Matthew D'Ippolito

I'm probably the only person who has spent my entire college career almost evenly divided between working for The Daily Collegian and Onward State. I feel like this has given me a unique perspective on Penn State's media scene. And I've learned a great deal from both media outlets.

Throughout the semester, our staff has put together a short playlist of relevant music each Monday for your listening pleasure during the week. For the last Monday of spring 2012, Onward State has compiled a Spotify playlist with all the Music Monday tunes from the semester. Enjoy!

As we approach the end of the academic year, it probably hasn't escaped most seniors' attention that we no longer have a week between the end of finals and commencement weekend. Instead, graduation ceremonies will take place the weekend immediately following finals. But is this a good idea?

We've reached the final stretch of the school year. Most students are frantically finishing the last of their schoolwork for the end of the semester. Seniors are desperately trying to enjoy the end of their college experience and finish off that bucketlist. To help get you through this final month, Music Monday is here to provide some hits to motivate you in whatever you're doing this April. This week's selections are brought to you by Melanie Versaw, Dennis McNamara, Alex Robinson, Joe Rogachevsky and Matthew D'Ippolito.

If you were present or paying attention to social media this weekend, you know by now that ska band Wondershop Showdown and DJ Keegan Tawa won Battle of the Bands and will be opening for the Avett Brothers and Ludacris at Movin' On. These two acts are each talented in their own right, but were clearly not the right decision when measured up with all the other performers Saturday night. If you missed it, allow me to recap the evening and explain.

New venue, better weather. Relay for Life of Penn State underwent some drastic improvements this year while raising $69,620 for the American Cancer Society.

The entertainment scene in State College is heating up this spring, and this weekend will be no exception. Penn State's sixth annual Arts Crawl is set to take place this Friday night on campus, featuring a multitude of musical performances and visual arts displays.

Do you miss Chronic Town concerts? Are you ready to welcome the warm weather of spring by jamming out? Do you feel like you need to get your weird indie fix? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you'll be happy to know that spring concerts at Chronic Town are back, and their first show of the season will feature School of Seven Bells (or SVIIB).

The Bryce Jordan Center announced yesterday that Comedian Kevin Hart will bring his standup act to State College on April 29th, according to their Facebook page. The performance is part of the "Let Me Explain" tour.

The crime rate on State Patty's this year was a little bit lower than last year, according to an article in The Daily Collegian. But that doesn't redeem this pointless "holiday."

Movin' On announced Ludacris and the Avett Brothers as the 2012 headliners today. What do you think of the lineup?

With THON 2012 now two days behind us, we can once again say that THON 2013 is tomorrow. But before diving head-first into next year's preparations, we'd like to present you with a slideshow with some of Onward State's finest pictures from this weekend.

When we checked in with dancers Tecce (Nittany Nation) and Ally (PSMA) this time, there was a mix of much stronger emotions than before. With exhaustion finally starting to set in, both of these OSers were using a strong support network to distract themselves and stay strong.

We're only a few hours into THON and the dancers seem to be feeling jittery and energetic. So what are their first thoughts on this incredible experience? Onward State spoke to several dancers, including a few staffers that are down on the floor, to gauge their reactions to the outset of THON 2012.

After playing alongside Wiz Khalifa a year ago in the Bryce Jordan Center, Mac Miller will have the stage to himself when he comes to the BJC later this spring. As originally reported by State in the Real, the Pittsburgh-born rapper Miller, an up and coming star in the hip hop world, is set to [...]

It's difficult to classify State College's newest local band, One Shot Nicky. The band, currently a duo comprising PSU seniors Alex Pianovich and Justin Russikoff, plays the folksy, bluesy style that has come to characterize indie music lately. At the same time, their music embraces another popular trend — it draws influences from a wide spectrum of genres that allows one song to sound very different from another. But if you ask them, they prefer to call their music "folkrockcountrypunk."

It's a smooth, quiet ride with regulars who are on a first-name basis with the driver. And despite the Christmas music playing over the radio far too early in the season, it has a lovely atmosphere for travelling. I'm talking, of course, about the little-known campus shuttle.

Professors have been handling class in a variety of ways since the Sandusky scandal broke. We asked students how many of their professors devoted time in class yesterday to discussing last week's events.

Senior and Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG) President Peter Khoury will replace graduate student Rodney Hughes as Student Trustee at Friday's Board of Trustees meeting. Between his CCSG and Board of Trustees responsibilities, Khoury will become very busy and will be arguably shouldering more responsibility within the university than any other student. Onward State had a chance to speak with Khoury about his new responsibilities and his plans coming into the Student Trustee position.

Cafe 210 West had the aura of an orgy of musical bliss when Atlas Soundtrack and Sophistafunk performed Saturday night. It was my first time hearing Sophistafunk, who put on an excellent show. And, of course, Atlas Soundtrack played the great show we've all come to expect from them.

Movin' On released its second survey of the year this week. You can take it here. I must say I was hopeful when I saw Movin' On's first survey. Despite the fact that there were a lot of fairly obscure acts on it, they were at least good bands. But the excitement of the first surveyof the year is gone and the second, much more lackluster one has arrived.

Picture this: a man with a rotisserie chicken in a baby carrier grabbing the free breast of a woman breastfeeding her baby. That's the image everyone left with after comedian Mike Vecchione's 8 p.m. performance at the State Theatre Friday night.

If you're looking for some laughs tonight, check out the State Theatre. You'll be treated to the comedy stylings of Mike Vecchione and you'll feel good knowing the proceeds will be benefitting a good cause.

So you've turned 21. Happy birthday! You can now go to bars and buy your own booze at the liquor store. Of course, after the first two weeks you realize there's a catch: all of this alcohol is really, really expensive. But fear not, Onward State is here to help. Here are some tips to help you save tons of money on booze.

It seems like everybody and their uncle at Penn State has been picking up mics lately and trying to spit rhymes. First, Primary Element came on the scene. Then there was U, Greg Falatek and Chewi. Even Kevin Newsome has tried his hand at the rap game. And let us not forget the unfortunate slew of "Blue and White" Khalifa remixes. It's time to add one more name to that list. But before you roll your eyes this time around, give a listen to some of ESQ's tracks to find out what sets him truly apart from the rest.

Appreciators of jazz will be able to catch sax-man David Sanborn at the State Theatre tomorrow night.

Roustabout!, SOMA and the LION 90.7fm have collaborated once again to bring a show for indie fans to Chronic Town. This time it's Emperor X.

If you notice a large group of kids on bicycles wearing black and red today, don't be alarmed. It's not an anarchist revolt. It's a "ride-out" in support of Occupy Wall Street.

Last night, student reporters from various colleges were treated to a conference call with "Parks and Recreation's" Chris Pratt, who stars as Oakland A's first baseman Scott Hatteberg in the new movie "Moneyball."

The Zombies are coming to the State Theatre. No, not the shuffling, brain-eating ones with rotting flesh. This is the groovy, psychedelic English rock band of the '60s.