Letters to the Editor

Important to follow procedures after rape

This letter is in response to the article regarding state funding for new stadiums. As a fan of the Pittsburgh sports teams, I felt it necessary to give both sides of the situation as well as some additional information. First of all, the article dismisses the impact that the new stadiums will have on the economy. The new stadiums will attract new businesses, which will provide more jobs and tax revenue for the area and the state.

Second, if the teams did not receive some help from the state, they would eventually leave. The Pirates were about to move until Kevin McClatchy bought the team. He also promised to keep them in Pittsburgh as long as a new stadium was built. If not, he was free to move the Pirates, who have been in Pittsburgh for 111 years. The Pirates and Steelers are also providing $130 million to the project.

Third, the new stadiums are needed to generate the revenue required to build a championship team. Recently, the Pirates have had the lowest payroll and one of the worst records. Likewise, the Steelers lose most of their free agents every year.

The four teams involved are not getting this money for free, each must guarantee that their new stadiums will produce $2.5 million in additional tax revenue per year for the next 30 years. If the additional money is not generated, then the teams must pay the difference. This accounts for 94 percent of the $320 million provided by the state. The state is spending only $20 million on a project that will have a huge impact on the economy and image of Pennsylvania for years to come.

Matthew Glunt
senior-computer engineering

In Mark Schoneveld’s column yesterday, he asked Penn State students to "speak up and tell the administration how we feel." Well, I am taking him up on that suggestion.

I think that it is great the university is expanding Beaver Stadium. Whether you like football or not, the program brings in an unimaginable amount of money into this school, community and county. Local businesses thrive during the football season, and the thought of more business with the expansion is great. As for his notion that Penn State is "disguised under a mask of learning," I would have to say that Schoneveld is way off base. Unless you are planning to stay in school for the rest of your life, you are going to have to go out in the world and get a job (selling out to corporate America). Am I to believe that because I am concerned with my financial well-being and future security that Penn State failed me? On the contrary, being taught how to write a proper résumé and locating areas of good job-market potential is extremely beneficial to everyone. I will be proud to hold a Penn State degree, I am proud of our football program and I am proud of the education I received from the people he calls "profit and financial-focused" administrators and professors.

Fred Santoro
senior-secondary education

Did any of you attend a men’s basketball game at The Bryce Jordan Center this season? If so, what color did you notice the most? Blue. But not the navy of the Nittany Lions, rather the royal blue of the seats in the arena.

At the three or four games I went to this season, blue was the easiest color to spot as my nose bled from being seated in the rafters. Anyone who’s been there can tell you how ridiculous and embarrassing it is when more student cheers abound from the top 10 rows of the Jordan center as opposed to the "Roar’s Box." There were too many quality seats empty for no good reason.

First, to all of you who were the culprits: why bother to buy the tickets when you weren’t going to go to the games? Loyal fans, (especially those from Happy Valley) shouldn’t stop supporting a team just because they go through a rough season.

Second, as often as this happens, why must ushers be forced to leave seats vacant? When it’s late in the second half and the tempo of the game is stirring, that’s when our Lions need the most support. And if by that time those seats are still empty, I find it hard to believe that the people who hold those tickets are going to show up out of nowhere. Would it really be asking that much to let a bunch of fans move closer to the team they are trying to cheer on? From my own experience, it almost wasn’t worth it to try and storm the court after the win over Temple from the upper deck.

If the Lions plan to keep their fans next season, then there must be a better, more efficient way to solve these problems.

Mandy Murphy
freshman-public relations