Staff Picks: Penn State Fears That Keep Us Up at Night

Jack Anderson-Jussen | Onward State

Penn State is a place full of tradition, community, and unforgettable experiences — but it’s not without its fair share of fears. Whether it’s the dreaded climb up Shortlidge Road, the chaotic rush for THON floor passes, or the existential dread of finding an open table at the HUB during lunchtime, every Penn Stater has something that keeps them up at night.

From academic nightmares to campus quirks, these fears are as much a part of the Penn State experience as the Creamery and the White Out.

To get the full picture, we asked our all-student staff to share their biggest Penn State fears. From the rational to the ridiculous, their answers prove that no one is immune to the unique anxieties that come with life in Happy Valley.

Julia Romankow: Elevator Eye Contact

This is kind of like a horror story that I don’t want to be repeated. Sometimes, I will be waiting for the elevator by myself in my building when I see someone start to turn the corner. It’s obvious that this person is heading toward the elevator, right where I am waiting. The person on the way toward the elevator sees me and then turns around and heads toward the stairs. My fear is that this will keep happening. It’s such an awkward feeling.

Ben Rosenbaum: Pollock Testing Center

My Penn State fear has to be the Pollock Testing Center. From the dreadful walk to a horrid destination, the Pollock Testing Center is an unfortunate staple of the Penn State experience. The line is normally out the door with students, frantically scrolling through last-minute notes and quick reviews. Not to mention how stressful it can be when the seconds are ticking away and you’re not even halfway done with your exam yet. The Pollock Testing Center is a building that takes all joy and happiness out of my mind whenever I walk past it, one that I fear very much.

Hannah Fuller: Being Late To Forum

There’s nothing I fear more than walking into the Forum Building late. Some of my most humbling experiences have been frantically walking into class and having 300 pairs of eyes judging me while I try to find a seat. What if you can’t find an open seat towards one of the side doors? Forget it, you’re better off walking out. The real embarrassment comes when you have to step over people to sit right in the middle.

Hannah Guidotti: Quiche

I’M SO SCARED OF THE DINING HALL QUICHE.

Zoey Garrett: Being Late To Sparks

My biggest Penn State fear is being late to a class in Sparks lecture hall. When those loud doors open, people don’t even need to turn their heads to stare because you’re already at the front of the room. You even have to walk past the professor on your way to your seat.

Jack Anderson-Jussen: Maintenance Workers

Nothing is worse than waking up and hearing someone banging on your door yelling, “MAINTENANCE!” There’s always the first minute of wondering whether you really have to go get out of bed to let them in or whether they will just come in themselves. Either way, you’re likely forced to hunker down in your room until they leave. While the workers themselves aren’t scary, I’ve had many a nightmare about them knocking on the door and coming to fix my fridge. Off-campus people know.

Kyra Birmingham: High School Classmates

Coming from a school in Pennsylvania, I’ve seen half my high school around campus. I have had a class with at least one person from high school every semester. That is nightmare material (sorry if I’m talking about you). I just want to be able to walk around campus in peace.

Oscar Orellana: Dropping Plates At The Dining Hall

Dropping a plate in the middle of a busy dining hall has to be in the top three worst things that can happen to a Penn State student. While it’s never happened to me personally, it did happen to my friend once. I was dying of laughter since it happened to him, but in retrospect, that’s pure nightmare fuel.

Tia Kaschauer: Penn State Strep Throat

I got strep throat at Penn State three times in my first semester. To make things worse, I’m allergic to amoxicillin. I stay far away from sharing drinks or using water fountains because Penn State strep throat is the worst thing here. The teachers did not care. They gave me one excused day, and the rest, they penalized me for.