Chatting with the Chancellor at Penn State New Kensington: Comments

Comment on "Texting is a Killer"

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:10:27 -0500

Great comments. Thanks for responding. Wish I had done this before I wrote the piece. Intexicated...now that is great. Ron, I think the technology is such that it is just texting on phones, but I'm not sure so that would have to be figured out. Ben got me thinking about seatbelts. A campaign to wear them appears to be paying off. However, the question with cell phones is whether the addictive behavior associated with them would make an awareness campaign ineffective. Right now, they are finding that even in states where it is illegal, folks are still getting on their phones to text. After all, they are intexicated (love that one Deb).

- KEVIN J G SNIDER

Comment on "Texting is a Killer"

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:08:57 -0500

I would agree that texting is dangerous for most people when driving. That doesn't mean I don't partake, but I can see it's apparent dangers. As for fines, I don't know how effective this would really be and how it could be proven unless the police were to cite the time that they were pulled over, and check with the phone company. In this case, it may become a more costly expenditure and potentially not possible.

As far as a jammer in the car, I suppose that would make it impossible for anyone to text while in the car. If I'm not driving, I see no reason why I shouldn't be able to text in the car. Also, unless they come out with some new technology that allows text only to be blocked and not all cellular transmissions, this could create more of a problem. Many people are given cell phones by their parents, or invest in one themselves just because of safety issues and needed to have a way to communicate with someone in case of an emergency. To take that possibility away would be simply foolish.

I think awareness is the key. I know many people who can carry on a conversation, read a book, text someone, and watch television at the same time and absorb it all (exaggerating of course, but some are incredibly gifted at multi-tasking.) For most people, it is just the distraction of the conversation that causes them to be unsafe, not actually looking at the phone. I know many people who can text without looking, but it may still be distracting because their mind is somewhere else.

We many times complain about more government interference in our personal lives and I don't think this is the key. Wreckless driving is wreckless driving and should be punished. But pulling someone over who is driving perfectly fine because you think they maybe just might have a cell phone in their hand seems like an exercise in futility.

- BENJAMIN AUSTIN SMITH

Comment on "Texting is a Killer"

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:56:12 -0500

Yes, texting while driving is dangerous, and yes teens are much more guilty of it than adults. However, the solutions some have suggested I find worrisome. First, 'jamming' texting while in the car would also 'jam' other communications, and I'm not sure that is a good idea. There are many valid and safe uses of cell phones in cars (with hands-off and voice-activated systems, and for you GM owners, possibly your On-star system) that would no longer be available for teens (actually for all drivers and passengers since I doubt a jamming system could be built that could recognize when a teen was in the driver seat and nowhere else in the car). Wouldn't that be a case of throwing out the baby with the bath water?

If it can't (or shouldn't) be stopped electronically, that leaves the option of banning texting, which in reality means creating sufficient disincentives (read punishment, either legal or personal) to discourage the activity. Disincentives are fine, but some of the suggestions again are worrisome. For example, the penalties in PA for drunk driving right now call for jail time at either the second or third offense. I'm not sure we should go that far for texting while driving. Consider, in drunk driving situations the driver is continually impaired during the entire driving experience. As bad as texting is, it is at least a short term event, not a continuous (well for most I assume it's not continuous) event. And, yes, I know the current assessment is that the two actions are equally dangerous while occurring, but in terms of total risk to the driving public, I don't think they compare. So, I'm not sure I see jail time as an appropriate disincentive.

Finally, banning cell phones for newly licensed drivers I assume means banning for all time, not just while in a car. As a parent of three recent teens, I can say I greatly appreciated being able to contact my kids via cell phone on many occasions when they were out and about. I would hesitate to eliminate that convenience for parents of teens now, particularly during that vunerable time when they first start driving.

So, I guess what I'm saying is that I am in favor of disincentives, by family or legally (personally I prefer the ones implemented at home), but I think they require more consideration than some of the ideas proposed here.

- RONALD ELWOOD LAND

Comment on "Texting is a Killer"

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:20:19 -0500

In my opinion, driving is a "visual" task and non‐driving activities that draw the driver’s eyes away from the roadway, such as texting and phone dialing, should always be avoided.

