Results of PSAA Alumni Council Election are posted

[debbeidel4alumnicouncil]

http://alumni.psu.edu/council/elections/home-candidates, The alumni have ROARED!

Alumni Council Candidates Votes
David J. Paterno ’88, ’91g Eng 5,135
Elizabeth Ann R. Morgan ’87 Sci 3,657
Bradley J. Mitchell ’84 Eng 3,274
Karen E. Keller ’00 Sci 3,042
Susan Beck Wilson ’71 Edu 3,028
Laurie Anne Stanell ’80 Sci 2,943
Michael S. Kirschner ’66 Bus 2,941
M. Toni Knoll ’70 Lib 2,856
James H. Smith ’88, ’92g Eng 2,658
Gary L. Werkheiser ’81 Bus 2,618
William J. Cluck ’82 Com 2,299
David S. Cavanaugh ’76 A&A 2,094
Lynn Kennedy Cruser ’83 Bus 1,938
Darryl E. Bundrige ’93 Com 1,928
Patricia M. Thompson ’86, ’08g Edu 1,820
Wendy E. Braund ’01 Hershey 1,699
Roxanne C. Shiels ’90, ’93g Agr 1,583
M. Liz Bligan ’81 Sci, ’98g IDF 1,546
David W. Ulmer ’01, ’08g Bus 1,537
Shawn M. Hinkle ’01 Berks 1,498
Joelyn Beneigh Niggel ’74 Nurs 1,391
Martin R. Mc Gann ’76 A&A, ’87g Hbg 1,356
Richard D. Randall ’71 Eng 1,328
Beverly D. Sobel-Redler ’85 Lib 1,308
Richard A. Booth ’59 Agr 1,260
Christopher M. Bogden ’91 Eng 1,241
Ronald R. Musoleno ’73, ’76g Edu 1,098
John C. Perate ’96 Bus 1,056
Christina L. Santacroce ’88 Bus 1,000
Dan A. Woods ’69 Bus 983
James J. Hummel ’95 EMS 978

Thanks to all of you who voted.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Wow, 9 of the 10 from the PSAAforALL.org slate were elected to Alumni Council. The only member of the slate that wasn't elected was Bill Cluck, who came in 11th in the voting. The only non-member of the slate that was elected was Karen Keller, who came in 4th in the voting.

Awesome job by each of you that voted, and by each of you that contacted friends and family to encourage them to vote.

I'm happy for the Alumni Association, and I'm happy for Deb Beidel, who now has some support (keep in mind it is a minority) on Alumni Council.

 

[fairgambit]

http://alumni.psu.edu/council/elections/home-candidates, The alumni have ROARED!

It's a shame it wasn't a sweep but 9 of 10 is outstanding. Also, this is but one election. There will be others as the years go by and we must never again taking any of them for granted.

 

[psu00]

Wow, 9 of the 10 from the PSAAforALL.org slate were elected to Alumni Council. The only member of the slate that wasn't elected was Bill Cluck, who came in 11th in the voting. The only non-member of the slate that was elected was Karen Keller, who came in 4th in the voting.

Awesome job by each of you that voted, and by each of you that contacted friends and family to encourage them to vote.

I'm happy for the Alumni Association, and I'm happy for Deb Beidel, who now has some support (keep in mind it is a minority) on Alumni Council.

Does anyone know Karen Keller's stances on the big issues?

 

[simons96]

so the 2 alumni who had to fight to get on the ballot both won . . .

 

[fairgambit]

http://alumni.psu.edu/council/elections/home-candidates, The alumni have ROARED!

The results tell me the real winners were all of us who love Penn State. Let's keep plugging away at the old guard, one election at a time. The future is ours.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Does anyone know Karen Keller's stance on the big issues?

