A new study published in First Monday, an online peer-reviewed journal, is reporting that 78 percent of college students use Wikipedia as part of their research process for class assignments. According to the study, “8 in 10 survey respondents (82 percent) reported that they went to Wikipedia to obtain background information or a summary about a topic.”


So, Onward State readers, we want to know…

How often do you use Wikipedia for course research?

If you are a current student then you know how much it is a pain to see that a section you wanted to get into for a class is full. Well with eLion’s new feature, the Course Watch List, your troubles may be over. Posted on Penn State Live Friday the 12th, eLion is getting a new upgrade.

Quote from the Penn State Live Story:

This application will provide students with the opportunity to be notified when a seat opens in a full section of a course. Students will indicate the course sections they wish to watch and may be notified of an open seat via a Penn State e-mail account and/or a text message to a mobile phone. Students may attempt to schedule the section through the normal avenues.

Penn State’s new Liberal Arts publication, Agora, will be distributed around campus starting today.


Spearheaded by Junior Sean Healy, Agora seeks to promote diversity, free thought, and a marketplace of ideas for the Penn State community. By encouraging contributing writers to write about topics they’re passionate about, Sean believes readers are left with an eclectic assortment of “often muffled, sidelined, and under discussed,” topics. The result is a publication like none other at Penn State.


“I found it difficult to find a student organization that I was passionate about or thought would fit my personality. I was looking to get involved in some sort of publication or magazine because I enjoy writing,” Sean said when asked why he started Agora.


Interested in that same chance to get involved? Agora is looking for contributors – more information can be found on their Facebook page.

But this one’s different from most of our THON coverage, I swear.


Kylie Nellis, a Penn State cheerleader majoring in broadcast journalism, produced this short documentary about her  dancing in THON. Definitely a different point of view than most of us experienced.




The second half is after the jump.

Craigslist is a big and sometimes scary place. Craigslist Penn State is no exception. In an effort to better serve you, our reader, we have started an new effort to highlight listings we feel should be shared with the greater Penn State audience.


We hope we can find what you’re looking for.

Ugg Boots and Spandex – m4w (State College)

You were walking down College Ave. and you looked utterly retarded trying to imitate the million other retards wearing the exact same thing. You looked like you were freezing your ass off, yet your feet were probably toasty. All in the name of some ridiculous fashion statement. What was the statement? “Look at me! I’m a retard!”

I wonder if this is a broad statement generalizing the stereotype of how women dress in State College, or if this well and truly was meant for one girl. Probably the former.

The STATEtorialist is a blog about Penn State, college sports, and fashion. Every week, Ben from The STATEtorialist will be writing a column for Onward State. If you like what you read, be sure to comment and read more at The STATEtorialist!


I’m not going to lie, I have a lot of clothes. So much, in fact, that the studio apartment I live in that is made for two people has two closets and two dressers full of my clothes. But even with my plentiful wardrobe, I never feel like I have enough of certain items. I’m all about re-wearing jeans because they seem to be more comfortable that second time around, but there are certain things you can’t pull out of the laundry basket and throw back on without feeling at least a little bit grimey.


So in the past few months I’ve been thinking and there are a few things I really wish I had an extensive collection of, and I like to think of these things as essentials. Read on for some items that you shouldn’t feel bad for overloading on.

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to sit down with THON 2010 Overall Chairperson Caitlin Zankowski to talk about her experiences heading up the world’s largest student-run philanthropy. Sitting around a table in 210 HUB, where so many crucial decisions regarding THON and its direction are made, we talked about her experiences as Overall Chair and where she would like to see THON go in the future.


Read on for the full interview.

Do you love Apple and are currently looking for a job post graduation? Then this is your lucky day! According to Twitter (and to a lesser extent Nittany Lion Career Network), there is an info session on Thursday night at 6:00pm in 112 Thomas for the Apple Store Leader Program.


That is right! Apple will be here at Penn State for an information session regarding this job posting. The Apple Store Leader Program is “a 24-month immersion in every aspect of managing and operating an Apple Retail Store.” It seems like a great way to launch a career, especially if you are interested in retail.


