Penn State’s future is bright, with the arrival of incoming President Neeli Bendapudi. Please join me in supporting the re-election of incumbent alumni trustees Ted Brown, Barbara Doran and Bill Oldsey. The continuity of experienced and effective trustees will be valuable for Penn State’s leadership as we enter a new era where the world of higher education is rapidly evolving.
In their nine years on the Board, Trustees Brown, Doran and Oldsey have been hardworking and engaged stewards. They have supported cost savings and affordability; accountability and transparency; positive town-gown relationships; a healthy Greek system; and our longstanding culture of Success with Honor.
For more details about the accomplishments of these trustees, along with information about how to get a ballot for the alumni trustee election, please visit my Facebook page: Alice Pope – Penn State Trustee.
Alice Pope
Brooklyn, New York
The author is an alumni-elected member of the Penn State Board of Trustees
Weighing Both Sides of the Casino Debate
Those of us who oppose the proposed casino at the Nittany Mall have the wellbeing of State College and the PSU community in mind. The reasons that opponents have voiced are varied, powerful and clear. They address potentially major crises that can and will likely emerge as a result (including gambling/alcohol/drug addiction, crime, personal financial loss, decrease in neighboring residential property value). They debunk the economic arguments put forward in favor of it. Some speak from direct experience in having worked in the casino industry and outline more risks and dangers that come from such direct perspectives. Many address the very narrow patronship— it does not serve the needs of the community at large. And our needs are great:
State College currently has very few venues for family-oriented activities. We have plenty of bars, plenty of clubs, but markedly few venues for younger children, teens and high school and college students who prefer activities that don’t center around alcohol.
Some pinpoint the fact that the developer of this endeavor (a major donor to the university as well as a former member of Board of Trustees) likely does not have the wellbeing of our community and our university in mind, elucidating the fact that the greatest financial gain will indeed be enjoyed by that very developer – not the community, not the township.
These arguments are solid and based in fact and research.
They are serious arguments from local residents of all townships (including College Township) who are adamantly opposed to this plan for reasons that extend beyond the personal pleasure that a casino may bring to a town, and beyond the extraordinary profits that will go to the real estate development entity.
Proponents of the casino mention the convenience of a nearby place of gambling (thereby reducing travel time to other casinos in the area), potential for job growth (yes, most large new enterprises have this potential), potential for reviving the now defunct Nittany Mall (again, it does not need to be a gambling hall that accomplishes this) and more.
These are hypothetical and grounded in personal pleasure and preference. Moreover, each and every argument is so easily refutable with far more solid, research-backed arguments that strongly oppose this plan.
Money talks. Money also blinds. It deafens. It obscures common sense.
The moral and ethical decision is to not build a casino here in State College. The reasons are obvious. They are well-founded.
If those of us who oppose this plan can garner enough visible and vocal support among our community against this plan, we may actually succeed against what looks to us now as a Goliath of green, greed and self-serving motivation.
We may just be able to silence that roar of money and start working toward developing the Nittany Mall real estate into a major venue that will benefit our entire community.
Meanwhile, we have asked the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and Penn State administration to carefully and critically review all arguments from both sides.
We need your voice. Stand up for the community by emailing your comments to [email protected].
Susan Strauss,
College Township
