Connect with us

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania: A Tale of 2 Caseys and the Death of a Pro-Life Catholic State

Published

on

Pennsylvania: A Tale of 2 Caseys and the Death of a Pro-Life Catholic State


As soon as upon a time right here in Pennsylvania, not way back, we boasted nice pro-life leaders from each political events.

To quote a key instance from every occasion, amongst Republicans, we had Sen. Rick Santorum, maybe the main pro-life voice within the U.S. Senate. Amongst Democrats, we had Gov. Robert Casey Sr., the namesake of the landmark Deliberate Parenthood v. Casey resolution, which Casey regrettably misplaced, although that call was in the end reversed in June 2022, with the Dobbs ruling. Amongst our state’s governor and two U.S. senators, we sometimes may depend on no less than two strong pro-lifers, generally from each events.

A stark swap got here in 2014, when Pennsylvanians elected as governor Democrat Tom Wolf. Our state all of the sudden had the nation’s first and solely governor to have served as an escort at Deliberate Parenthood abortion amenities. The concept that Pennsylvanians would elect somebody as culturally radical as Wolf to the governor’s mansion was as soon as unthinkable — and clearly a wake-up name for the tradition. The late Gov. Casey would have been mortified, particularly as Wolf proceeded to control as an abortion extremist.

Pennsylvanian Democrats, lots of them Catholics, had been undeterred by Wolf’s abortion positions. They reelected Wolf in 2018 in a landslide, defeating his Republican challenger by 17%. Wolf’s abortion extremism was no drawback by any means for Pennsylvania Democratic voters.

Advertisement

All of this was apparently an indication of issues to come back, because the November 2022 midterm elections made clear.

The Nov. 8 election was an extra stark repudiation of Pennsylvania’s onetime pro-life management. Pennsylvania now has radical pro-choice Democrats within the governor’s workplace with Josh Shapiro, within the U.S. Senate with John Fetterman, a Bernie Sanders Democrat who’s an extremist on all of the cultural-moral points from abortion to the total “LGBTQ” agenda (he actually flies an “LGBTQ” flag from the balcony of his lieutenant governor’s workplace), and, sadly, with incumbent U.S. Sen. Robert Casey Jr.

Sure, that’s Casey Jr. This marked shift appears to have began with him, previous to Gov. Wolf.

Casey the Youthful in 2006 crushed incumbent Sen. Santorum in a double-digit landslide, 59% to 41%, so overwhelming that it left Santorum supporters speechless. It was the largest-ever margin of victory for a Pennsylvania Democrat working for the U.S. Senate and the most important margin towards any incumbent in America in a long time.

How may Santorum lose that badly? The reply was that Casey benefited enormously from title recognition — that’s, his father’s title. He ran as a pro-life Catholic Democrat, identical to his father. In reality, pro-life Santorum supporters took a measure of consolation in the truth that no less than their man misplaced to a pro-life Democrat, one of many only a few pro-life Democrats within the U.S. Senate. That supplied a level of solace.

Advertisement

Perhaps Casey, like his father, would struggle to attempt to pull his occasion again to a pro-life platform?

Sadly, he has executed simply the other.

Casey has morphed along with his occasion on the abortion concern. And at each cease, his Democratic base in Pennsylvania has rewarded him. He was reelected in each 2012 and 2018. He’s the primary Democrat ever in Pennsylvania to win a 3rd consecutive time period to the U.S. Senate.

The final word image of Casey’s pro-life reversal got here in June with Dobbs, when he shockingly rejected the very Supreme Courtroom resolution that lastly upheld and affirmed his father in his father’s epic case towards Deliberate Parenthood.

“Immediately’s resolution upends virtually a half-century of authorized precedent and rips away a constitutional proper that generations of girls have recognized their complete lives,” acknowledged Casey in his official response to the Dobbs resolution. “This harmful ruling received’t finish abortions on this nation, however it is going to put ladies’s lives in danger. And make no mistake — this isn’t the top objective; it’s only the start. Republicans in Congress need to cross federal laws to utterly ban abortion. Our daughters and granddaughters shouldn’t develop up with fewer rights than their moms.”