I haven't a clue. She's a current member of Alumni Council, and served on Alumni Council's Executive Board in 2013-14. Like many of those that ran in this year's election, she has given a lot of time and energy to PSU since her graduation. You can read her bio/campaign spiel at THIS LINK. I give her a lot of credit, in that she seems to be the only non-PSAAforALL candidate that was able to organize a large turnout for their candidacy.

 

[BobPSU92]

so the 2 alumni who had to fight to get on the ballot both won . . .

I'm sure there are some back-room shenanigans taking place to "right this wrong".

 

[Tom McAndrew]

A sobering note:

On the PSAA web site, where the election results are announced, it also contains this info:

"In addition, and in accordance with the bylaws, the officers of the Alumni Association will be appointing 10 additional members of Alumni Council. The 10 appointments will be announced in the near future."

The web site also contains this piece of info:

"Of the 136,059 eligible voters, 7,587 voted, for a voting percentage of 5.58 percent. The turnout this year is a slight increase from last year’s participation of 5.31 percent. The election was administered and results were certified by Votenet Solutions Inc., of Washington, D.C."

 

[91Joe95]

A sobering note:

On the PSAA web site, where the election results are announced, it also contains this info:

"In addition, and in accordance with the bylaws, the officers of the Alumni Association will be appointing 10 additional members of Alumni Council. The 10 appointments will be announced in the near future."

The web site also contains this piece of info:

"Of the 136,059 eligible voters, 7,587 voted, for a voting percentage of 5.58 percent. The turnout this year is a slight increase from last year’s participation of 5.31 percent. The election was administered and results were certified by Votenet Solutions Inc., of Washington, D.C."

I'd love to hear the bot spin this as better alumni representation than the bot voting. On a more positive note, they did better percentage wise in their first organized election than psr.

 

[michnittlion]

A sobering note:

On the PSAA web site, where the election results are announced, it also contains this info:

"In addition, and in accordance with the bylaws, the officers of the Alumni Association will be appointing 10 additional members of Alumni Council. The 10 appointments will be announced in the near future."

The web site also contains this piece of info:

"Of the 136,059 eligible voters, 7,587 voted, for a voting percentage of 5.58 percent. The turnout this year is a slight increase from last year’s participation of 5.31 percent. The election was administered and results were certified by Votenet Solutions Inc., of Washington, D.C."

Good information. That means the candidates who got elected got anywhere between 1.92% (2618/136059) and 3.77% (5135/136059) of the eligible vote.

Something to consider, if one is inclined to spin these results as a "mandate" or a "majority of the alums."

 

[Zenophile]

I'd love to hear the bot spin this as better alumni representation than the bot voting.

I can already tell you that. And it rhymes with "mocal vinority".

 

[KC-KS-Lion]

It will be interesting to hear Barron's response after the newly elected representatives voice their opinions. He may go Peetz and Frazier, and be silent in the future.

A Paterno easily getting the most votes should emphasize to anyone how important and revered Joe is to the Penn State community.

 

[PSUMATT85]

Good information. That means the candidates who got elected got anywhere between 1.92% (2618/136059) and 3.77% (5135/136059) of the eligible vote.

Something to consider, if one is inclined to spin these results as a "mandate" or a "majority of the alums."

Which is about 10x what the appointed council members would receive

 

[psu00]

Which is about 10x what the appointed council members would receive

Exactly. First turnout in these elections has never been high so to start the percentage bean counting is ridiculous (but very par for the course for the Michigan fan that posts that stuff here). The fact is there's zero support for the BoT or Roger Williams side. We see that in every election. Where were their votes? If they are such a majority (with those that keep winning these elections labelled a 'vocal minority') then where are their landslide of votes in alumni BoT elections, PSU AA elections, etc?

Before they start labeling people as a minority- they are going to have to show me the majority. It's the first time in history such a 'majority' is nowhere to be seen anywhere.

 

[Aoshiro]

A sobering note:

On the PSAA web site, where the election results are announced, it also contains this info:

"In addition, and in accordance with the bylaws, the officers of the Alumni Association will be appointing 10 additional members of Alumni Council. The 10 appointments will be announced in the near future."

