Letters: Attention must be paid to Penn State rankings; Bowl bound

Attention must be paid to Penn State rankings

I am hoping that Penn State’s new president, Neeli Bendapudi, and the board of trustees will give due attention to Penn State’s fall in academic ranking of top national universities — from 44 in 2014 to 63 in 2022, and to 77 in 2023 (U.S. News & World Report). Penn State’s best value ranking has dropped from 174 in 2022 to 207 in 2023. See Dr. Allen Soyster’s letter in the Sept. 26, 2022 issue of the CDT. Dr. Soyster is a Penn State alum, and the former head of the Penn State Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering.

While I am sure that new president Bendapudi is already a very busy Penn State University president, I am hoping that she and the board of trustees will agree with Dr. Soyster’s view that “…returning to the Top 50 national universities within five years should supersede all other priorities.” Penn State is an academic institution first, and “all other things” later. While ranking methodologies are not perfect, the fall from 44 to 77 is a signal of a problem that requires very real attention.

Positive change will take time. However, it is time to set a goal, such as president Bryce Jordan’s Top Ten Publics goal in the late 1980s, and such as Dr. Soyster has recommended, and to then take management action. As Dr. Soyster concluded: “It is time for our board to acknowledge our downward trend, uphold their fiduciary role and finally take some action.”

Bowl bound

If you want to go to a bowl game, James Franklin’s your guy.

Support the fight against COPD

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is the third leading cause of death and the second leading cause of disability in the U.S.

Thirty million people in the U.S. are living with COPD and in Pennsylvania there are 694,000 who have COPD.

The official color for COPD is orange and the theme this year is “Your Lungs for Life.” Wear orange the month of November to support our fight against COPD.

World COPD Day is Nov. 16 to honor those that have COPD and those that lost their battle with COPD.

Each November it is proclamation season, where I contact the governor and ask him to sign and announce that November is COPD Awareness Month.

Pulmonary rehab is important for every person diagnosed with COPD. It helps them to learn about the illness, what causes execrabations and how to cope and live with COPD. It gives those of us better quality of life.

Having COPD is a life-changing event. I not only speak and spread awareness for myself but all the others who are affected by COPD.

Research, education and awareness are essential for COPD.

Get involved, support and join forces with the COPD Foundation and start to learn to breathe again!

Always keep hope in your heart!

Walkability an issue in State College area

For being a college town I feel as though State College could do a better job for people that walk around the area. College Avenue toward the mall has no sidewalks and is especially dangerous during football season as this road is used by a lot of foot traffic.