Advertisement

To say that this was a shocking betrayal of his father’s legacy is an understatement. Right here’s what his father mentioned in December 1987:

“I imagine abortion to be the final word violence. I imagine strongly that Roe v. Wade was incorrectly determined as a matter of regulation and represents a nationwide public coverage each divisive and harmful. It has unleashed a tidal wave that has swept away the lives of tens of millions of defenseless, harmless unborn youngsters. In in response to the girl’s proper of privateness within the abortion resolution each exclusivity and finality, the Supreme Courtroom has not solely disregarded the correct of the unborn to life itself, however has disadvantaged mother and father, spouses and the state of the correct to take part in a choice during which all of them have a significant curiosity. This curiosity should be protected, relatively than denied by the regulation.”

In March 1993, talking on the historic previous courthouse in St. Louis the place the unique Dred Scott trial happened, Gov. Casey had acknowledged: “As everybody is aware of, the Courtroom could be — and has been — severely fallacious. The Courtroom erred within the case of Dred Scott. And I imagine that the Courtroom erred within the case of Roe v. Wade.”

He in contrast abortion not solely to slavery, however homicide: “It’s a novel form of killing … as an goal reality, that is what abortion is.” Casey even in contrast abortion to the Holocaust.

That was the senior Casey. It isn’t the junior Casey.

Advertisement

Robert Casey Jr.’s drift on the abortion concern — and clear break from his father’s signature concern — could be seen as the beginning of what’s now an entire repudiation of a pro-life platform by Pennsylvania Democratic leaders. With the election of Shapiro as governor and Fetterman as Casey’s companion within the U.S. Senate, the place of Pennsylvania as a pro-life state, the place Democrats and Republicans may work collectively to oppose abortion, is totally gone.

Portrait of Governor Bob Casey Sr. (Photograph: Official Portrait)

Sadly, what has made this attainable is the bigger drift of Democratic Occasion voters in Pennsylvania away from the pro-life place. This might not have occurred with out their votes.

For years, pro-life Democrats in Pennsylvania, lots of them Catholics, merely voted for whichever candidates had a “D” subsequent to their title on the poll. Many of those Catholic Democrat voters put up yard indicators for whoever the occasion nominated, no matter the place the candidate stood on the abortion concern. The entire pro-life training executed of their parishes and communities was not sufficient to override their loyalty to their political occasion. It was occasion first.

Advertisement

As they green-lighted whichever political candidate had a “D,” they despatched a sign to the Democratic Occasion statewide that they’d elect candidates no matter how excessive they could be on the abortion query. Fetterman’s election Nov. 8 is a placing end result.

In all, it signifies that this as soon as outstanding pro-life state, standing aside from New York and New Jersey and the Northeast states, and extra akin to Ohio and Midwest states, shall be represented by abortion advocates Shapiro, Fetterman and Casey, who is especially disappointing, given his repudiation of his father’s pro-life legacy.

It’s a unhappy loss for pro-lifers in Pennsylvania and for the pro-life motion nationwide.





Source link

Advertisement

Pennsylvania

John Apa, Sharon, PA

Published

on

John Apa, Sharon, PA


 SHARON, Pennsylvania (MyValleyTributes) – On Thursday, June 20, 2024, we lost our beloved father John Apa  at age 91 where he resided for the past 2 years at John XXIII.

John was the second child of the late Giovanni and Annetta (Perri) Apa, born October 13, 1932 in Sharon, Pennsylvania.

He married the former Doris M. Welches on January 20, 1956 and she survives in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. 

John was a 1951 graduate of Farrell High School and attended Youngstown State University, Penn State-Shenango Valley Campus and HEI Institute in Niles, Ohio.

Advertisement

John served his country honorably in the U.S. Army for two years during the Korean Conflict.

John worked for The Sharon Steel Corporation for 35 years as an Electrical Wireman and Lineman. He also wired many new homes being built in the Shenango Valley in his spare time.

After he retired, he took accounting classes and did taxes free of charge with The Keystone Blind Agency for many years. 

John walked in his father’s footprints and had a gorgeous garden for many years. He was always giving the fruit of his labor to family and friends. John loved keeping up to date with world events and family in Italy via his computer. He loved listening to music on different computer sites and singing along. He was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Sharon, Pennsylvania and its Presbyters Class, Elder and Senior Fellowship.