The web site also contains this piece of info:

"Of the 136,059 eligible voters, 7,587 voted, for a voting percentage of 5.58 percent. The turnout this year is a slight increase from last year’s participation of 5.31 percent. The election was administered and results were certified by Votenet Solutions Inc., of Washington, D.C."

Clearly voter turnout is not a concern for the alumni association, as it never posted a single reminder about the election on any of its social media outlets.

So the spin will be that "hardly anyone voted" while at the same time it neglected to remind people that there was an election.

Par for the Penn State course these days. They really insult the intelligence of Penn State alums with this crap.

 

[fairgambit]

A sobering note:
On the PSAA web site, where the election results are announced, it also contains this info:
"In addition, and in accordance with the bylaws, the officers of the Alumni Association will be appointing 10 additional members of Alumni Council. The 10 appointments will be announced in the near future."
The web site also contains this piece of info:
"Of the 136,059 eligible voters, 7,587 voted, for a voting percentage of 5.58 percent. The turnout this year is a slight increase from last year’s participation of 5.31 percent. The election was administered and results were certified by Votenet Solutions Inc., of Washington, D.C."

The low number doesn't necessarily bother me. If someone doesn't care enough to vote, they likely have not educated themselves about the issues and candidates in which case I'm glad they sat the election out. I am embarrassed to say I often voted in past PSU elections based upon name recognition (Joel Myers and Anne Riley come to mind). I will never do that again. If anyone is going to vote for something as important as the future of Penn State they should do their homework before casting a ballot. If they don't, I would rather they not vote at all.

 

[step.eng69]

Great news for all PSAAforAll candidates, GREAT NEWS FOR US

DO YOU HEAR US ...

....OR....
SHOULD WE TURN IT UP FOR YOU​

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

A sobering note:

On the PSAA web site, where the election results are announced, it also contains this info:

"In addition, and in accordance with the bylaws, the officers of the Alumni Association will be appointing 10 additional members of Alumni Council. The 10 appointments will be announced in the near future."."

I may be going way out on a limb, but I predict that the PSUAA Executive Committee will "appoint" any like-minded incumbent who lost their seat in the real election.

 

[Zenophile]

Clearly voter turnout is not a concern for the alumni association, as it never posted a single reminder about the election on any of its social media outlets.

So the spin will be that "hardly anyone voted" while at the same time it neglected to remind people that there was an election.

Par for the Penn State course these days. They really insult the intelligence of Penn State alums with this crap.

Yup. They have nothing to gain by promoting the election, as they can't claim to represent the position of the "silent majority" if the majority doesn't remain silent.

 

[Sam Spade 80]

Good information. That means the candidates who got elected got anywhere between 1.92% (2618/136059) and 3.77% (5135/136059) of the eligible vote.

Something to consider, if one is inclined to spin these results as a "mandate" or a "majority of the alums."

And yet, based on how far the cabals who run the BOT and PSAA have gone to change their composition and alter bylaws to try to marginalize any opposition, they sure seem terrified of the thought of these people being allowed to speak.

 

[michnittlion]

And yet, based on how far the cabals who run the BOT and PSAA have gone to change their composition and alter bylaws to try to marginalize any opposition, they sure seem terrified of the thought of these people being allowed to speak.

Fine, I'll play along --- let me agree that they are "trying to marginalizing the opposition."

Marginalizing groups whose primary motivation is centered upon the past, winning the discussion on how a former football head coach is viewed --- yes, I guess I would say I am in favor of marginalizing groups whose primary motivation is that.

Penn State's primary motivation going forward should be (as it ever was): providing an affordable and world-class education to residents of the Commonwealth. That should be the primary mission of the BOT and PSAA. Leave the "Paterno fight" to the Paternos.

