To the Editor:
The wonderful thing about the editorial page is that opinions count more than facts. Calling Penn State, the Commonwealth's land-grant institution (and one of the nation's best educational buys for the dollar, according to national studies), a 300-pound gorilla was a rather strange opinion. Any gorilla so puny would surely need to bulk up, as the editorial suggested Penn State was doing.
Now, if Penn State were a gorilla, especially since the university is a leading public research institution, that gorilla would stand tall, well over 7 feet, and surely weigh in at around 1,000 pounds.
Penn State has no need to apologize for its size or its reputation -- it is a world-class institution, and the citizens of Pennsylvania can be very proud of the university's achievements, despite a continuing decline in state subsidies.
And, as loyal Penn Staters know, the university is no gorilla. We are a pride of lions --Nittany Lions. We are not a weak gorilla, but a mighty lion. In the Lehigh Valley, we have been delivering high-quality educational services for 85 years, responding to those in need of our programs and expertise. As the flagship university of this great commonwealth, Penn State's commitment to teaching, research and service will continue to increase as we provide greater opportunities for location-bound residents in the many communities we serve. With the recent mergers of the Dickinson School of Law and Geisinger Health Systems with the university, Penn State is poised for continued success with renewed energy.
DR. EUGENE R. SLASKI
CAMPUS EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Penn State Allentown
Fogelsville
No comments:
Post a Comment