Besides John’s wife, Doris, he is survived by two daughters, Rhonda Guerino-Chalenor (Steven) of Hermitage, Pennsylvania and Brenda Apa Burleson (Jim) of West Middlesex, Pennsylvania and son, John P. Apa (Tracy) of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, also, an “adopted daughter”, Connie Muna of Farrell, Pennsylvania. Also, five grandchildren Allyson Knott (Fred) of Wrightstown, New Jersey, Julia Hilderhoff (Bill) of Irwin, Pennsylvania, Natalie Votaw (Derek) of Knoxville, Tennessee, John T. Apa (Jamie) of Wake Forest, North Carolina and Justine Apa (Cody Smith) of Girard, Ohio. John is also survived by a sister, Joanne Jackson (Farrell) of Naples, Florida, and eight great-grandchildren.

Advertisement

John was preceded in death, besides his parents, his sister, Antoinette Sabella and brother-in-law, Reverend Ty Sabella and his grandson, Christopher Donnelly.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 6, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Rick Stauffer officiating, followed by a luncheon at the church. Entombment was in Hillcrest Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Arrangements have been handled by Harold W. Stevenson Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Covenant Presbyterian Church at 263 East State Street, Sharon, PA  16146.

A television tribute will air Sunday, June 23 at the following approximate times: 8:58 a.m. on WKBN and 7:58 p.m. on FOX. Video will be posted here the day of airing.
 

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State Police Announce Promotions of Sergeants, Corporals

Published

on

Pennsylvania State Police Announce Promotions of Sergeants, Corporals


The Pennsylvania State Police recognized the promotions of 22 sergeants and 59 corporals during a ceremony on June 21 at Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg.
Five employees in the Bureau of Liquor Enforcement were promoted to Enforcement Officer 3 during the ceremony.

Promoted to Sergeant

  • Sgt. Justin R. Albert is assigned to the Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards, Internal Affairs Division. Sgt. Albert enlisted in the State Police in 2013 and was promoted to corporal in 2020.
  • Sgt. Bryan B. Billger is assigned to the Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards, Internal Affairs Division, Eastern Section. Sgt. Billger enlisted in the State Police in 2013 and was promoted to corporal in 2019.
  • Sgt. Brian D. Cipko is assigned to the Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards, Internal Affairs Division. Sgt. Cipko enlisted in the State Police in 2013 and was promoted to corporal in 2018.
  • Sgt. Timothy C. Cutshaw is assigned to Troop H, Carlisle. Sgt. Cutshaw enlisted in the State Police in 2011 and was promoted to corporal in 2018.
  • Sgt. Ty O. Denk is assigned to the Bureau of Records and Identification. Sgt. Denk enlisted in the State Police in 2008 and was promoted to corporal in 2018.
  • Sgt. Lee S. Dudick Jr. is assigned to Troop R, Dunmore. Sgt. Dudick enlisted in the State Police in 2015 and was promoted to corporal in 2020.
  • Sgt. Shannon M. Eichenseer is assigned to the Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards, Internal Affairs Division. Sgt. Eichenseer enlisted in the State Police in 2014 and was promoted to corporal in 2021.
  • Sgt. Jason C. Everhart is assigned to the Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards, System and Process Review Division. Sgt. Everhart enlisted in the State Police in 2014 and was promoted to corporal in 2020.
  • Sgt. Christopher R. Higdon is assigned to the Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards, Internal Affairs Division, Eastern Section. Sgt. Higdon enlisted in the State Police in 2013 and was promoted to corporal in 2019.
  • Sgt. Anthony P. Jendrzejewski is assigned to Troop H, Chambersburg. Sgt. Jendrzejewski enlisted in the State Police in 2011 and was promoted to corporal in 2020.
  • Sgt. Timothy M. Jeter is assigned to Troop J, Avondale. Sgt. Jeter enlisted in the State Police in 2013 and was promoted to corporal in 2021.
  • Sgt. Shadi W. Johnson is assigned as commander of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Drug Law, Central Section. Sgt. Johnson enlisted in the State Police in 2013 and was promoted to corporal in 2021.
  • Sgt. David R. Jungling Jr. is assigned to the Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards, System and Process Review West. Sgt. Jungling enlisted in the State Police in 2002 and was promoted to corporal in 2018.
  • Sgt. Robert E. Minnick Jr. is assigned to the Policy and Legislative Affairs Office. Sgt. Minnick enlisted in the State Police in 2014 and was promoted to corporal in 2020.
  • Robert P. Naprava Jr. is assigned to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Sgt. Naprava enlisted in the State Police in 2003 and was promoted to corporal in 2013.
  • Sgt. Michael P. O’Boyle is assigned to the Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards, Systems and Process Review Division. Sgt. O’Boyle enlisted in the State Police in 2014 and was promoted to corporal in 2021.
  • Sgt. Rebecca L. Parker is assigned to the Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards, Internal Affairs Division. Sgt. Parker enlisted in the State Police in 2011 and was promoted to corporal in 2020.
  • Sgt. Sarah B. Rhinehart is assigned to the Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards, Internal Affairs Division. Sgt. Rhinehart enlisted in the State Police in 2013 and was promoted to corporal in 2021.
  • Sgt. Justin M. Tkacik is assigned to the Bureau of Integrity and Professional Standards, Internal Affairs Division. Sgt. Tkacik enlisted in the State Police in 2005 and was promoted to corporal in 2015.
  • Sgt. Todd M. Tolan is assigned to Troop H, Harrisburg. Sgt. Tolan enlisted in the State Police in 2004 and was promoted to corporal in 2014.
  • Sgt. Christopher W. Tomlinson is assigned to the Bureau of Gaming Enforcement, Mount Airy Casino. Sgt. Tomlinson enlisted in the State Police in 2008 and was promoted to corporal in 2018.
  • Sgt. Carmen F. Yurek is assigned to Troop K, Media. Sgt. Yurek enlisted in the State Police in 2014 and was promoted to corporal in 2020.