Anyway, I'd really like to hear more about what the PS4RS (and eventually the PSAAforall's) elected members are doing toward that primary motivation. Mr. Lubrano, for instance, he posts here --- he's been a BOT member for 35 months now. What can he specifically point to to show progress toward that goal?

 

[fairgambit]

Good information. That means the candidates who got elected got anywhere between 1.92% (2618/136059) and 3.77% (5135/136059) of the eligible vote.
Something to consider, if one is inclined to spin these results as a "mandate" or a "majority of the alums."

OK, I considered it. There is no indication that the results would be any different with a larger voter turnout. Political polling, which is generally very accurate, usually contains much smaller samples, and unlike polling, this result is based upon actual returns. I have no problem calling this a mandate. I've been around politics a long time and if a politician, or particular group, supports 10 candidates, and 9 win, it an epic victory.

 

[WeR0206]

Fine, I'll play along --- let me agree that they are "trying to marginalizing the opposition."

Marginalizing groups whose primary motivation is centered upon the past, winning the discussion on how a former football head coach is viewed --- yes, I guess I would say I am in favor of marginalizing groups whose primary motivation is that.

Penn State's primary motivation going forward should be (as it ever was): providing an affordable and world-class education to residents of the Commonwealth. That should be the primary mission of the BOT and PSAA. Leave the "Paterno fight" to the Paternos.

Anyway, I'd really like to hear more about what the PS4RS (and eventually the PSAAforall's) elected members are doing toward that primary motivation. Mr. Lubrano, for instance, he posts here --- he's been a BOT member for 35 months now. What can he specifically point to to show progress toward that goal?

Believe it or not the Alum elected BOT members can focus on a variety of issues at the same time, the primary mission you outline above being one of them. I'm sick an tired of people throwing out the red herring of the alum BOT members are working on ONLY correcting the mistakes of the OG BOT and not on the other issues facing our school. That is simply NOT TRUE.

The alum members sit on a variety of committees and have contributed greatly to each with their insights/expertise. For examples of these contributions look no further than the replies of some of the alum members after Masser sandbagged the ad hoc meeting the alum members called in December 2014. Masser used the same red herring and got blasted by a bunch of the alum members with examples of their contributions in areas other than fixing the mistakes Masser and his corrupt buddies are responsible for.

The alum BOT members are more than capable of walking and chewing gum at the same time. You need to find some different talking points b/c the ones you keep bringing up simply aren't supported by reality.

 

[Madsol]

Fine, I'll play along --- let me agree that they are "trying to marginalizing the opposition."

Marginalizing groups whose primary motivation is centered upon the past, winning the discussion on how a former football head coach is viewed --- yes, I guess I would say I am in favor of marginalizing groups whose primary motivation is that.

Penn State's primary motivation going forward should be (as it ever was): providing an affordable and world-class education to residents of the Commonwealth. That should be the primary mission of the BOT and PSAA. Leave the "Paterno fight" to the Paternos.

Anyway, I'd really like to hear more about what the PS4RS (and eventually the PSAAforall's) elected members are doing toward that primary motivation. Mr. Lubrano, for instance, he posts here --- he's been a BOT member for 35 months now. What can he specifically point to to show progress toward that goal?

Many people are able to focus on several different objectives at once. If you can't that's ok. But don't project your limitations on others.

 

[ForesterGump]

Fine, I'll play along --- let me agree that they are "trying to marginalizing the opposition."

Marginalizing groups whose primary motivation is centered upon the past, winning the discussion on how a former football head coach is viewed --- yes, I guess I would say I am in favor of marginalizing groups whose primary motivation is that.

Penn State's primary motivation going forward should be (as it ever was): providing an affordable and world-class education to residents of the Commonwealth. That should be the primary mission of the BOT and PSAA. Leave the "Paterno fight" to the Paternos.

Anyway, I'd really like to hear more about what the PS4RS (and eventually the PSAAforall's) elected members are doing toward that primary motivation. Mr. Lubrano, for instance, he posts here --- he's been a BOT member for 35 months now. What can he specifically point to to show progress toward that goal?