Texting should be banned in moving vehicles for all drivers. Texting while driving has the potential to create a crash epidemic if texting‐type tasks continue to grow in popularity as the generation of frequent text message senders reach driving age in large numbers.

The primary risk associated with phone use in general is answering, dialing, and the texting tasks that require your eyes to be off the road.

In my opinion, all cell phone use should be banned for newly licensed teen drivers.

I think teens tend to engage in cell phone tasks much more frequently, and in much more risky situations, than adults. To me, this seems to indicate that teens are more likely to get into a related crash or near crash event than their adult counterparts.

- WAYNE D SMOUSE

Comment on "Texting is a Killer"

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:06:21 -0500

I agree that texting is dangerous while driving.

This web site had an article in May about textng and teens driving: "http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20090505/teens-all-thumbs-when-texting-and-driving">Teens all thumbs when texting and driving. Seems that the teens did not do so well when they were not distracted and, of course, made more errors when texting.

The other thing I saw yesterday was a young driver with a handheld video game -- and yes, he was playing while he was driving across the Tarentum bridge.

- Dr. Dee McGonigle

Comment on "Texting is a Killer"

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:57:06 -0500

I agree with Gary.... texting while driving is dangerous at any age and should be against the law. The term I have heard for those who cannot resist texting while driving is "intexticated". Appropriate, eh?

- DEBORAH Y SILLMAN

Comment on "Texting is a Killer"

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:13:02 -0500

Texting while driving is dangerous for anyone but especially for people who lack driving experience. There should be fines for anyone texting while driving.

- GARY LEE HEBERLING

Comment on "Now that You're Here, Feed Me"

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:02:45 -0500

AVI provides breakfast and lunche in a box for the golf team's away matches and the players and coaches have nothing but praise for the quality of the food. The sausage and egg sandwiches are excellent and the chicken wraps hit the spot. The campus golf team will continue to use the fine servcies of AVI.

- WILLIAM A WOODARD JR

Comment on "2009 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Picks"

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:35:21 -0500

Make that Tar Heels over Wake in the championship after they vanquish the Dukies in the semi-finals

- WILLIAM A WOODARD JR

Comment on "2009 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Picks"

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:26:51 -0500

A TAD ACC HEAVY
Sweet 16
Midwest - Louisville, Wake Forest, Dayton, BC
West - Connecticut, Wash, Mizzu, Terps
East - Pitt, Fla St, VillDuke
South - NC, Ill, SYR, Clem

Top 8 -
Midwest - Wake, BC
West - Wash, Mizzu
East - Pitt, Duke
South - NC, Clem

Final 4 -
Wahe, Wash, Duke, NC

Championship game - NC vs Duke. Tar heels take the game for a Three-game season sweep of the Dukies and the National Title.

- WILLIAM A WOODARD JR

Comment on "2009 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Picks"

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:20:16 -0500

Pitt will fall to Duke in the regional finals

- WILLIAM A WOODARD JR

Comment on "Vision for the Future"

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:06:42 -0500

the line --" Collaborates with colleagues across the University to provide world class educational and social opportunities." might read -- Collaborates with colleagues around the world to provide world class educational and social opportunities.
or,,, with colleagues from institutions around the world to provide world class educational----
or,,,across the University and around the world (or globe if 'world' used twice doesn't work in the same sentence) ,,,,
something to point to the international involvments we have through Penn State New Kensington

- CHARLES WILLIAM GIBBONS III

Comment on "Vision for the Future"

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:43:19 -0500

At the third star, Use should read Uses.
(English teachers tend to notice parallel structure and gramatical agreement, values which we hope universities will continue to endorse.)

- JEANNE ELIZABETH KROCHALIS

Comment on "Vision for the Future"

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:31:02 -0500

I believe the vision is right on target.

- JAN EDWARD ORRIS

Comment on "Vision for the Future"

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:24:15 -0500

I do think it addresses everything we discussed.

Would change the 3rd bullet from "use" to "uses" partnerships.

- Dr. Dee McGonigle

Comment on "Vision for the Future"

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:06:44 -0500

I think it complements the mission of the University: teaching, research, service to the community.

