I used to think Penn State and State College were a reflection for America at large. It certainly "looked" like a reflection of what I was seeing on television.
And let's get straight to the point. It looked mostly White, with a few select minorities thrown in. It looked like television, which I thought was (and was generally sold as) a representation of America.
Unbeknownst to me at the time, television was projecting a mostly White society that contrasted with the reality of the world.
While Penn State might look diverse next the surrounding rural areas that are over 95% White, it is far, FAR more removed from the diverse and densely populated cities and larger townships that drive much of the state economy.
Recent graduates of all types are most likely to relocate to larger population centers (re:cities) next in search of employment. If that is true, then the most likely place Penn State graduates will look and find work will be in area's far more diverse than State College or the surrounding area.
Cities such as Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, where the white population ranges from roughly 22% In Harrisburg, to 65% in Pittsburgh are the most likely
Philadelphia, the biggest population center in the entire state by an enormous margin has a White population of roughly 35%. There are more Black people in Philadelphia than 15 times the entire population of State College.
Penn State, and State College are not diverse by any stretch of the imagination and it is costing the University as well as the community. It has resulted in widespread misconceptions about race and equality, and hindered people's ability to confront the ongoing issues pertinent to today.
In a recent article in the Washington Post, Black faculty publicly showcased some of the specific issues that they have been facing.
In January a Black Caucus zoom call was ambushed by White Supremacists.
In June of 2020, a student and his father, were filmed attempting to intimidate peaceful protestors and shouting ethnic slurs.
A downtown Martin Luther King mural was defaced by White Supremacists
These are just the recent incidents and the ones that have bubbled to the surface.
Things need to change.
Penn State, like much of America, is at a crossroads. It needs leadership, it needs direction, and it needs it now. The current President, Dr. Eric Barron is planning to retire at the end of June. The very first priority needs to be the further integration of minorities into Penn State and a dedication to ensuring their safety and well-being.
As part of that mission, in order to educate a population that has not, and in its current condition, cannot, see the inequalities in America, it should be required that to attain a Penn State degree, you would need to pass a course relevant to hate and racism in America. A civics lesson on the history of the KKK, Jim Crow, the rise of White Supremacists within the American military and police ranks and the spread of racial hate in the age of the internet.
Penn State graduates are all asked to have passing scores in reference to English, Math, and a Foreign Language to ensure that the students have been properly prepared for the world that they are about to go into. That they will essentially have a core and common background to start with that will enable them to communicate to whoever they might contact in the professional world.
Race relations needs and the examination of White Supremacy and Nationalism that manifests itself in both subtle and overt ways must be addressed going forward, and if Penn State can be one of the first institutions to address a problem that has plagued not only its local community, but the world over, it would make itself the first, and therefore markedly ahead of its competitors who might still be resistant to the necessary overhaul that must happen across the country.
I believe people are looking for something to get behind. They've been waiting for a while. Penn State can be that positive change, that positive story everyone gets behind.
Imagine if you will, a new Penn State, where there is an admission that so many of the old ways need to be reformed and changes need to start at the top. That there will be an unwavering commitment to hiring a far more diverse group of individuals to run this University into the future, which surely will become MORE diverse, not less so.
Penn State's brand and slogan is synonymous with inclusion. We Are is a brand that says "no matter what background you may have, you can be a Penn Stater". You can espouse and live the values of the University such as respect, integrity, or discovery and be part of this community.
Luckily for Penn State, they potentially have such a messenger, should he choose to accept it. A man who might be the best voice in all of America on the subjects of education, race and well being.
John Amaechi is a modern day Renaissance man. An alumnus of Penn State, where he also gained incredible fame playing basketball, Amaechi went on to do much more than athletics, attaining a PhD in psychology, and using his education and gifts for speaking in a multitude of philanthropic and educational pursuits.
If John Amaechi, an openly Gay, Black Man were to become President at one of the most prestigious and glamorized schools in America, it would put Penn State further towards two very obvious goals.
To diversify, and further show a commitment to diversifying its staff, trusting in the leadership of a brilliant and qualified person who is familiar with the layout of the town and the cultural issues of today in a profound way.
It will also separate Penn State as being further along than other schools in their commitments. A willingness to embrace the moment and take on perhaps the greatest issue of all. Can education fix race relations in the world, and if so, who will be first to figure it out? If Penn State becomes the school that leads the way, that puts Penn State ahead of its competitors.
I do not know if John Amaechi would be interested in the position, and what would surely be a tidal wave of pressure to become nearly instantaneously more successful by some, and attacked maliciously by others.
But I believe that his voice is the one that best represents the values of Penn State. That his way of thinking, his level of empathy, and his commitment to education make him in my mind the perfect fit for President.
