PA’s First Lady Lori Shapiro, Sen. Carolyn Comitta & Acting Secretary for the PA Dept. of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe Visit WCU

May 6, 2025

West Chester, Pa (May 2, 2025) — Pennsylvania’s First Lady Lori Shapiro, Senator Carolyn Comitta ’74, and Acting Secretary for the PA Department of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe recently visited West Chester University (WCU) to have an in-depth discussion with students about the many ways that WCU prioritizes students’ basic needs in and out of the classroom. Serving-up success to its undergraduate and graduate students, the University’s Resource Pantry, which first opened in 2016 and later added multifaceted services by aligning with the Center for Civic Engagement & Social Impact, offers one-stop shopping for non-perishable food, fresh produce, toiletries, and school supplies. 

WCU Resource Pantry Provides Basic Needs
“No student should have to miss out on higher education and the future career opportunities that come with it because of food or basic needs insecurity,” said Sen. Comitta, who serves on the Senate Education Committee. “While student hunger is a growing issue on campuses across the nation, I’m proud of the work being done at West Chester University and across Pennsylvania to ensure that students have the nutrition and resources they need to learn and thrive. I thank the First Lady, Governor Shapiro, and the University for their leadership and support of this important partnership.”

Since the launch of the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Hunger-Free Campus program in January of 2023, West Chester University has been among those selected to receive funding at colleges, universities, and private licensed schools; $60,000 was awarded to WCU in 2025 and 2024, and $54,399 was awarded in 2023. Thanks to the much-needed financial support, the Center has been able to expand pantry services available to students at its West Chester campus through on-line ordering; increase options for students to access food during evening and weekend hours via on-line order pickup; increase access to healthy and allergy-friendly food; support the expansion of the Resource Pantry at the Philadelphia location; build upon resources to support students in applying for benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); and increase students’ access to off-campus resources. 

The staff in the Center for Civic Engagement & Social Impact, which manages the Resource Pantry, also worked with Cheyney University to secure their own Hunger-Free Campus Grant last year. In addition, staff members have also been working with Lincoln University to share information about pantry operations.

“Meeting students’ basic needs continues to be an imperative,” said Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe. “Pennsylvania is proud that the students, faculty, and staff at West Chester University have not only made this a priority but are modeling ways that others can do the same across the Commonwealth and throughout the nation. We continue to be quite proud of the way this University community has stepped-up to make an ongoing difference in the lives of students.” 

The Period Project Launches 

Meeting college students’ basic needs, however, is not a one-and-done undertaking. The University became aware of another challenge facing its students — accessing menstrual products due to financial constraints. The launch of the Period Project has helped change much of this by providing free menstrual products in highly frequented on-campus bathrooms.

“Period products are a basic hygiene necessity for students, yet too many young people across the Commonwealth face uncertainty about access during the school day or at college,” said First Lady Lori Shapiro. “I was grateful to visit West Chester University today to learn more about how they launched the Period Project to help provide free menstrual products in campus bathrooms and hear directly from students about how it’s impacting their lives. This program will help us move past stigma, provide essential health products, and give students the dignity and peace of mind they deserve.”

The Period Project was inspired in 2021 as the subject of a Global Studies minor capstone course taken by WCU alumna Katie Kerr ’22. Katie led the implementation of the project and chose to focus her senior capstone research around collecting data on the need for menstrual equity on WCU’s campus. From there, students and now WCU alumnae, Megan Harth ’24 and Lilly-Dawn Harkins ’25, committed themselves to helping their peers secure essential menstrual products at no-cost and on a consistent basis. The two were joined in their grass-roots efforts by The Resource Pantry, in partnership with the Center for Women and Gender Equity, the Center for Civic Engagement and Student Impact, and the Global Studies Minor. The collective work soon led to a collaboration with Aunt Flow, a nonprofit organization working to end period poverty by ensuring access to essential hygiene products, to mount dispensers with free menstruation products on the walls of the highest trafficked bathrooms on campus. 

University Provides Support

In spring 2024, Lilly-Dawn and Megan were invited to discuss the Period Project’s details at a cabinet meeting with senior leaders. The two students pitched the administrators about the need for the University to assume financial support for a more permanent network of dispensers. It was at an on-campus Honors College event in fall 2024 that next steps came about; Lilly-Dawn took the initiative to present a proposal to President Laurie Bernotsky. Understanding the project’s importance, President Bernotsky and the members of cabinet agreed without hesitation. Today, the University’s Facilities Department provides the inventory, distribution and maintenance of the dispensers on campus. 