Promoted to Corporal

  • Cpl. Kelly N. Abati is assigned to Troop H, Chambersburg. Cpl. Abati enlisted in the State Police in 2016.
  • Cpl. Jonathan I. Bailey is assigned to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Computer Crimes, Southeast. Cpl. Bailey enlisted in the State Police in 2014.
  • Cpl. Jaskaran S. Bains is assigned to Troop K, Media. Cpl. Bains enlisted in the State Police in 2016.
  • Cpl. Jacob T. Beers is assigned to Troop C, Clarion. Cpl. Beers enlisted in the State Police in 2017.
  • Cpl. William L. Bell III is assigned to Troop J, Embreeville. Cpl. Bell enlisted in the State Police in 2017.
  • Cpl. Richard M. Bordonaro is assigned to Troop E, Corry. Cpl. Bordonaro enlisted in the State Police in 2017.
  • Cpl. Michael E. Brenot is assigned to Troop C, Marienville. Cpl. Brenot enlisted in the State Police in 2015.
  • Cpl. Brittany N. DeCarlo is assigned to the Bureau of Forensic Services, Harrisburg Regional Laboratory. Cpl. DeCarlo enlisted in the State Police in 2013.
  • Cpl. Max T. DeLuca is assigned to Troop D, Butler. Cpl. DeLuca enlisted in the State Police in 2007.
  • Cpl. Scott M. Enedy is assigned to Troop J, York. Cpl. Enedy enlisted in the State Police in 2008.
  • Cpl. Aaron J. Falcone is assigned to the Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations, Special Emergency Response Team West. Cpl. Falcone enlisted in the State Police in 2014.
  • Cpl. Riley M Ferris is assigned to Troop J, Avondale. Cpl. Ferris enlisted in the State Police in 2017.
  • Cpl. Katherine V. Franck is assigned to Troop J, Avondale. Cpl. Franck enlisted in the State Police in 2018.
  • Cpl. Anthony S. Giarrizzo is assigned to Troop K, Media. Cpl. Giarrizzo enlisted in the State Police in 2016.
  • Cpl. Matthew J. Grasso is assigned to the Bureau of Research and Development. Cpl. Grasso enlisted in the State Police in 2016.
  • Cpl. Cody R. Greenawalt is assigned to Troop H, Chambersburg. Cpl. Greenawalt enlisted in the State Police in 2017.
  • Cpl. Gregory S. Gutta Jr. is assigned to Troop B, Uniontown. Cpl. Gutta enlisted in the State Police in 2018.
  • Cpl. Steven J. Hammar is assigned to the Executive Services Office. Cpl. Hammar enlisted in the State Police in 2013.
  • Gregory B. Hays is assigned to Troop B, Pittsburgh. Cpl. Hays enlisted in the State Police in 2014.
  • Cpl. Kevin Holford is assigned to the Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations. Cpl. Holford enlisted in the State Police in 2006.
  • Cpl. Jonathan M. Housenick is assigned to Troop H, Gettysburg. Cpl. Housenick enlisted in the State Police in 2017.
  • Cpl. Christopher P. Isbitski is assigned to the Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations, Central Canine Unit. Cpl. Isbitski enlisted in the State Police in 2015.
  • Cpl. Robert F. Jacobs III is assigned to the Bureau of Training and Education. Cpl. Jacobs enlisted in the State Police in 2017.
  • Cpl. Brian E. Janoski is assigned to Troop N, Hazleton. Cpl. Janoski enlisted in the State Police in 2008.
  • Cpl. Zachary J. Julian is assigned to Troop B, Pittsburgh. Cpl. Julian enlisted in the State Police in 2016.
  • Cpl. Travis S. Kauffman is assigned to Troop D, New Castle. Cpl. Kauffman enlisted in the State Police in 2010.
  • Cpl. Jacob M. Kelliher is assigned to Troop H, Chambersburg. Cpl. Kelliher enlisted in the State Police in 2018.
  • Cpl. Matthew D. Klaips is assigned to the Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations, Canine Section, as a Narcotic Canine Handler assigned to Troop P, Wilkes-Barre. Cpl. Klaips enlisted in the State Police in 2016.
  • Cpl. Cody J. Klinger is assigned to Troop H, Carlisle. Cpl. Klinger enlisted in the State Police in 2016.
