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Willard Building Or Pollock Testing Center? Apple Maps Can’t Decide

These days, Penn State’s freshmen have a lot to worry about. From securing football tickets to surviving in the dorms, there’s simply a lot on first-year students’ plates.

However, a new challenger has seemingly entered the arena this fall — or, perhaps, we’ve just started noticing it more often. To begin, could any of you lovely readers tell me what’s wrong with the photo above? See anything a little wonky on that map of central campus? Perhaps you’re noticing a very significant typo?

That’s right. Currently, the back half of Willard Building, better known these days as the new Bellisario Media Center, is mistakenly labeled the Pollock Testing Center. Any seasoned student simply knows that’s not true, but a freshman or a student on campus for the first time doesn’t.

I’ve spent a generous chunk of my time studying and working in the new media center. What can I say? It’s fantastic. But as I’ve sat in there, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked for directions by a wide-eyed freshman, only to shrug and send them walking about 10 minutes down Pollock Road to the actual testing center.

It’s embarrassing enough to wind up at the incorrect location, especially when it’s hot out and you’ve likely already worked up a sweat getting there. What’s worse is potentially missing out on your exam window because you trusted Apple Maps — something so far out of your control that it felt objectively trustworthy. I’d venture to guess testing administrators wouldn’t have much sympathy for someone who seemingly read a map wrong, either.

The problem gets even worse when you realize the real Pollock Testing Center is labeled incorrectly, too. Apple Maps lists it as the “Pollock Building” — a title that both doesn’t make sense and is practically begging to be confused with Pollock Commons just down the road.

The map’s errors remind me a lot of Apple Maps’ early days, which were filled with complaints about inaccuracies, misspellings, and more. Maybe the current Pollock Testing Center error is a relic of that bygone era.

At any rate, Penn State would objectively benefit from a touch-up to its presence on Apple Maps. Once my classes end, I’ll try heading to the closest Genius Bar to plead my case. In the meantime, you can try to right this wrong by “reporting an issue” inside the app. Just click on the imposter Pollock Testing Center and scroll down to the bottom of the menu.

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About the Author

Matt DiSanto

Matt proudly served as Onward State’s managing editor for two years until graduating from Penn State in May 2022. Now, he’s off in the real world doing real things. Send him an email ([email protected]) or follow him on Twitter (@mattdisanto_) to stay in touch.

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