“This was a brilliant idea that emanated from concerned students who saw a critical need, collaborated with others, and worked to make it happen,” said President Bernotsky. “We were eager to assist and establish a process whereby the University could provide free menstrual products to students who need them. As advocates and defenders of all our students, we will do whatever we can at this University to remove barriers that impede their success. This has been a win-win for our students and our entire community of learners.” 

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for New Aunt Flow Dispenser

Following the student roundtable, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the Sciences and Engineering Center & The Commons (SECC), where a new Aunt Flow dispenser had recently been installed in the second-floor women’s bathroom. The day of discussion and celebration culminated with a tour of WCU’s Resource Pantry in Commonwealth Hall. 

“The period project is near and dear to my heart, and I am so thankful for the work that Megan and Lilly-Dawn continued after my departure from West Chester University,” said Katie. “I applaud the administration for listening to the concerns of these student advocates and taking actionable steps to invest in a previously unmet need and broaching a topic that is often heavily stigmatized. The continuation of the Period Project ensures that no student needs to miss vital class time or carry the burden of basic need insecurity alone.” 

Suburban State Lawmakers, Business, and Transit Leaders Call for SEPTA Funding

May 5, 2025

Paoli, Pa (April 29, 2025) – Dozens of state lawmakers, regional business leaders, municipal officials, transit workers, and riders gathered outside the Paoli Train Station this week to call for the legislature to fully fund SEPTA in the upcoming state budget.

The press conference, led by state Senator Carolyn Comitta, highlighted the significant economic, traffic congestion, and quality-of-life impacts that would come with proposed cuts to the public transit system’s regional rail and bus service.

“SEPTA serves the suburbs. Cutting SEPTA won’t just hurt Philadelphia residents and businesses; it will negatively impact our entire region,” Comitta said. “People need to get to work, school, or important medical appointments for us to survive and thrive – as a community and as a Commonwealth. Let’s do what’s right and smart and fully fund SEPTA in the upcoming budget.”

Due to a looming budget deficit, beginning July 1, SEPTA will be forced to increase fares by more than 20 percent and cut service by 45 percent, including eliminating 50 bus routes and five regional rail lines (including the Paoli-Thorndale regional rail line).

Joining Comitta were State Senator John Kane, State Senator Katie Muth, and State Representatives Melissa Shusterman, Chris Pielli, and Lisa Borowski.  

“SEPTA is more than just a service – it is a lifeline for so many of our constituents and residents across the Greater Philadelphia area who rely on these critical services so that they can continue to get to work, to school, and to their medical appointments,” Muth said. “Available, affordable, and reliable mass transit is essential to our residents and to our statewide economy. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to fight for adequate funding for SEPTA and to fight for mass transit when we return to Harrisburg.”

“SEPTA is vitally important to the lives of the residents of Chester County. Our economy depends on SEPTA’s regional rail line to attract and keep families and businesses in our community. Residents depend on SEPTA to travel to medical appointments, work, and entertainment events,” said Shusterman. “It’s unfathomable to think of life in our area without the Paoli-Thorndale line, and we must do absolutely everything we can to adequately fund SEPTA.”

“Over 800,000 people rely on SEPTA’s buses, trains, and trolleys every day to get to work and to go about their daily lives. The truth is that public transportation bolsters commerce which boosts tax revenue, not only in our region, but throughout the entire Commonwealth. Without SEPTA, economic activity in Southeastern Pennsylvania could grind to a halt, with many unable to get to and from work, go to school, or seek medical attention.  It’s time for the Republican-controlled Senate to stop playing games with working families and our economy, and properly fund SEPTA,” said Pielli.

The press conference also included comments from Chester County Commissioner and Vice-Chair of SEPTA Marian Moskowitz, Donald Hill, General Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), and Tim Phelps, Executive Director of TMACC.

Moskowitz highlighted SEPTA’s success in cutting costs and enhancing efficiency.

“SEPTA is cleaner, safer, and more reliable than ever before. We are doing more with less, but we cannot continue this amazing progress without sustainable investment. This is about more than transit. It’s about the future of our communities, our economy, and our Commonwealth,” Moskowitz said. “Transit is not a cost. It’s an investment. One that multiplies every dollar into jobs, growth, and opportunity.”

“If these cuts go through, the impact on the economy would be severe,” Hill said. “SEPTA has also proposed a 20 percent reduction in workforce, representing well over 200 locomotive engineers and conductors – some of the most highly skilled crafts at SEPTA. It would be absurd to just throw that away.”

