My son is a rising Junior at Pennsylvania State University's main campus. Like countless others, my family and I have faced the financial strain of managing college tuition and maintaining our relationship with our son through routine visits and joining in the celebration of significant college milestones. However, the cost to maintain this relationship extends beyond just tuition. The alarming, often 300% increase in hotel rates for move-in, football, and graduation weekends has become an unreasonable burden on families like ours. Such spikes should be deemed unacceptable, if not outright extortion.

This issue doesn't end with us. It affects thousands of families, locally and internationally, who have chosen to entrust their children's education with this prestigious university located in State College, PA. Profiteering, while a part of our capitalist system, should not equate to drastic financial exploitation of families supporting their college students. Adding the cost of inflated hotel rates on parents already burdened by steep tuition fees could impact their financial stability on a long-term basis. 

We, therefore, urge the State College City Council and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to take swift action. Mandate caps on hotel rate increases for key dates in the university calendar. Instituting such a change will go a long way in preserving the spirit of celebration during these key college events while protecting parents and families from unfair hotel pricing tactics. Please, support these families, sign this petition.