I am writing in response to the editorial published in yesterday's Collegian titled "Pennsylvania's best interest to cease capital punishment." As the Penn State student who introduced the moratorium resolution to the State College Borough Council, I would like to thank the writers for presenting my personal position on this issue so well. I could not have said it better myself.

I would like to further urge the State College Borough Council to take this resolution seriously and place it on the agenda for a vote. Although it is not the local government's role to pass legislation concerning the death penalty, this resolution is critical in demonstrating the growing amount of public concern dealing with the death penalty. Passing the resolution would show that the democratically elected government officials of State College recognize this reality. It would send Gov. Tom Ridge, who asserts that "the death penalty still enjoys very strong support among the people of Pennsylvania", a statement expressing the discontent of the residents of Pennsylvania, particularly State College, with this racist and violent institution performed in the name of justice. I hope that State College will join the other cities in Pennsylvania (Rouseville, Erie, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and York) where resolutions have already been passed.