Trustees Ballots for Alumni Now Available
By: Jeff Preval
Updated: April 10, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, CENTRE COUNTY - The most competitive Board of Trustees election in Penn State's history is underway.
The number of candidates nationwide running for the board is 86. The number of spots on the board is just three.
At 12:01 a.m. Tuesday morning, ballots to alumni were delivered via email. Alumni who are part of the Penn State Alumni Association or gave money to the university the last two years, should already have a ballot. Penn State says more than 500,000 alumni are eligible to vote this spring.
This year's board election is expected to have more participation than any board election in the past. Candidates running in the race are coming from as far as California, Wisconsin and Florida. Alumni nationwide have been casting their ballots immediately.
"We've seen a range of opinion in our alumni universe there has been a number of alumni distressed and upset about the way coach [Joe] Paterno was terminated and some of this has translated into unprecedented interest," said Roger Williams of the Penn State Alumni Association.
Maribeth Schmidt, an organizer for Penn Staters for Responsible Stewardship said, "if you don't have the time to really get to know all 86, it's definitely like throwing darts to pick three that you might know from name recognition or your home town or what major you shared in college."
If you're a Penn State graduate and need a ballot. The process to get one is quick.
Send an email to bot@psu.edu with information including your name, year of graduation, major, current email address and home address. Penn State will then send you election information just for the voter.
"What is truly needed is alumni action and participation in this election," said Schmidt, "take a good look at who's out there and to really make an educated decision for those three ballots that they're able to cast."
Biographies for all candidates can be found on the trustees website. The Penn State Alumni Association will hold a meet and greet with alumni and all the candidates on the Saturday of Blue-White weekend. This may be the best time to talk to a candidate before voting closes May 3. The winners will be announced the next day at University Park during the trustees meeting.
The number of candidates nationwide running for the board is 86. The number of spots on the board is just three.
At 12:01 a.m. Tuesday morning, ballots to alumni were delivered via email. Alumni who are part of the Penn State Alumni Association or gave money to the university the last two years, should already have a ballot. Penn State says more than 500,000 alumni are eligible to vote this spring.
This year's board election is expected to have more participation than any board election in the past. Candidates running in the race are coming from as far as California, Wisconsin and Florida. Alumni nationwide have been casting their ballots immediately.
"We've seen a range of opinion in our alumni universe there has been a number of alumni distressed and upset about the way coach [Joe] Paterno was terminated and some of this has translated into unprecedented interest," said Roger Williams of the Penn State Alumni Association.
Maribeth Schmidt, an organizer for Penn Staters for Responsible Stewardship said, "if you don't have the time to really get to know all 86, it's definitely like throwing darts to pick three that you might know from name recognition or your home town or what major you shared in college."
If you're a Penn State graduate and need a ballot. The process to get one is quick.
Send an email to bot@psu.edu with information including your name, year of graduation, major, current email address and home address. Penn State will then send you election information just for the voter.
"What is truly needed is alumni action and participation in this election," said Schmidt, "take a good look at who's out there and to really make an educated decision for those three ballots that they're able to cast."
Biographies for all candidates can be found on the trustees website. The Penn State Alumni Association will hold a meet and greet with alumni and all the candidates on the Saturday of Blue-White weekend. This may be the best time to talk to a candidate before voting closes May 3. The winners will be announced the next day at University Park during the trustees meeting.
