I am writing in response to last week's editorial opinion overtly attacking our student trustee, Christina Henke.

I would like to begin by reminding some people that student leaders are not high paid politicians. However, they come to school with the intention of obtaining an education.

Student leaders are students who happen to have leadership capabilities and choose to utilize them to help make our great University a better place for all of us.

By inferring that our student trustee has dodged her duties throughout her term and that her decision to cut her term short was irresponsible is a complete admission of ignorance and closeminded thought. Christina has brought revolutionary ideas to her position during her service.

To begin, she has been able to provide a continuous productive working relationship with trustees, administrators, student leaders, as well as the general student population.

By establishing the student trustee suggestion box at the HUB desk she has opened herself to ideas not just of student leaders but to all of our proud and dedicated Penn State students. Her idea of establishing a small trustee staff is also a landmark move in order to get more students involved in the process.

In utilizing this staff, she has efficiently made use of our most valued and credible resources (other students).

The idea of getting students involved may seem strange to the people who wrote last week's opinion; however, I find that student involvement is the backbone of student leadership. I believe that everyone who wishes to take part in helping make Penn State a better place should have that opportunity.

Christina is also the first student trustee ever to be appointed to the finance committee. This just goes to show that good working relationships are the best methods of achieving results.

Miss Henke was also wrongfully bashed for ending her term earlier than planned. Well, gee whiz, does this mean that studies are really not important to students?

Think about it, education at a university . . . I've heard crazier things. After all, we are students, and nobody really knows what waits around the next corner or what lies beneath that unturned stone.

As a result, I think our student trustee stands for the values that I stand for and most of the students at this University stand for.

If the day should come when student involvement, education, professionalism, dedication, and responsible decision-making are no longer valued then students will have strayed from their mission.

However, as I see it, these values are strong and healthy and reflect greatly on our proud Penn State community.