donald Trump shamelessly exploits voter fears and frustrations. His never-ending lies, threatening rhetoric and unhinged name-calling stoke anger and hate.
In normal times, 34 felony convictions would have ended a presidential campaign. But Trump’s candidacy is anything but normal. His criminality, and blatant disregard for decency, is misconstrued by his duped followers as a sign of strength.
Twice-impeached, Trump has been convicted of fraud and found liable for sexual assault. He faces four criminal indictments—for stealing classified documents, obstruction of justice and inciting the January 6 insurrection. His failed efforts to overturn the free and fair results of the 2020 election led to the deaths of seven Americans.
Trump, who’s becoming increasingly incendiary and incoherent, has long behaved as if he’s above the law. Now, with its unprecedented “presidential immunity” ruling, his hand-picked and grotesquely unethical Supreme Court has literally put Trump above the law, effectively giving him permission for a despotic second term.
What’s really terrifying is that Project 2025 has created a “conservative LinkedIn” to recruit “an army of Trump loyalists” to replace the federal workforce—and any remaining guardrails. John Kelly, H.R. McMaster and General Milley—the grownups in the room—will be replaced with co-conspirators such as Cory Lewandowski, Steven Miller and Jeffrey Clarke.
Now is no time for complacency! Trump nearly destroyed our nation last time. Constitutional Republicans, Independents and Democrats must do everything in their power to see that he never gets another chance.
Mary Randolph,
Valencia
Elect Zach Womer This November
Pennsylvania has long been a farming state, and my family has a rich history of farming right here in Centre County. I’m very concerned about the availability of nutritious food—and the health and viability of the farms on which it’s produced.
I recently reviewed new farm legislation with absolute dismay. Our elected officials fail to deliver on their promises. Originally intended to assist farmers, support healthy food choices and benefit families and children with limited incomes, the 2024 Farm Bill (H.R. 8467), sponsored by Republican Congressman Glenn Thompson (PA-15), misses the mark by a country mile and has no chance of passing in the Senate.
The bill, which expires on Sept. 30, has few advocates within the small farm community—or even among fiscal conservatives. The current House version is flawed and biased and provides very little to Pennsylvania farmers. It would decrease funds for much-need agricultural conservation projects, recalculate food benefits programs, mostly in the way of cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), increase farm subsidies, primarily to corporate farms and to commodity groups such as huge wheat and corn growers, which don’t exist in Pennsylvania!
Pennsylvania’s 15th District needs leadership in Congress that understands the needs of our farmers and resists the lobbying efforts of corporate farms and commodity groups. Zach Womer is a brilliant, dedicated 12th-generation Pennsylvanian who will represent you and your family, not the greedy corporations that wield far too much power.
Daniel Alters,
Bellefonte