It seems that you are the one that has focused on the "Paterno fight". For me, it's well beyond that. We have a bunch of corrupt bastards running the show. It has been this way for a long time, and it's about time it changes. As they said in Network, I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore.

 

[Aoshiro]

Penn State's primary motivation going forward should be (as it ever was): providing an affordable and world-class education to residents of the Commonwealth.

How on earth does pissing away hundreds of millions of dollars due to the board's SELF INFLICTED mistakes further that goal?

 

[Madsol]

It seems that you are the one that has focused on the "Paterno fight". For me, it's well beyond that. We have a bunch of corrupt bastards running the show. It has been this way for a long time, and it's about time it changes. As they said in Network, I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore.

Michnittlion is obsessed with Paterno. It's usually to say how others are solely focused on him but he always brings Paterno into the discussion. His act got old years ago.

 

[Zenophile]

Penn State's primary motivation going forward should be (as it ever was): providing an affordable and world-class education to residents of the Commonwealth. That should be the primary mission of the ...PSAA.

We'll have to agree to disagree about that. IMHO the primary accountability of the Penn State Alumni Association should be Penn State Alumni.

 

[michnittlion]

Michnittlion is obsessed with Paterno. It's usually to say how others are solely focused on him but he always brings Paterno into the discussion. His act got old years ago.

Yeah --- someone w/ the last name of "Paterno" got 40% more votes than anyone else in this election --- but it is "solely I" focused on Paterno.

Uh huh.

 

[michnittlion]

Believe it or not the Alum elected BOT members can focus on a variety of issues at the same time, the primary mission you outline above being one of them. I'm sick an tired of people throwing out the red herring of the alum BOT members are working on ONLY correcting the mistakes of the OG BOT and not on the other issues facing our school. That is simply NOT TRUE.

The alum members sit on a variety of committees and have contributed greatly to each with their insights/expertise. For examples of these contributions look no further than the replies of some of the alum members after Masser sandbagged the ad hoc meeting the alum members called in December 2014. Masser used the same red herring and got blasted by a bunch of the alum members with examples of their contributions in areas other than fixing the mistakes Masser and his corrupt buddies are responsible for.

The alum BOT members are more than capable of walking and chewing gum at the same time. You need to find some different talking points b/c the ones you keep bringing up simply aren't supported by reality.

To repeat my question, what have any PS4RS-supported BOT members done to show progress towards Penn State's primary mission of providing a world-class and affordable education to Commonwealth residents?

 

[michnittlion]

We'll have to agree to disagree about that. IMHO the primary accountability of the Penn State Alumni Association should be Penn State Alumni.

That's fair ---- though I can't see how any alum is a fan of Penn State tuition rates beginning to rival those of the in-state Patriot League schools (Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette).

 

[Aoshiro]

To repeat my question, what have any PS4RS-supported BOT members done to show progress towards Penn State's primary mission of providing a world-class and affordable education to Commonwealth residents?

Trustee Ted Brown submitted a motion for the Board to look at freezing tuition, and this ultimately is what happened.

M'kay?

 

[kgilbert78]

It's a shame it wasn't a sweep but 9 of 10 is outstanding. Also, this is but one election. There will be others as the years go by and we must never again taking any of them for granted.

And, sadly, almost meaningless, as they neutered the alumni voted reps by adding an additional 10 appointed members. And you can almost bet that the 9 elected reps will not be allowed to be renominated.

But unlike MichNittLions thoughts, this election had little to do with Paterno but instead with the taking over of the Alumni Association by an unelected cabal. These are similar issues to that of the BOT to be sure, due largely by the methods used in the takeover. But there is a difference.

