Opinion
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Announcing the Million Alte Kaker March
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The term anticipatory obedience is popping up a lot these days to describe educators, politicians and bazillionaires who are crawling on their bellies like reptiles before anyone is forcing them to do so. As Timothy Snyder writes in “On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century,” people will preemptively do what they think the authorities…
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Op-Ed: Youth Know the Direction America Should Take. I’m Listening
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Several years ago, the Ferguson Township Board of Supervisors considered how to upgrade a walking path in a park. A Scout came to the podium. He advised us to make it as accessible as possible. He knew a child in a wheelchair whose family would benefit from a smoother path. Over the last few years,…
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Op-Ed: Solar Power Purchase Agreement a Collaborative, Careful Effort to Benefit Taxpayers
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Like any organization, local government can be either high-functioning and productive or disorganized and ineffective. Diverse viewpoints, disagreement and debate are all essential elements of quality governance – when done well. After nearly a decade as an elected official in State College, I have observed instances of well-managed conflict that led to optimal outcomes and…
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On Second Thought, Back to Home Viewing
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The 97th Academy Awards were on television on Sunday night. The Oscars, as many of us refer to the show, honors movies that were released the previous year. Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Actor (technically “Actress/Actor in a Leading Role” are the official category names) are just a few of the many awards that were…
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Op-Ed: Through the Looking Glass on Public Finances
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The author of this op-ed, Josh Portney, is a member of State College Borough Council. Now that the ink is dry on the Solar Power Purchase Agreement for Centre County, it’s important to reflect on the process that led us here. I have been outspoken on this issue, and my concerns have always been rooted…
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Amid a Time of Tumult, a Challenge to the Party in Power
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At a tumultuous time in our history, with the long-held norms and expectations of the federal government being dissected, it is a time to have a frank discussion. One side that has professed a steadfast commitment to a strict interpretation of the Constitution seems content to ignore that commitment with each day. But we must…
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Coach Paterno Changed My Life
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“What is a coach? We are teachers. Educators. We have the same obligations as all teachers, except we probably have more influence than anybody but their families. And, in a lot of cases, more than their families.” – Coach Joe Paterno For those of you that know me, or have occasionally read one of my…
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D-E-I is D-E-D
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Dear National Science Foundation, I am in the midst of preparing an NSF grant application and, as I am sure you can appreciate, I want to make sure that my proposal does not run afoul of new evaluation criteria inspired by our 47th and hopefully last president (long may he live before passing the royal…
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NCAA Should Live Up to Its Mission and Increase Athletic Opportunities
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Here’s what I’m sure is a news flash to you: Happy Valley is a sports-oriented town. We are home to the second-largest stadium in the country by capacity. And the third-largest indoor arena in the state by capacity, behind those in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. All while State College is only the 24th-largest “city” in Pennsylvania,…
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After Further Review: Like It or Not, the Super Bowl Halftime Show Was Great Art
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Super Bowl Sunday was a great day for the Eagles and their fans. But there was this other thing on Super Bowl Sunday that was almost as big: the halftime show. And like it or not, there is no denying that as artistic expression it was a work of great art. Allow me to explain……