“Where strong transit exists, property values are stronger. Businesses grow, communities thrive, and in Chester County, the areas served by the Paoli-Thorndale line have some of the most attractive, fastest-growing neighborhoods in the region,” Phelps said. “When we invest in transit, we aren’t just moving people, we are moving opportunities. We are creating value. We are protecting what makes our region such a special place to live, work, and raise a family.”

“SEPTA plays a vital role in providing transportation for employees, patients and visitors to Paoli Hospital and healthcare facilities across the region. Cuts in funding to SEPTA would be incredibly harmful and threaten access to care in our local communities. We thank our elected officials for opposing cuts to SEPTA and strongly urge lawmakers to provide fair funding for public transportation,” said Yonathan Kebede, President of Paoli Hospital.

Comitta highlighted SEPTA’s important role in powering the economy of the five-county Southeastern Pennsylvania region, which generates 38 percent (or $15.5 billion) of Pennsylvania’s General Fund tax revenues and accounts for 41 percent of the state’s economic activity.

Standing in support of SEPTA funding at the press conference were regional, municipal and business leaders including Chair of the Chester County Commissioners Josh Maxwell; David A. Byerman, Chief Executive Officer of Chester County; Rachel Cathell, Executive Director of the Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce; Cheryl Kuhn, President & CEO of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce; Laura Manion, President & CEO of the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry; Laurie Ryan, President of the Exton Regional Chamber of Commerce; Katie Walker, President of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce; Nicole Whitaker, Borough Manager for Malvern; Jeff Smith, Borough Manager for Downingtown; Corinne Badman, Downingtown Assistant Borough Manager; KS Bhaskar, Supervisor for Tredyffrin Township; James Logan, City Manager for Coatesville; Linda Lavender Norris, Coatesville City Council President; Carmen Green, Coatesville  City Council Vice President; Tiniera Turner Green, Coatesville City Council Member; Rajesh Kumbhardare, Chair of the West Whiteland Board of Supervisors; and Brian Dunn, Vice Chair of the West Whiteland Board of Supervisors. 

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Twenty-Three Chester County High Schoolers Participate in Comitta’s Innovative Student Advisory Program

April 28, 2025

West Chester, Pa (April 28, 2025) – Twenty-three students from the West Chester Area, Tredyffrin-Easttown, and Oxford Area School Districts recently got a firsthand look at what it’s like to work in the Pennsylvania Senate as part of state Senator Carolyn Comitta’s Student Advisory Council.

The council, now in its third year, brought together high school juniors from across Chester County over 11 weeks to learn about state government and share their views, interests, and perspectives. Each week they learned about the operations of Senator Comitta’s office including constituent services, the budget process, crafting legislation, public policy, media and communications, the regulatory process, event planning, and more.

“One of my favorite things about being a State Senator is the opportunity to talk and interact with our young people,” said Comitta, a former public-school teacher who serves on the Senate Education Committee. “Their passion and advocacy on these issues was inspiring and thought-provoking. And I learned so much by hearing their perspectives on current events and discussing their hopes and dreams for the future.”

This spring, the council culminated in each student pitching their ideas for legislation: from expanding voter education to enhancing the understanding of our legal system to waste composting programs in public schools, the students made presentations on a wide variety of topics.

In addition, students participated activities including touring the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, volunteering at the West Chester Food Cupboard, meeting with a leading lobbyist to learn about effective advocacy, participating in a Senate Mock Policy Hearing, and advocating for legislation that they believe Senator Comitta should co-sponsor.

Lily Chen, of Conestoga High School and the Design Editor of the Conestoga school newspaper, stated “The Council provided a rare opportunity to engage with state-level policy discussions and learn from public service professionals who are deeply committed to their work for the Commonwealth. I greatly appreciated the chance to collaborate with other driven students interested in public policy and gain real-world insight into diverse aspects of the state legislative process. This was an incredibly formative experience that affirmed my passion for public service and policy.”

Jonah Ullman, a Oxford Area High School student and President of the Class of 2026, said “Senator Comitta’s Student Advisory Council taught me a lot about politics at the state level, more than my government class ever could. It was an eye-opening experience. There is so much that goes into state government that I was previously unaware of, and I’m so glad that I participated.”

Each year, Senator Comitta hosts the Student Advisory Council from January to April with applications opening in November. For more information, reach out to: senator.comitta@pasenate.com.