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Author: Brian

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Weekly Series Examines Drinking Culture

Got some something to say about State Patty's Day? Think the drinking age should be 18 instead of 21? Concerned about alcohol abuse on and off campus? You should check out the CDT's ongoing series on drinking culture entitled Focus on Excessive Drinking. The series contains many interesting viewpoints on a variety of drinking issues.


One column that caught my eye proposed new ways to control the mayhem that is State Patty's Day. Another concerned itself less with describing the problems of drinking abuse and focused on finding appropriate solutions.


Check out some of the columns and let me know what you think; especially with drinking, everybody has an opinion.

A Tale of Two Handbooks

After reading the Collegian's editorial about the UPUA's plans for a freshman student handbook, I was more than a little confused. I felt that some of the criticism that the Collegian levied was spot-on, but surely the final design of the handbook would be superior to a "Web site that would accumulate all the links and information that freshman students ... would find very useful." I mean, sure, we'd be out 21,000 dollars, but put to good use, that money could create one hell of a sweet handout. "Put to good use" is clearly the important phrase in that sentence.


To find out a little more about the design and intent of the Freshman handbook, I emailed Samantha Miller, who is the Director of Assembly Services for the UPUA. Samantha is spear-heading the Freshman Handbook initiative, so she knows a little bit about what they are going for. Read on for the questions and responses.

UPAC Decision: Bands Need Food Too!

As you may have read, the University Park Allocation Committee recently made a decision on SPA's request to use some of its standing allocation on food. I know that when I heard about the UPAC's decision, I was a little bit confused. Does this mean I get free pizza at the Minus The Bear concert? Will Ben Stein be giving out hotdogs at SPA's expense?


Thanks to some info from some helpful folks over at the UPAC, the matter was cleared up for us.


According to their emails, it appears that the decision was based on a recognition of SPA's need to offer hospitality in order to keep bringing in exciting acts. Therefore, the UPAC decided to meet SPA's need in this regard, as well as offering food funding for other standing and regular allocations as well. So, no free pizza at LateNight. But, hopefully this means that the SPA will be able to keep bringing in ballin' acts. You can count on me being at Minus The Bear, free pizza or not.

Time to Go Wireless

Has your roommate ever cut all of your network cables in half after you stole his yogurt? Soon he and all other cable-shearers will be foiled, as ResCom has been introducing wireless computing into the dorms since the fall semester.


Though (annoyingly) students are required to have ResCom set up their wireless router, I do like that PSU is at least trying to set up a system for wireless. In addition to just being convenient, I would bet that PSU is also hoping to avoid problems like those described here; cyber-security is one of those buzzwords that every university wants to be up-to-date on.


Speaking of other universities, the University of Michigan will be fully wireless by this semester, according to the university website. We have to at least keep up with the rest of the Big 10. I really hope ResCom figures out a way to make this as painless as possible for everyone; wireless computing is supposed to make life more convenient, not more complicated.


For those living in the dorms, what do you think? Is it worth it to get wireless in your rooms?

Teachin’ the Russians What’s What

In Russian schools, tests take YOU! President Obama thinks that this is a silly dynamic and has included an education expert from Penn State in his U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission. Dr. Jacqueline Edmondson, PSU’s associate dean for undergraduate and graduate studies in Penn State’s College of Education was selected to join the Working Group on […]

PSU VS VTech… Paint the House White.

This Saturday, PSU basketball will play Virginia Tech in an ACC – Big Ten battle that Nittany Nation has deemed worthy of a White House. And yet, I am worried that when I attend the game this Saturday, I will witness a house with chipping paint. It always works out in football, but somehow I […]

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