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NANETTE LEPORE: ‘My heart aches for the Youngstown State I once loved’

By Nanette Lepore Mahoning Matters

December 12, 2023 5:01 PM

Youngstown State YSU Athletics Communications

EDITOR’S NOTE: The letter was sent by Nanette Lepore, fashion designer from Youngstown.

Dear Chair Peterson and Members of the Board,

My heart aches for the Youngstown State University I once loved.

My father, an impassioned artist and YSU professor, dedicated 40 years toward creating an art department that was robust and dynamic. This instilled in me a profound respect for the noble mission of public education—one that values pursuit of knowledge and encourages the arts and self- expression.

Today, however, YSU stands accused of betraying its core values. The appointment of a political figure, notorious for his extremist views, is a blatant affront to everything my father and our family cherished about this institution. The charge of YSU should be to open minds through the pursuit of truth and excellence. This selection reeks of political opportunism.

Pride in my alma mater has evaporated, replaced by a gnawing sense of betrayal. How can I boast about YSU when it abandons the principles that once defined its greatness? Choosing a figure who does not embody the spirit of our beloved university is a grave injustice to its legacy and the individuals who have dedicated their lives to its success.

Ten years ago, I was bestowed with the immense honor of delivering the commencement speech to the class of 2012. With tremendous pride, I spoke of YSU’s impact on myself and our vibrant community.

Today, that pride lies shattered. The Honorary Degree that once symbolized my connection to YSU feels like a cruel reminder of what we have lost.

The burden of witnessing my alma mater abandon its values is unbearable. YSU was once a beacon of opportunity for so many. The pursuit of education has been replaced by a pursuit of political agendas that have nothing to do with the true purpose of this institution.

This is not the YSU I knew. This is not the YSU my father devoted his life to. This is not the YSU that deserves the respect and admiration of its community.

I, along with others, will not stand idly by as YSU deviates from its noble mission. We need to raise our voices, demand accountability, and fight for the YSU that once held such a special place in our hearts, a university that nurtured generations of thinkers, creators, and leaders. Let’s restore its commitment to intellectual inquiry, uncovering truths, and pursuing knowledge that transcends political agendas.

For the sake of our community, for the sake of our students, the sake of legacy, and to honor the years my own father dedicated to this institution, it saddens me to return my Honorary Doctoral Degree. One that I held so dear.

With a heavy heart,

Nanette Lepore