- WILLIAM A WOODARD JR

Comment on "To Delay or Not To Delay - Not an Easy Question to Answer"

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 15:20:17 -0500

I understand the process that goes into deciding whether to close the school or not, and I know it is not an easy one to make. A school closing or delay effects many people, and I know that not everyone will be happy with the decision as everyone cannot be accommodated. As I did not agree with your decision to keep the campus open for night classes, I respect your decision all the same. This is my first year back in Pittsburgh after being away for the past ten years living in Raleigh, NC. This is also my first year driving in winter conditions and my car does not have four-wheel drive. When I went out to my car after class at 2 o'clock and saw the ground covered in snow, I knew it was time for me to go home and stay home. My drive home usually takes about twenty minutes when the roads are clear. It took me almost an hour to get home on Wednesday because all of the roads I drive to get home were covered in snow. I had several issues getting home with my car on the icy snow, which started before I even got out of the parking lot. I did not attend either of my night classes because I did not want to risk driving back to school in those conditions. I know that not everyone will be happy with the decisions that are made, and I know that I was not happy about Wednesdays call, but I am only one person. Thanks.

- LAUREN REBECCA PAUL

Comment on "To Delay or Not To Delay - Not an Easy Question to Answer"

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:13:50 -0500

I feel that it's really unfair for students risking their lives let alone their grades from missing class because the areas around the campus might have good roads. Almost everyone commutes to campus and I have a 45 minute commute. I don't live in the area at all and have to drive through changing road and traffic conditions. I know I'm only one person but I guess my car or grade or life is worth holding class open. Every other campus had a cancellation ( my fiancé is at duquesne downtown and he didn't have night class). Frankly it angered me and my friends and family. Thanks

- ERIN GATELY HARFORD

Comment on "To Delay or Not To Delay - Not an Easy Question to Answer"

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:26:15 -0500

Dear Chancellor,

I feel that the decision to cancel or delay classes should not be based on what Kiski or any of the school districts decide to do. Delays are for the crews to work on the roads as well as for schools to get the buses ready to go out. The number of school buses for any school district is just astounding. But I guess my point is that the people in Iowa go through all this about once a week. We can't just stay holed up at home and hide out with every two inches of snow that comes our way! Last week when the school districts were closing due to the cold weather I heard a lot of students complain that we should have cancelled out for that as well. The reason they do this is because the buses do not run at extremely low temperatures. I even think that a 2-hour delay for low temperatures is even more annoying because with parents working even more children must walk to the bus stop because Mom and Dad need to get to work to feed the family. No one really wins when mother nature rears her ugly head.

I believe that testing the roads is the only way to go. Each student has an unique route they must take and the campus cannot make everyone happy! The employees who do the parking lots get there and I believe the campus has even used this to make these tough desicions. And to end this the fact remains; If you feel that conditions are too bad for you then just don't go. Professors give a certain amount of misses and in the Spring semester you just use them more wisely.

I apologize if I sound like I know what everyone has to go through with the weather and the problems they cause, but I do know that no one get a free pass.

Regards,
Tina Messner

- TINA LOUISE MESSNER

Comment on "To Delay or Not To Delay - Not an Easy Question to Answer"

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:04:47 -0500

Dear Chancellor,

I understand that making the decision to have a 2 hour delay, cancel classes, or just a normal schedule is very difficult. Like others commented, you'll have people mad for leaving the school open and risking their lives driving to campus; and you'll also have people who are mad that you closed the campus which may put them behind on their schoolwork. However, I feel yesterday should definitely have been an exception. I did not make it up to campus for my morning class, which luckily has a make up class on Friday morning.

I did however have an interview in the afternoon at the Pittsburgh Mills which was a nightmare to get to even traveling on route 28. I had a night class Wedneday evening, and this being my first winter driving, I was pretty scared to try to drive after class. I had to go to class because we had three assignments due, and if you are not in class, you do not get full credit which put me in a predicament. Therefore, I went to my evening class, and drove home. I hard a hard time getting home even with the heavy car that I drive. I couldn't even imagine driving a light car and getting stuck (which happened to a few of my friends yesterday)

I understand you did what you thought was best for everyone, and I wouldn't want to make a decision like that. I just wanted to share my input, and hopefully in the future won't be as stressful, and an easy decision can be made!

Thanks :)

- LAUREN MARIE CALDWELL