"Don the Mail Guy" will stamp his last package at the University Park Post Office in two weeks after he was informed last Friday that his position is being abolished.

A Feb. 10 letter from a United States Postal Services Postmaster informed Donald Plotts, an eight-year employee of the post office, that because of lack of business, a part-time employee would replace him on Feb. 27.

"I feel like I've been betrayed," said Plotts, who has worked alongside friend Mike Herr at the University Park Post Office since 1998. "I mean, the time and effort I spent doing a good job ... and then for them to say there is work here but I won't be the one to do it. I just think that they should rethink things."

Cherry Emel, president of the local American Postal Workers Union, unit 2013, said the post office has not informed Penn State of Plotts' reassignment.

"They just spent all this money to fix up the office, and from talking to mail services, the post office hasn't informed anybody what they are doing," Emel said.

Plotts will most likely be reassigned to a position at the State College Post Office, 237 S. Fraser St., which he said is a step backward for his career, as he will have to work on weekends.

Steve Kochersperger, a communications specialist at the U.S. Postal Service's Erie district, said postal service studies have shown there is not enough work at the University Park office for two people.

"Every transaction is recorded ... every stamp that is sold, every money order, and even non-revenue transactions are tracked," Kochersperger said. "So we have an accurate picture of how much retail activity [there is]."

Kochersperger added that Herr has more seniority at the post office than Plotts.

"[Plotts] has become part of the Penn State fabric, but he's just the junior kid on the block," he said.

Plotts said he is concerned about the impact one fewer full-time employee will have on the post office's quality of service.

"I think it's unfair to the students because their tuition pays for this office," he said. "It's going to hurt the service. Students need to get in and out as quickly as possible between classes."

Emel said the post office is not fulfilling its contract's staffing requirements.

"[Penn State] might want to put a vending machine in the waiting area -- it's going to be atrocious," she said. "Going to the post office is not a pleasant thing to do around here. This means Mike can't go to the bathroom, and who will take care of stamps, service the machines and set out the supplies?"

Emel said the new stamp machine in the campus post office's lobby is another factor for eliminating Plotts' position. Customers who would normally wait in line for service from the mailmen are now using the machine.

"The impact that they are saying it has on his position is eight hours of work each week -- so they don't need [Plotts]," she said. "That's debatable."

Plotts and Herr have been active in campus life over the years, participating in the Homecoming Parade and this year, emceeing the Homecoming Airbands Competition. They also kick off the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon mail call parade.

Plotts said he prides himself on cheering students with his antics and enthusiasm.

"Mike and I present a positive image of the post office that students can take with them the rest of their lives," he said. "The best thing anybody has ever said to me was that the only place better to wait in line than here is Disney World."

Students expressed shock and dismay upon learning of Plott's reassignment.

"Those guys are really fun, and I feel like they're a legend," Melissa Swietlicki (senior-media arts) said. "Don is irreplaceable. And how will one survive without the other?"

Molly Graham (junior-theatre) said she was saddened by the news that a "Penn State institution" will no longer be there to service the students.

Plotts said he will remember his time at the University Park Post Office fondly.

"If this is what's going to happen, I would like to thank all of the students who have ever come in to the post office and made my day," he said.

Emel said the local union will fight for Plotts' job and take the case to arbitration if necessary.

"The postmaster can agree to stop this job abolishment," she said. "The fact is that they have been good, loyal servants of the public to the university. They are needed and this shouldn't be happening."