Letters: ‘Exceptional’ candidate for Borough Council; Trustee dedicated to Penn State

Editor’s note: The CDT welcomes letters endorsing candidates in the May 16 primary election and will accept letters that are received by May 11. Letters are subject to editing, must be based on facts and should avoid attacks on other candidates.

‘Exceptional’ candidate for Borough Council

On May 16 State College Borough has the opportunity to return an exceptional man, Evan Myers, to the State College Borough Council.

How often are we given the chance to support a candidate who has more than 50 years experience in various kinds of community service — a candidate whose honesty and integrity are without question?

How often do we find a candidate whose goal is to improve quality of life for all citizens of the State College Borough as well as all those in surrounding municipalities, a candidate who advocates for treating all people with respect and equity and who actually lives by those values.

How often do we find a candidate who works to improve relationships between the students and faculty of PSU and all the other folks who live in the Centre Region, a candidate who bases decisions on sound evidence, always considering all the evidence.

Evan Myers has worked to improve State College Borough by advocating for strong, sustainable neighborhoods, a vibrant successful downtown, and more citizen input into community planning and development.

If you are a resident of State College Borough, you should vote for Evan Myers on May 16. As Myers works tirelessly for the residents of the Borough, he improves the quality of life for those residents and for every person in the Centre Region. We are all fortunate that Evan Myers cares deeply about this area and gives so generously of his time and talent.

Vote Evan Myers for Borough Council on May 16.

Trustee dedicated to Penn State

As a political science professor, I love elections. Whether voters are casting ballots to elect a President of the United States, or the local dog catcher, their choices leave an indelible mark on the offices they fill. While voters come to every election with different priorities, it is important that they pick from among highly qualified candidates who know how to bring about positive change. It is against this backdrop that I hope Penn State alumni will reelect Trustee Alice Pope. In the years that I worked with the PSU Board of Trustees, I was continually impressed by Alice’s dedication to the university. As a three-time Penn State graduate (BA, MS, Ph.D) and former college professor, she has a unique understanding of higher education. On a board where nearly all of the trustees come from business, law or agriculture, Alice is one of only two members who knows what it’s like to work with students in the classroom. This experience has always put Alice in a unique position to build a partnership with PSU faculty. As an advocate for openness and transparency she is willing to ask difficult questions and hold the administration to high ethical standards. As voters, alumni have a unique opportunity to leave their mark on a university that made such a difference in their formative years. I hope the PSU alumni will remember Alice’s good work and return her to the BOT.

Speaking out against hate

Administrators at Penn State recently released a video in which President Bendapudi discusses impending “controversial speakers” in a vague manner. Simultaneously, she refuses to name the “speakers” or the organizations inviting them, allowing the administration to conceal its history of facilitating neofascist organizing and violence against students. James Lindsay, who is potentially the speaker coming to represent Young Americans for Freedom on April 20, is a bigot who gets his money by exploiting the worst ideals that a small number of people have. Lindsay has produced pseudo-intellectual writings that have been widely criticized, particularly by academics, for advocating anti-trans, anti-CRT policies. Penn State administrators claim they have no choice but to permit these neofascist organizations from coming to campus.

James Lindsay’s presence at Penn State, as well as his opinions and behavior, for spreading racist, homophobic and transphobic notions, is a deplorable display of fascism. It is critical to speak out against such damaging attitudes and to advocate for a culture that is open and welcoming of all people, regardless of their history or identity. We must actively seek to promote equality and respect for all people, regardless of color, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Remember that while free speech is a vital right, it does not grant individuals the right to propagate hate or harm to others.