As housing contract offers began rolling out between January 20th and 27th, the time between the first and third rounds of offers, there were mixed emotions among those who applied to live on-campus for the 2011-2012 school year.
Last semester, UPUA passed legislation in favor of establishing relations with The Princeton Review over Kaplan to provided subsidized preparation courses for graduate and professional school entrance exams. The contract is set to last for two years, and renewal will be determined based on success rates.
Penn State is planning on moving away from Monday/Wednesday classes in favor of more Monday/Wednesday/Friday sections. However, for the Fall 2011 semester, the College of Communications is offering more courses meeting only on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Though his time at Penn State was short, Tom Richards left a lasting impression on his friends and peers. In August, while on retreat with the Leadership Jump Start class that he was a TA for, Richards died of a hemorrhage brought on from a brain aneurysm, shortly before the start of his sophomore year. In his memory, his friends and family have united to carry on his zest for service and leadership through The 367 Project.
Started by 2010 graduate Mike Thomas, the project is named for the time Richards spent as a Penn State student. During these 367 days, he greatly influenced his fellow students, compelling them to carry on this impact. The project is based out of Philadelphia, PA but has a local chapter operating at Penn State.
Everyone knows the routine: the weekend rolls around, and now that Happy Valley is blanketed in ice and snow from the "ablogable snowstorm," many on-campus students, especially freshman in East Halls, take advantage of UPUA's White Loop extension.
For anyone who has never had the fortune of riding it, to say that the crowds get a little rambunctious would be putting it mildly. But hope is not lost! Here are a few tips, try to keep them in mind as you embark on your White Loop journey this weekend. Trust me, it will make it easier for everyone involved.
In the years since its establishment, UPUA and its members have made great strides to prove themselves as legitimate in the wake of the disbandment of USG, University Park's former governing body. Projects such as the White Loop extension and creating a seat for a student representative on the Borough Council are a few of the better-known successes for UPUA and its presidents.
One of UPUA's lesser known projects is not one that immediately affects the student body. At least, not in the short-term.