Seems like a great way to kick start your resume and work on your leadership skills. It also gives you a chance to be a part of one of the coolest and most respected companies in the USA! Maybe even you’ll get close to Steve Jobs’ inner pot-smoking, yoga-practicing circle! Apply here!

Sunday was an auspicious day for the Daily Collegian. It marked the first time that readers were able to comment on articles (as distinct from blog posts). The system works by utilizing a comment system called Disqus and requires users to authenticate with either a Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo!, OpenID, or Disqus account.


Editor-in-Chief Rossilynne Skena stated on her official blog that the authentication system is in place “to avoid the spam and hostility so often associated with anonymous comments.”


We want to congratulate the Daily Collegian on taking its next big step in the scary world of online media. I am surprised that it took them this long, though I suspect it had something to do with credibility worries. Good luck with keeping the commenters civil!

I found out yesterday that my little sister has decided to accept Penn State’s offer of admission. While she is keen to strike her own path (in other words, an Onward State writer she probably won’t be), I want to give her as much wisdom as possible before she gets here.


So, today, for all the little brothers and little sisters and future Penn Staters of the world, I want to know,

What advice do you have for next year’s crop of freshman Penn Staters?

The Staff Profile series is a new feature at Onward State. As the semester progresses, we will provide a window into the life of each Onward Stater. Readers: meet our writers.


Steve Sharer joined the Onward State team back in January 2009 when it was but a young lion cub of a blog. Steve writes on all sorts of Penn State topics, including the Penn State Marching Blue Band, The College of IST, and Penn State-related technology (among other things). He’s also responsible for bringing the Stately Inquisitor (a buddy from High School) to Onward State to tantalize you with the most intriguing questions you’ve ever seen.


By day, he majors in Security & Risk Analysis with minors in Information Sciences & Technology and Geography. And by night, he heads up the Security & Risk Analysis Club as the President. Steve also performs in the Penn State Marching Blue Band as a trumpet player with 310 of the most outstanding people you’ll meet at Penn State (hint: you can find him in the “P” in the “PSU” formation during pregame).


Read more about the illustrious Steve Sharer after the jump.

It seems as though we might have had a substantial zombie problem during this year’s State Patty’s Day (see photo). I witnessed lines outside of bars stretching more than a block downtown and more green puke than I care to admit. So I want to know:

How was State Patty’s Day (or weekend) for you?

Saturday was, of course, State Patty’s Day. I didn’t expect to see someone worthy of Natty Nittany status, but then I ran into John outside of Sharkies Bar and Thrifty Bottle Shop on Hetzel Street. The fashion photography gods had given me a State Patty’s Day blessing.


Though I did not have my good camera with me, you shouldn’t need too sharp of an image to see why I had to snap Jon’s picture. John did State Patty’s in a big way and I respect him for that.


It’s not only that he’s got the green going on, and that he did it in a way much more fashionable than the typical t-shirt, but that his jacket was actually a decent fit! Too often I see people with blazers two sizes too big for them and poorly tailored suit jackets (or worse– not tailored at all!).


Oh, and a little side note courtesy of John’s female accompaniment. When I told them who I was and asked to take John’s picture, the girl enthusiastically informed that John’s clothes were indeed, “all high end stuff!”

State Patty’s Day is almost here. The State College community and people all over, are wondering how this year’s celebration will turn out.


So what I want to know is:

What do you think of State Patty’s Day?

Is it time for it to go, or is the bacchanal here to stay?

I passed Tolani on my way to class last week and couldn’t help but notice that not only did he look fly, but also that his swagger matched his ensemble. I was just telling one of my friends the other day that I love outfits that are “Murdered out”, a.k.a all black with a subtle touch of color or design somewhere. From the Chuck T’s to his black framed glasses, Tolani’s got this look down. I really dug his shirt though too. It matched perfectly and I really like the Burberry-esque black, red, and grey plaid. I’m a huge fan of ALL one color and then adding a hint of another, especially when the dominant color is black.