October/November Penn State Board Meetings Report:

[PSUFTG]

My comments from the Penn State Board of Trustees Meeting November 8, 2024 – BARRY FENCHAK

On a related note, Spotlight PA recently published this article:
Penn State trustees rarely discuss proposals before voting • Spotlight PA

The article highlights a perceived lack of meaningful public discussion and deliberation by the Board, as well as what PSU's Board does - and doesn't - discuss.

One of the things highlighted in the Spotlight article was that a grand total of 2 minutes of what they felt were deliberative actions took place throughout the entire November BOT meeting. I spoke, for approximately 2 minutes, about concerns related to PSU's missions vav the new student housing proposal - so I guess that was it.
Of course, it is not at all uncommon for the entirety of any "deliberative discussions" during the public meetings - or attempts to catalyze deliberative discussions - comes from me alone. I was also unable to comment on similar concerns regarding the classrooms issue.... as well as being unable to register comments and attempt to initiate discussion regarding the disenfranchisement of Penn State Alumni - that info is all in the report linked above.
Also, some brief legal updates.

 

[Sharkies]

I mean at this point, is there anything, anything at all an average person like myself can do? Appears not. Our votes are meaningless, even without a vetting criteria (a joke in everyway as well, surprised they didn't do this a decade ago), the alumni trustees never have enough votes to enact any change on the board as a whole. We're cooked and your 2 minutes to speak are just dust in the wind...

 

[Zenophile]

I mean at this point, is there anything, anything at all an average person like myself can do? Appears not. Our votes are meaningless, even without a vetting criteria (a joke in everyway as well, surprised they didn't do this a decade ago), the alumni trustees never have enough votes to enact any change on the board as a whole. We're cooked and your 2 minutes to speak are just dust in the wind...

Hard to argue. Even the repeatedly unfavorable legal decisions seem to serve as mere temporary inconveniences. Would surely be nice if the Commonwealth took notice.

 

[Keyser Soze 16802]

Only 2 alumni elected trustees voted against "the matrix"???

 

[TiogaLion]

I mean at this point, is there anything, anything at all an average person like myself can do? Appears not. Our votes are meaningless, even without a vetting criteria (a joke in everyway as well, surprised they didn't do this a decade ago), the alumni trustees never have enough votes to enact any change on the board as a whole. We're cooked and your 2 minutes to speak are just dust in the wind...

Yes, there is something you can do. Donate to Barry's legal fund. If you read the court papers, you'll see that he is very likely to win this case. The Judge basically says he'll win, so if he actually wins, it will put him in a nice position to make major changes to the board AND to go after some of these A-Holes personally. Much of what they've done is illegal, and I'd love nothing more than seeing Schuyler and Mary Lee Schneider hauled away in handcuffs. I can dream, can't I? And personally, if I had to pick one it would be Mary Lee.

EDIT: If Barry wins this case, he'll likely be indemnified, so PSU would take over his legal expenses. We have to keep him in the game until that can happen.

 

[TiogaLion]

Forgot to add to the above.

Donate to Support Penn State Trustee Barry Fenchak’s Legal Fund, organized by David Lapioli

Penn State Trustee Barry Fenchak Legal Fund As Penn Staters an… David Lapioli needs your support for Support Penn State Trustee Barry Fenchak’s Legal Fund

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