Student activists plan to host events of their own as some of the country's governors and most influential leaders assemble during the annual meeting of the National Governors' Association.
In an attempt to redirect the focus of the NGA meeting, Redirection 2000 plans to bring in speakers and performers and host workshops from July 7 to 11 to address issues of social justice and democracy.
The student-run people's convention has been organizing and planning for the event since May and has garnered support from about 50 student activists. The group also received funding for the bands and speakers from the University Park Allocation Committee.
Because the NGA meeting will shut down much of State College and campus, the location provides students with a prime opportunity for involvement during the summer months.
"We feel a responsibility to do this," said Justin Leto, director of Redirection 2000. "We need to establish a forum for everyone to express their views.
Students need to be the force for social change."
The structure of the NGA does not allow citizens to address concerns they might have because it is closed to the public. Instead, corporations and powerful people have been invited to attend the convention, Leto said.
Redirection 2000, however, plans to be heard even if it can't attend the governors' meeting.
A rally will be held at noon on July 8 outside Beaver Stadium.
The following day, if the permit is granted, the group plans to march down College Avenue.
Kevin Danaher, director of Public Education for Global Exchange, will deliver a speech preceding the march.
Danaher said he first heard about the alternative convention when he visited State College last April.
He said he is honored to accept Redirection 2000's invitation to speak partly because there is such a lack of representation in the National Governor's Association.
"The governors got into power by sucking up to corporate interests," he said. "They tend to decide against the working class. We have big structural issues with the governors."
While Redirection 2000 hopes the governors will take notice of the scheduled protests, the governors themselves will be busy with their own convention, including Gov. Tom Ridge.
Ridge has no plans to talk with the protesters but is not surprised that protests will take place, said Nell Abom, Ridge's deputy director of communications.
The NGA itself also is not surprised protesters will be in the area during the convention.
"Our meeting isn't any different than any other meeting and we're not looking at this (Redirection 2000) any differently," said Christine LaPaille, director of the office of public affairs at the NGA.
"We are giving them the opportunity to say what they want to say. It's a high profile meeting. This comes with the territory," she said.
While Penn State is working in cooperation with the NGA, it also values the student activism.
"The university appreciates students being involved in issues," said Steve McCarthy, director of university relations. "It's important to pay attention to what's going on in the world. It's just harder to say about Redirection 2000 because they've got such a broad agenda."
According to its press release, Redirection 2000 is endorsed by more than 30 groups, including Alliance for Global Justice, Centre County Greens, Green Party USA, Pennsylvania Environmental Network, Nicaragua Network and the Campaign for Labor Rights.
