Letters: Time for a change in PA-15; Support the Save Women’s Sports Act

Time for a change in PA-15

Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson’s weekly newsletter is a reminder of what he chooses to say — and what he carefully avoids.

April 24’s lone “Bad News” spotlighted misconduct in Congress. Yet Thompson named only a Democrat, omitting serious allegations involving two Republicans.

Representative Tony Gonzales resigned following a House Ethics Committee investigation into an inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Representative Cory Mills is under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct, dating violence, and campaign finance violations — so serious that a fellow Republican introduced a resolution to expel him, citing claims of fraud and abuse.

Thompson’s silence on both is hard to reconcile with his own words: “Those who cannot uphold their sacred obligation to serve honorably should not be part of the institution.”

Selective outrage isn’t accountability. It’s politics.

And once again, Thompson sidesteps the issues that actually weigh on his constituents:

An ongoing war costing roughly $1 billion a day while straining military readiness and support for those serving;

Everyday costs — gas, groceries, essentials — that continue to climb;

Healthcare gaps leaving tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians uninsured;

And a president using public office for private gain, even pursuing a multibillion-dollar claim against taxpayers.

These are the realities Pennsylvanians are living with. They deserve more than omissions and deflections.

They deserve representation that reflects their concerns — not one that filters them.

It’s time for a change. Fortunately, Ray Bilger offers one.

Patty Satalia, State College

Support the Save Women’s Sports Act

How can we preserve and protect the progress female athletes have made in recent years? By supporting Senate Bill 1293 to restore fair competition and equal opportunity for women! Anatomical differences give males a competitive advantage in athletic performance involving endurance, strength and speed. In Pennsylvania since 2020, male athletes have stolen first place from female athletes 87 times and took second or third place 64 times. Female athletes are at higher risk for certain types of injuries, such as ACL, bone stress and concussion. This year, the International Olympic Committee adopted a gender-based policy similar to SB 1293: the Protection of the Female (Women’s) Category in Olympic Sport. Please ask your state representatives to support this bill.

Carol Hodes, Ferguson Township

Healthcare expertise needed on PSU BOT

As Penn State approaches the board of trustees election, the university has an opportunity to ensure its governing body reflects the full scope of its academic, research and healthcare mission.

The 2025 Penn State Board of Trustees Skills and Demographics Report identifies a goal of nine trustees with healthcare expertise. Currently, only one trustee out of 38 meets that definition, and there is no trustee with a terminal medical degree. Given Penn State’s role in educating healthcare professionals, operating within academic medicine and supporting extensive clinical and research partnerships, this represents a meaningful opportunity to strengthen governance perspectives.

A similar gap exists in higher education expertise. While the board’s goal is nine trustees with higher education experience, only four serve in that category. At a time when universities are navigating workforce development, research competitiveness, and the integration of academic and clinical missions, additional experience in these areas is needed.

This is not a critique of the board’s strengths. Rather, it reflects the importance of complementing strong representation in finance, law, business and government with additional clinical and academic perspectives to support balanced decision-making.

My professional work spans academic medicine and healthcare leadership, including serving as Chief of Anesthesiology at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital and as an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh. These roles provide firsthand experience with the challenges facing healthcare systems and academic institutions.

Voting in the alumni trustee election will take place through 9 a.m. Thursday at PennStateVotes.com.

Penn State’s future will be best served through collaborative leadership that reflects the full breadth of expertise and so appreciate your support.

Joseph DeRenzo, MD, Gibsonia. The author is a candidate in Penn State’s alumni trustee election.