While we may all differ--and reasonably--about the composition of a BOT for a university and as to which stake holders get which representation (I for one would not want a BOT of all alums--an outside viewpoint can be useful and restrain groupthink), the case of the Alumni Association is different. While to be sure, you need a director and a paid organization to run the day to day operations, the board that chooses them should be alums and should be by vote. By definition, we are an association of alumni. If we cannot run our own affairs perhaps there should not be an Alumni Association at all. To not even be permitted to be present at any council meetings is totally antithetical to the entire idea of an alumni association. It is very odd to be a member of an organization that doesn't trust me enough to participate in their meetings unless anointed from above.

And I speak as a former Alumni Chapter president.

 

[Aoshiro]

That's fair ---- though I can't see how any alum is a fan of Penn State tuition rates beginning to rival those of the in-state Patriot League schools (Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette).

I don't like it very much, but it doesn't affect me personally. It does affect me personally when a social acquaintance or business colleague hears that I went to Penn State and he calls it "Pedo U."

I'm not unsympathetic to the concerns of Penn State students, but frankly, my number one concern (and this is clearly true of most alums) is Penn State's reputation. An alumni association that pretends that this is not a major concern for alums is of no use to me.

 

[lionlurker]

What happened to you, MichNitt? You were so reasonable for a while, and now, you are back to being vituperatively anti-Paterno, the guy who's been dead nearly 3 years.

Doesn't make much sense for you to resurrect your hatred at this point in time.

 

[simons96]

What happened to you, MichNitt? You were so reasonable for a while, and now, you are back to being vituperatively anti-Paterno, the guy who's been dead nearly 3 years.

Doesn't make much sense for you to resurrect your hatred at this point in time.

maybe he is cranky that his hero Mark May got the boot

 

[michnittlion]

I don't like it very much, but it doesn't affect me personally. It does affect me personally when a social acquaintance or business colleague hears that I went to Penn State and he calls it "Pedo U."

I'm not unsympathetic to the concerns of Penn State students, but frankly, my number one concern (and this is clearly true of most alums) is Penn State's reputation. An alumni association that pretends that this is not a major concern for alums is of no use to me.

You may need either (1) better acquaintances or colleagues, or (2) the ability to stand up for Penn State in said circumstances.

I've only heard something "pedophile-related" twice in the last 43 months, and only at football games (Wisconsin 2013 and Rutgers 2014) --- certainly not from acquaintances or colleagues. I think I well represented myself and our University in those exchanges. I just said "why the hell are you branding me, I had nothing to do with any of that. Stereotyping tens of thousands of PSU folk over one Freeh Report that arguably didn't prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt doesn't seem reasonable."

(and yes, I've always said the Freeh culture comments were a total below-the-belt cheap shot. Unfortunately, it's a shot where the correct PR play was to absorb it in July 2012 --- and fight back later).

Anyway, that's spending much of my time in OHIO --- around bunches of Bucknut fans. Who are you hanging out with that is so abusive???

I've always believed --- Penn State (or any school) is more about the current and future students than it is the past students (alumni). They are my #1 concern. Our overall reputation is fine, our gradual descent into unaffordability is not.

 

[Madsol]

What happened to you, MichNitt? You were so reasonable for a while, and now, you are back to being vituperatively anti-Paterno, the guy who's been dead nearly 3 years.

Doesn't make much sense for you to resurrect your hatred at this point in time.

Wow, I must have missed the day he was reasonable. This thread is the perfect example of what a prig he is.

 

[psu00]

I may be going way out on a limb, but I predict that the PSUAA Executive Committee will "appoint" any like-minded incumbent who lost their seat in the real election.

Exactly- which is why many people have given up on Penn state elections (from the BoT on down). Why spend a lot of time campaigning for 10 reform AA elected members when the powers that be at PSU will appoint 10 "status quo" followers a week later to cancel them out and leave the AA stacked in their favor? Does anyone think Cluck (the "first runner up") will be nominated by PSU in their 10 block in the next few days? . It's really those that are most invested or acting on principle that keep us the fight. The apathy builds each year (which is exactly what the BoT wants).