Gov. Tom Corbett provided an apt description of those who rioted at Penn State Wednesday night after the firing of football coach Joe Paterno was announced.

The governor, who is the Keystone State’s former attorney general and a current Penn State trustee, called the rioters “knuckleheads.”

No doubt many Penn State parents, when watching televised news accounts of the rioting, were dismayed and angered upon seeing the riotous activities that further cast the university into the negative national spotlight — a university already reeling from the sexual abuse allegations against a former assistant football coach and the alleged cover-up surrounding that abuse.

Those parents expected a more mature response to what has been taking place over the past week at the university.

Meanwhile, the university should take stern action against those students identified as having participated in the violent confrontation — stern to the point of expulsion.

“Whatever happens, I know that Penn State students love this school and are going to be united in supporting it,” said Brendan McNally, the student representative on State College Borough Council. Unfortunately, Wednesday night’s conduct was 180 degees from the picture of loyality and love that McNally sought to paint.

Interim head football coach Tom Bradley encouraged Penn State students to act with class at Saturday’s Penn State-Nebraska home game. Behavior seen as anything less only will worsen the additional black eye the university suffered when the “knuckleheads” got out of control Wednesday night.

Cheer The election news coverage focused mostly on winners, but losers deserve recognition for their efforts also. Running for office — campaigning, attending meetings and organizing volunteers — is not easy.So, while congratulations are in order for Tuesday’s winners, a thank-you is appropriate for all those who did not win.Having competitive elections is crucial to democracy. And too many races in Butler County and elsewhere, usually in smaller municipalities, have no candidates running or incumbents running unopposed. That’s not good for government or citizens.Finally, it’s necessary to add the perennial jeer for low voter turnout. Across Butler County, barely 24 percent of registered voters made it to the polls. Not even the weather, sometimes an excuse for not voting, was a factor. It was a beautiful day, yet just over one in five people bothered to vote.

Cheer Many Butler residents still have vivid recollections of the collapse of the former Woolworth’s Department Store building and how, miraculously, no one was injured by the falling debris.With that in mind, those who visit the downtown and who walk or travel in the area of the Penn Theater can feel a sense of relief that the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Butler, the theater’s current owner, has paid attention to the condition of the theater’s marquee.As a result of that attention, it was determined that dilapidated parts of the marquee had to be removed to ensure the safety of pedestrians. A Butler construction company was hired to perform the needed work earlier this month.Plans are to eventually restore the marquee to its original appearance. But in the meantime safety must be the prime consideration.The redevelopment authority merits praise for keeping up with the situation.Cheer CEvans City and its environs owe borough resident Gary Streiner a debt of gratitude for his attempt to raise $50,000 to restore the “chapel” in Evans City Cemetery.The chapel, which was featured in the 1968 cult classic zombie movie “Night of the Living Dead,” has fallen into serious disrepair over the years, prompting the cemetery board to consider razing it.The cemetery board has given Streiner, one of the 10 original investors in the movie and the film’s sound engineer, one year to raise the funds needed for the restoration project.More than $6,000 already has been collected.Streiner hopes to have all of the needed money by spring so work can begin.In an article in the Nov. 8 Butler Eagle, Streiner said it’s his hope that, once restored, the building can be used as part of guided tours associated with the film, as well as for zombie weddings, vow renewals, graduations and other events.He also speculated that the refurbished chapel could be used as the center of a “Deadfest” next year; “Deadfests” were held in the borough in 2008 and 2009.That use, however, might be disconcerting to those with relatives and friends buried in the cemetery. Cemeteries are considered sacred ground, not to be treated disrespectfully.There’s also the legitimate issue of whether holding a festival at the cemetery might result in damage to tombstones and other remembrances there.Indeed, the chapel should be restored but, beyond that, care must be taken to ensure that no disrespect toward the cemetery takes root.“Night of the Living Dead” fans should be urged to visit the community and the movie site on the basis of the tourist attractions that they are. However, families’ concerns about protecting their relatives’ final resting place must be given the primary consideration.Streiner certainly understands that obligation.