Letters: Penn State’s reopening would be ‘experiment’ on health; Time to restore our values

Penn State’s reopening would be ‘experiment’ on health

I vehemently object to Penn State reopening with in-person classes in the fall. Reopening presents an unacceptable health risk to the community on and especially beyond the campus. Penn State administrators will tell you that the university will meet or exceed the guidelines set down by the state for reopening higher education institutions. However, these guidelines apply to on-campus life. When 50,000 plus students return from worldwide locations, more than 70% will live off-campus. Penn State behaves as if its responsibility for the risk this poses ends at the campus border. But students living off-campus would not be here, shopping, eating and intermingling with permanent residents if the university did not reopen. Administrators will tell you that expectations for wise behavior are being communicated to students. But students are not well known for always obeying the rules, always respecting others, and there are no mechanisms for enforcing these expectations. With students jammed into high density housing in and around State College, we will have ideal conditions for virus transmission.

I’m not naive; I know the university will act in concert with its own perceived priorities, and will issue statements to placate public opinion to the effect that it is doing everything it can to protect the health of the community. In fact, the university will be running a large experiment on all of us; in the end, we will see how many older residents will be hospitalized to maintain the tuition flow, and that’s wrong.

Time to restore our values

Now is the time to recognize the rightness of the First Amendment of the Constitution, giving us freedom of speech, of the press, the right of the people to assemble peaceably, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

We saw that with Colin Kaepernick taking a knee in peaceful protest — he should be restored to the NFL with back pay, with Shad Kahn’s help. We see it repeated a hundred thousand times today with mostly peaceful protests.

We see those rights violated by Trump, displacing peaceful protesters by force, tear gas, flash bangs and mounted police, all for a photo op in front of a church!

Unidentified armed enforcers from Barr and Trump are present, this is very dangerous to our democracy.

The evangelicals and Catholics who are core to Trump’s base are violating the core values of Christianity, “love your neighbor” and “do unto others as you would have done to yourself.” It doesn’t say except those of different color or except the disadvantaged or the protesters for equality. It doesn’t allow for someone to mistreat innocents for a photo op. In supporting this man you are making your faith a mockery, repent!

We need to restore our values. All men and women are created equal with rights to equal justice, freedom, dignity and respect. This doesn’t allow a police and their “unions” to openly abuse others with impunity. They must be accountable so their deeds must be known. They are to protect and serve everyone.

Waltz will work for the 76th Legislative District

Joe Waltz needs your vote in November and the 76th District needs Joe Waltz! Joe has been a permanent full-time resident of Clinton County for almost 50 years. He understands the challenges that face the working class in our district. He will work to bring good jobs that offer decent pay, fiscal responsibility on the part of our government, and good schools that evolve to meet the needs of our children. He understands that our infrastructure needs must be balanced with the ability of our taxpayers to fund those improvements. He knows that a high quality education system makes our area more attractive to new businesses and industries and their employees. As a retired educator, Joe understands what it takes to improve our schools.

Joe Waltz has the loyalty and willingness to work for all the citizens of our district. We need a voice in Harrisburg that speaks for all of us, regardless of political party or religious affiliation. We need Joe Waltz as our 76th District Representative! Please join me in voting for Joe in the November elections.