Nina Rizos

Let's face it, unless you're a closet nerd like myself, the only time you're concerned with where to study is during finals week. I cannot study unless there are comfortable chairs and pleasant surroundings; I am thoroughly convinced that the quality of study is directly proportional to the quality of the cushion in your chair. So since I'm done with my finals on Sunday, I figured I'd release a few gems -- the best study spots around campus. Some places you'd never think of and some buildings you've probably never been in, but they're all excellent places to study (most have comfy chairs).

Everyday we wake up, put on our shoes, and walk. We walk to class, we walk to work, or we walk to meet with friends. Everyday, we mindlessly walk to a destination determined by our schedules. But this Sunday, some students will walk for a purpose.

The Penn State TOMS Club is hosting today a One State Without Shoes event in conjunction with the TOMS One Day Without Shoes. This event is to raise awareness of the major problem in shoe deficiency in foreign countries by walking an entire day without shoes.

The Penn State TOMS Club is hosting a “Style Your Sole” party on the HUB lawn this Sunday, April 1 at 1:00 p.m. Come out to style your shoes and clothing while helping out a great cause at the same time.

I'm no vegetarian, but I can imagine the difficulty it is to find anything to eat when it seems like every eating establishment tailors their menu to its carnivore consumers. But once you leave the HUB island, the downtown area actually provides a selection of different places for vegetarians to enjoy food choices other than salads. Here are 10 vegetarian-friendly places in downtown State College to save you from the HUB's salad bar and veggie dip.

The College of Communications' Foster-Foreman Conference of Distinguished Writers is this week. This semester’s speakers are Sports Illustrated senior writer, George Dohrmann, and national intelligence reporter for The Washington Post, Joby Warrick. Find out more after the jump.

Doing Google searches for "Sandusky Scandal" or "Penn State Riot" will turn up reports from hundreds of national media sources. Googling "THON 2012" will give you results from a few local media who covered the weekend. Why the huge difference?

Are you going to be in State College this summer? Find out what Penn State has to offer at the Summer at Penn State Fair hosted by Penn State’s Office for Summer Session. This event will take place at Alumni Hall in the HUB on Wednesday, February 22 from 11:00am to 3:00pm.

What did you ask for this past Christmas? An iPad, new laptop, a new pair of shoes? This past Christmas, Emily Whitehead would have rather spent her time in the hospital undergoing her bone marrow and stem cell transplant after her relapse, than risk missing THON 2012.

Will Martin, Overall OPPerations Chairperson for THON 2012, is the guy making sure the Bryce Jordan Center is looking its best this weekend. It all starts Wednesday night when Martin will pick up all the dancer and kids mail from the HUB-Robeson Center and deliver it outside the BJC in a trailer where it will remain until THON begins. The Morale Committee has been working hard to sort all the mail this week in order to have it ready for distribution THON weekend.

V-Day or should I say, D-Day? Valentine’s Day is hit or miss normally and for me, it’s a day where I receive a card and chocolates from my mom and red and pink socks from my grandma.

Kelly Newburg is not your average Penn State student.Kelly Newburg is not your average Penn State student.

A junior-public relations major, Newburg is involved with THON Communications Committee, Tom’s Campus Club, Public Relations Student Society of America, Happy Valley Communications and sponsors a child through World Vision. As if she isn’t involved enough, Newburg will introduce a new club to the Penn State, University Park campus this semester called “charity: water.”