Students and postal union representatives are fighting to keep "Don the Mail Guy" at the University Park Post Office on campus. A Penn State spokesman said university administration would not intervene, saying this is a postal service matter.

On Feb. 27, the Postal Service Postmaster plans to reassign Donald Plotts to another location, most likely the State College Post Office, 237 S. Fraser St.

In front of the post office at the McAllister Building, Luke Stedrak (senior-education) started a student petition yesterday to save Plotts' position. By the end of the day, 268 students signed the petition. Stedrak said he aims to collect 500 signatures.

"He's a part of Penn State, and I wanted to do my part to help out," he said. "The postal service's decision doesn't seem to have a lot of reasoning behind it. The post office is usually pretty busy."

Cherry Emel, president of local American Postal Workers Union, unit 2013, sent a letter to Penn State President Graham Spanier and hopes he will respond to the postmaster.

"Without Don, Mike will be the only one there," she said. "If Mike gets sick or takes a phone call, he'll have to shut the window, and people will wait."

The Penn State administration will not intervene on Plotts' behalf, Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig said.

"This sounds like a postal service issue," Kendig said. "The postal service owns and operates the office. What they choose to do with their employees is their business."

Penn State recently paid to have the University Park Post Office renovated and a computerized postal system that sells stamps and mails letters installed, Emel said.

"The new machine is good, but it can't mail anything overseas or to military bases," Emel said. "Removing Don is going to make the post office less efficient."

Plotts said he was surprised by all the students' involvement on his behalf.

"I just go about my job and smile at every customer," he said. "I know I made a difference here."

Plotts said he hopes the administration will intervene to keep his position.

"The university has done a good job by the post office, and I would think they would realize this affects students and have a stake in this," Plotts said.

Some students who signed the petition said they want the mailman to stay so they can receive their mail faster and enjoy the mail office's fun atmosphere.

"My boyfriend is in Rome, and I prefer getting my mail quickly," Jessica Welsh (junior-hotel, restaurant and institutional management) said. "I send about five letters a week."

Sarah Weiland (sophomore-rehabilitation services) said she always visits the University Park office after a bad experience at the State College Post Office.

"I waited in line for over an hour. I got to the window, and they said, 'Sorry, we're closed,' " she said. "I like these post office guys. They always go out of [their] way to help you."

Amanda Wick (freshmen-Spanish education) said she liked the post office atmosphere and Plotts' attitude.

"He's amazing. I love the techno music they always play, and his dancing makes me laugh," she said. "He's the highlight of the mailing experience."