  • Cpl. Brian J. Knirnschild is assigned to the Hazardous Device and Explosive Section, Bureau Of Emergency and Special Operations. Cpl. Knirnschild enlisted in the State Police in 2012.
  • Cpl. Cody R. Krahe is assigned to the Bureau of Forensic Services, Ballistics Section, Erie. Cpl. Krahe enlisted in the State Police in 2014.
  • Cpl. Katelin L. Kurtz is assigned to the Bureau of Research and Development. Cpl. Kurtz enlisted in the State Police in 2015.
  • Cpl. Alec N. Leiby is assigned to Troop H, Chambersburg. Cpl. Leiby enlisted in the State Police in 2018.
  • Cpl. Kelly R. MacIntyre is assigned to the Office of Community Engagement, Heritage Affairs Section, Area IV. Cpl. MacIntyre enlisted in the State Police in 2012.
  • Cpl. Ian J. MacTavish is assigned to Troop C, Lewis Run. Cpl. MacTavish enlisted in the State Police in 2014.
  • Cpl. Zachary F. Martini is assigned to Troop N, Hazleton. Cpl. Martini enlisted in the State Police in 2017.
  • Cpl. Eric S. McCleaf is assigned to Troop H, Chambersburg. Cpl. McCleaf enlisted in the State Police in 2014.
  • Cpl. Eileen T. McDermott is assigned to Troop F, Montoursville. Cpl. McDermott enlisted in the State Police in 2013.
  • Cpl. Andrew T. McWilliams is assigned to Troop K, Media. Cpl. McWilliams enlisted in the State Police in 2018.
  • Cpl. Shaun G. Milkovich is assigned to Troop D, Kittanning. Cpl. Milkovich enlisted in the State Police in 2016.
  • Cpl. Jared R. Muir is assigned to Troop H, Chambersburg. Cpl. Muir enlisted in the State Police in 2018.
  • Cpl. Ross V. Munsee is assigned to Troop C, Punxsutawney. Cpl. Munsee enlisted in the State Police in 2017.
  • Cpl. Brian V. Noll is assigned to Troop N, Hazleton. Cpl. Noll enlisted in the State Police in 2008.­­­­­­­­­
  • Cpl. Daniel R. Phillips is assigned to Troop L, Schuylkill Haven. Cpl. Phillips enlisted in the State Police in 2014.
  • Cpl. Daniel W. Poponick is assigned to Troop A, Greensburg. Cpl. Poponick enlisted in the State Police in 2014.
  • Cpl. Vincent J. Scardilli is assigned to Troop K, CARS Unit. Cpl. Scardilli enlisted in the State Police in 2018.
  • Cpl. Nicholas Scrivani is assigned to the Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations, Electronic Surveillance Section. Cpl. Scrivani enlisted in the State Police in 2011.
  • Cpl. James M. Shearer is assigned to the Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations. Cpl. Shearer enlisted in the State Police in 2008.
  • Cpl. Jeffrey A. Simmons is assigned to Troop, K, Media. Cpl. Simmons enlisted in the State Police in 2014.
  • Cpl. Peter T. Smith is assigned to Troop P, Wilkes-Barre. Cpl. Smith enlisted in the State Police in 2013.
  • Cpl. Joseph A. Titler is assigned to the Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations. Cpl. Titler enlisted in the State Police in 2012.
  • Cpl. Christopher R. Tobias is assigned to Troop H, Chambersburg. Cpl. Tobias enlisted in the State Police in 2018.
  • Cpl. Travis M. Turkalj is assigned to Troop B, Uniontown. Cpl. Turkalj enlisted in the State Police in 2016.
  • Cpl. Richard C. Weinstock is assigned to Troop H, Chambersburg. Cpl. Weinstock enlisted in the State Police in 2018.
  • Cpl. Jesse L. Whitman is assigned to Troop F, Emporium. Cpl. Whitman enlisted in the State Police in 2016.
  • Cpl. John A. Wood is assigned to Troop E, Erie. Cpl. Wood enlisted in the State Police in 2014.
  • Cpl. Evan M. Worth is assigned to the Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations, Southeast Canine. Cpl. Worth enlisted in the State Police in 2017.
  • Cpl. Jason E. Young is assigned to the Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations, Western Canine Unit. Cpl. Young enlisted in the State Police in 2005.
  • Cpl. Ronald M. Ziobro II is assigned to Troop H, Carlisle. Cpl. Ziobro enlisted in the State Police in 2014.

