To: Eric J. Barron, President, Penn State University

Penn State dropping "The Boom" on freshmen? We say NO!

We, the undersigned, believe it is unacceptable that you have selected Russell Gold’s pro-fracking book, "The Boom: How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution and Changed the World", as compulsory reading for all incoming freshmen as part of this year’s Penn State Reads program. While other academic institutions are correctly divesting of fossil fuel investments, you are glorifying an extractive technology that is contributing to climate change and harming Pennsylvanians and our environment in the process. We demand that you remove "The Boom" from this year’s Penn State Reads program and break your ties with the filthy fossil fuel industry once and for all.

Why is this important?

Penn State University freshmen this year will be required to read Russell Gold’s pro-fracking book, "The Boom: How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution and Changed the World", as part of the school’s Penn State Reads program. They’ll even be able to win cash prizes for the essays they write on what they’ve learned! Then, in mid-October, Mr. Gold will spend a few days on campus to speak with students and lecture.

Penn State University is nothing if not loyal to the fracking industry!

Please sign and share our petition calling on Penn State to do a whole lot better by their students by scrapping "The Boom" from its reading program and breaking ties with the fossil fuels industry for good!