HARRISBURG – State Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-27) worked with Prehistoric Journeys, a company based in Sunbury, to schedule a display in the Main Rotunda of the state Capitol on Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 12:30-1:30 p.m., where children, parents, teachers and the public can interact with a six-foot tall dinosaur upper leg bone.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for people to enjoy an interactive experience with a dinosaur bone,” Culver said. “Most of us learned about dinosaurs as children and we light up seeing our children and grandchildren learning about these mysterious creatures from the past. I’m honored to work with the team at Prehistoric Journeys in Sunbury to make this display possible for the people of Pennsylvania.”

The femur is from a Diplodocus dinosaur from the late Jurassic period. The Diplodocus was a herbivore dinosaur that measured approximately 72 feet long from the tip of its nose to the end of its tail.

Vertebrate paleontologist Barry James, who owns and operates Prehistoric Journeys with his wife, April James, will be at the Capitol to discuss dinosaurs and answer questions. He will be accompanied by Prehistoric Journeys employees Joel Derr and John DiPerna.

“Viewing the fossil bones of prehistoric creatures up close always generates happiness for kids,” Barry James said. “The joy shows in their eyes and smiling faces.”

Visitors will be able to take photographs with the dinosaur bone, which will be set up with the Capitol Christmas tree in the Main Rotunda.

Barry and April James and their team at Prehistoric Journeys are working on a Triceratops skeleton, which is their 159th fossil project of dinosaurs and extinct mammals.

Culver worked with Barry and April James and staff at the Pennsylvania Department of General Services to coordinate and schedule the display.

More information about Culver is available online at SenatorCulver.com. Residents can follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SenCulver for updates about legislative action in Harrisburg and news in the 27th District.

Media Contact: Sean Moll
717-783-0192

HARRISBURG – With a 400% increase in antisemitic incidents following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas against Israel and recent reports of antisemitism on college campuses in Pennsylvania, state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33) is introducing legislation to end state taxpayer support for colleges or universities that enable antisemitism.

“State tax dollars should not be in effect subsidizing colleges and universities that enable antisemitic behavior,” Mastriano said. “My bill would end state taxpayer support for any Pennsylvania college or university that authorizes, facilitates or supports an event promoting antisemitism on campus.”

Mastriano’s bill would cut state funding for one year for any higher education institutions that participate in or otherwise support antisemitism.

The legislation comes in the wake of several recent high-profile incidents on Pennsylvania university campuses.

Pro-Hamas activists on Sunday evening vandalized University of Pennsylvania buildings and private businesses with the spray-painted antisemitic messages “intifada” and “avenge Gaza.” Intifada refers to two violent uprisings – the first beginning in December 1987 and lasting until September 1993, and the second starting in September 2000 and ending in late 2005. The violence resulted in the death of approximately 1,400 Israelis.

The vandalism resulted as an angry mob marched through the streets of Philadelphia, stopping outside a falafel shop co-owned by a Jewish Israeli-American, where participants engaged in chants containing accusations of genocide.

A previous rally on the University of Pennsylvania campus featured a speech by student and writer for the student newspaper Tara Tarawneh, who spoke glowingly about pictures from the “glorious Oct. 7” attack by Hamas. She continued, saying “I remember feeling so empowered and happy… I want all of you to hold that feeling in your hearts.”

The university also hosted a Palestinian Writes Literature Festival in September organized by Susan Abulhawa, who has said, “Someday we will demolish [Israel]… And the world will be a better place for it,” and “The horrors of Zionism, past and present, will someday be just as well known as the horrors of Nazism.”

The festival also featured Palestinian researcher Salman Abu Sitta, who said in an interview, “Jews were hated in Europe because they played a role in the destruction of the economy in some of the countries.”

The University of Pennsylvania isn’t the only Pennsylvania campus drawing attention.

Temple University Students for Justice in Palestine organized a collective walkout in October attended by students and faculty. Participants shouted, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a call for the complete annihilation of the state of Israel and the Jews who live there.

“The vitriol being spread on some Pennsylvania college and university campuses is dangerous and concerning,” Mastriano said. “When colleges and universities are providing a platform for extremists to intimidate Jewish students and faculty on campus, it’s time to cut off state funding for these kinds of antisemitic activities.”

Mastriano’s bill would define antisemitism using the language adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, an organization committed to strengthen, advance and promote education, research and remembrance about the Jewish Holocaust.

Mastriano currently is circulating the bill concept with his Senate colleagues and seeking co-sponsors.

Constituents of the 33rd District can learn more about Mastriano by visiting his website at SenatorMastriano.com or following him on Facebook at Facebook.com/SenatorDougMastriano.

Media contact: Josh Herman
717-787-9603