Promoted to Enforcement Officer 3

  • Marcus J. Angello is assigned to the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, Special Investigation Unit, Central Section. EO3 Angello enlisted in the State Police in 2016.
  • Eric M. Kaseler Is assigned to the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, District Enforcement Office #7, Punxsutawney. EO3 Kaseler enlisted in the State Police in 2016.
  • Kevin D. Klatt Jr. is assigned to the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, Special Investigations Unit, Eastern Section. EO3 Klatt enlisted in the State Police in 2017.
  • Ryan M. Melnyk is assigned to the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, District Enforcement Office #3, Harrisburg. EO3 Melnyk enlisted in the State Police in 2017.
  • Paul J. Wolfe is assigned to the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, Pittsburgh District Enforcement Office. EO3 Wolfe enlisted with the State Police in 2000.



Source link

Continue Reading

Pennsylvania

University of the Arts supporters call for Pennsylvania attorney general to investigate abrupt closure

Published

on

University of the Arts supporters call for Pennsylvania attorney general to investigate abrupt closure


PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — University of the Arts supporters are not giving up on their fight for answers after the school abruptly shut down earlier this month. Now, they want the state’s top law enforcement official to step in.

It was a call Friday for Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry to investigate the University of the Arts closure. 

A group marched from Hamilton Hall to Love Park. Many of the people CBS News Philadelphia talked to have the same questions they had weeks ago and say they’ve still heard nothing from university leadership. They hope the attorney general jumping on board can change that.

“Let’s not kid ourselves, this is a crime scene,” Adam Nelson, UArts class of 1991, said.

Advertisement

Other lawmakers have been involved in the UArts situation. State lawmakers held a hearing on the closure earlier this week. City council also passed a resolution calling for hearings but people want the attorney general’s office to take things further.

“To not launch an unofficial investigation, not a review, but an actual, formal investigation into the criminality, I think, of these financial issues that they won’t share,” Nelson said.

Students and staff said there has still been no communication from school leaders. Union officials said on Thursday a lawyer representing UArts told them the university “lacks the cash flow” to pay faculty what it’s owed under federal law.

“The only communication we had from the university yesterday said that the financial information and the details of why the university closed, they said that information doesn’t exist,” UArts faculty member and Vice President of United Academics of Philadelphia Bradley Philbert said. “And we’re willing to believe that it does.”

Students and parents have also not been able to get answers about tuition reimbursement. Micah Kleit’s 17-year-old daughter was supposed to start a summer program at UArts before the school closed. Despite numerous calls and emails, his $1,600 now sits in limbo.

Advertisement

“The only work they’re putting into this now is to basically blowing off parents, pushing aside any kind of actual resolution,” Kleit said.

CBS News Philadelphia reached out to the attorney general’s office for comment on Friday’s rally but have not heard back. Our calls to lawyers representing UArts have also gone unanswered.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending