Table of Contents
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.
Career planning needs more focus
There has been a groundswell of complaints that college degrees do not lead to the good jobs, high pay or career success like they once did. People question the well-known slogan “to get a good job, get a good education.” Consider: only 27% of college students get jobs in the field in which they majored in college. While college graduates earn 75% more over their lifetimes than those without degrees, student college debt has risen to $1.6 trillion owed by 43 million. About 7% of those borrowers default on their loans. Just 53.7% of Americans have earned college degrees. And 22 million Americans attended college but never completed a degree.
Let’s face facts. Few students enter college with good information about what they want to do with their degrees. Often, those students lack the life and work experience necessary to inform good career decisions. Few students have realistic views of the relative advantages and disadvantages of working in the fields for which they are spending so much time, money and effort to be trained. That is true at all levels of education. While many universities do have career placement offices, those offices are often overworked and understaffed. Students do not adequately use them. If we want to see that a college degree is worth the bang for the buck, more attention needs to be devoted to career planning. But as things stand, that is unlikely to happen.
William J. Rothwell, State College
Prioritize Penn State ‘report card’
This year there are eight alumni candidates for three positions. Recently, the priorities of these candidates were published in the CDT. Priorities cited were climate change, correcting past injustices, academic excellence and cost control.
How can alumni make informed choices? One approach is to compare how their positions align with three central documents underlying the creation and operation of Penn State: Charter, Bylaws and Standing Orders. The Charter (1855) states that PSU is “an institution for the education of youth in the various branches of the sciences, learning and practical agriculture.” The latest version of our Bylaws (2021) upholds the priority that our purpose is to “educate students … and improve the well-being and health of individuals and communities through integrated programs of teaching, research and service.”
When the 2023 board convenes, Standing Order VIII (University Governance), should be addressed. This order mandates a “report card” connecting purpose and performance, namely, “The Board of Trustees shall inform the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of the University’s performance of its role in the education of the youth of Pennsylvania.” To my recent knowledge, this annual report is either not done or not widely distributed.
If the full board declines to “inform the citizens” about Penn State performance, our three new and six incumbent alumni trustees should join together and issue its own report card. Elect Kevin Carey. He has experience and demonstrated communication skills to lead this effort. We Are.
Allen Soyster, Boalsburg
Myers a passionate, engaging leader
I strongly support election of Evan Myers to State College Borough Council and urge you to vote for this experienced and principled leader.
Evan is a successful businessman, who served as the Chief Operating Officer for AccuWeather, a global business headquartered here in the Centre Region for decades. He has used his strong leadership, budgeting experience and business acumen to benefit residents bringing a disciplined and practical approach to Borough Council. Evan was twice elected to Borough Council and served as council president.
He is passionate about building the best future for State College and knows that can only be accomplished when neighborhoods, businesses, Penn State and students all work together. As a Penn State alumnus and former Borough resident, I have seen the positive impact of these groups working together to enhance our community.
Evan works tirelessly to promote policies that treat all members of the community with equity and respect. On many occasions, he championed resolutions in Council and the Centre Region Council of Governments ensuring fair and affordable housing, protecting voting rights, the rights of immigrants, people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. Strong local voices such as Evan’s protecting rights of all our residents are ever more critical in today’s world.
I have known Evan for more than 19 years, working with him at AccuWeather. He’s a passionate, engaging leader who truly cares about people and recognizes the reasons our diverse community is so special.
I urge you to vote for Evan Myers on May 16!
Jonathan Porter, Port Matilda
