Tara Maerz

Hopefully, those graduating this semester already know the dates and locations of their commencement ceremonies. But for the friends and family who want/are forced to watch--or for the future grads who let all the spiced rum and eggnog go to their heads--we've put together a short and sweet list of save-the-dates.

With technology advancing and changing by the millisecond, Information Technology at Penn State is making changes to keep up. John T. Harwood has recently been appointed Penn State's new associate vice provost for Information Technology, replacing Jeffrey C. Kuhns, who retired from the position in September. Cole Camplese will take over Harwood's previous position as senior director for Teaching and Learning with Technology.

For just $10, you could enjoy a catered dinner with a side of Robert Wilson this weekend. Interested? You should be. Sunday Dec. 5, the Penn State chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will be hosting its first Image Awards.

For the fourth year in a row, the Penn State Office of Physical Plant (OPP) will take on the crows.

Ever heard of the Mortar Board? Maybe not, but your future employers probably have. The Mortar Board is a national senior honor society and today marks the Penn State chapter's 75th year in existence.

Could Penn State Harrisburg be the next Happy Valley? Probably not, but they are on their way to becoming more of a college town. With enrollment on the rise, officials and developers in Middletown and Lower Swatara Township are making moves toward a student-focused community.

If you want to live on campus next year, it’s time to get reacquainted with your eLiving page. The contract request process begins today at noon for all contract types at University Park for the 2011-2012 school year.

Read on for the important dates to keep in mind

Here at Penn State, we take a lot of pride in being number one. The Penn State Army ROTC team helped boost our university-wide ego by winning the regional Ranger Challenge Competition on Oct. 24 near West Point, New York.

The Penn State Board of Trustees must have woken up on the right side of the bed last Friday morning, as they approved various plans during their meeting November 5.

You may want to take a second look when you pick up your newspaper today, or you could be in for some serious confusion. Today marks the first of three release dates of The Phollegian this academic year.

Although no formal ban has been issued yet, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has asked distributors to stop selling Four Loko and similar products.

Get ready to get sweaty. THON is going balls to the wall Sunday Oct. 31 for the THON Dodgeball Tournament.

While the rest of us try to sleep off our Halloween hangovers (from all the sugar, that is), the Greek community will take to the streets Sunday morning for the first Greek Sweep to ever be held in the fall semester.

Penn State is blue, white and green... and going greener. The Center for Sustainability has recently revealed its plans for a nine acre Sustainability Experience Center.

As much as I hate to admit it, Asher Roth said it best: I wanna go to college for the rest of my life/ Sip Banker's Club and drink Miller Lite/ On Thirsty Thursday and Tuesday Night Ice/ And I can get pizza a dollar a slice. Take the above lyrics, throw in some football, a splash of Creamery ice cream and a spritz of your Penn State perfume, shake it all up and out comes Happy Valley. But wait. Apparently there is something else we're here for... oh yeah, school.

This week, Wednesday stands for more than just hump-day. As part of the National Coming Out Week celebration, a rally will be held on the steps of Old Main from noon to 1 p.m. today in honor of National Coming Out Day.

The 2011 Senior Class Gift committee held a town-hall style meeting yesterday in the HUB to discuss the top 10 gift proposals. The proposals, listed below, will be narrowed down to a final three to be voted upon Oct. 25-29.

Do you have trouble facing yourself in the mirror? Ever question how you can fall asleep at night?

There is still time to redeem yourself! The College of Communications Student Council will be holding a forum Thursday, October 7 in Carnegie Cinema at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the Student Honor Code.

Grab your box of tissues, the time has come to say goodbye.

It is always tough to watch someone leave Penn State, especially after that someone has been here for 12 years. And no, we’re not talking Van Wilder style (although he may be close popularity-wise).

Set your alarms even earlier than usual if you want to get to class on time Tuesday, Sept. 28.

Due to Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Penn State for the “Moving America Forward” rally, certain traffic restrictions will be in place on Pollock Road from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All right boys, listen up. We're far enough into the semester now that you've probably had a chance to size up your classes, and maybe you've noticed a girl or two that you might want to take out. You want somewhere classy but not intimidating, fun but not tacky, and affordable but not cheap. Faccia Luna is the place for you. Located on South Atherton, this Italian restaurant is a little-known treasure started by two Alpha Sigma Phi brothers from Penn State, Bill McFadden and Joe Corey.

If someone asked me to meet them at the Corner Pocket, I probably would have thought they were drunk and headed over to the Corner Room on Allen.

With this logic, I would also end up alone.

Based on the smooth sounds of Latin pop music coming from 119 Osmond Tuesday night, students passing by may have mistaken the lecture hall for the Mezzanine.

Had they opened the door, however, they would have discovered the source of the dance-worthy beats was none other than a PBS documentary on Latin music sensations who had transitioned to the United States’ popular music scene.

Seniors, student leaders and special guests all gathered in the Beaver Stadium Recruitment Center Tuesday night to discuss the 2011 Senior Class Gift.

Overall Chairperson Ben Witt opened the night by explaining that the Senior Class Gift is an opportunity passed down to each class through tradition. He encouraged seniors to keep submitting ideas until the Sept. 17th deadline, no matter how good or bad they may be.

The scene at the East Halls quad on Wednesday, September 8th, looked more like a party than an event for UPUA. Students swarmed around picnic tables covered in blue and white tablecloths. Dance music blasted through speakers. The smell of hot, cheesy pizza wafted through the air. Of course, this was the idea. UPUA was not blind to the fact that free food and music would attract students, and that was their goal. Through the event, deemed Fresh Fest, UPUA hoped to reach out to freshmen as a way to get their name out to the incoming class.

Beaver Stadium was bleeding blue and white Friday night as fans piled in for Football Eve, a celebration to kick off the start of the 2010 football season. The pep rally got off on the right foot with chants of "We are Penn State" and energetic music, courtesy of the Blue Band, echoing throughout the stadium.

Under Obamacare, universities may lose the ability to offer student health plans. This concern was expressed in a letter written by the American Council on Education to Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services. Read on to learn more about what is at stake and the University Health Services' stance on the issue.

Don't be alarmed if you get a knock on your door from the police Tuesday night; you're not in trouble yet. Police officers are just one component of teams of Penn State leaders participating in the LION (Living In One Neighborhood) Walk. Read for more details about the Walk!

Calling all students, community members and kids on a rope: this is your time to shine! The 2011 Senior Class Gift committee is currently accepting proposals for this year's gift until September 17th at 5 p.m. Read for more details!