When people looked at Hillary Lewis, all they saw was a sorority girl. How could they know that she was a savvy political veteran, with experience dating back to elementary school? That she'd been the president of her middle school? That to her, the seemingly insurmountable task of making UPUA a legitimate student government wasn't just an aim, but a reachable attainment? Now, Lewis can look back and smile because she earned the last laugh, but, five years ago, it wasn't so easy to turn the other cheek.
It's probably a good thing that T.J. Bard and Courtney Lennartz's platform was more professional than their campaign song. In front of 35 individuals--campaign supporters, volunteers, and other interested parties--the two set forth their agenda, unveiled a campaign website, and laid out a number of campaign promises and plans, but not before, regrettably, introducing a half-hearted hip-hop tune that implored listeners to "remember this rhyme come election time," while a remix of Seven Nation Army played in the background.
But once the fun and games came to an end, Bard and Lennartz differentiated themselves not just from the theme song but from other candidates, touting their experience and realistic proposals to improve student life at Penn State.
Each March,we bring together two of America's favorite pastimes into one glorious event. March Madness combines basketball and gambling, because what could make 67 basketball games more exciting than having something riding on the stakes? Well, we here at Onward State are no strangers to filling out brackets, and now we're inviting you readers to try your own hands at it. You can attempt to take down your fellow OS readers, and even some of your favorite writers..
Looking for something that looks great on a resume? Then by all means, run for a spot on the University Park Undergraduate Association. But if you're actually one of those young idealists who's hoping to make an impact on the Penn State community, your efforts might be better served elsewhere. It's not UPUA's fault that they're largely a committee without significant authority--I can't imagine a student government at any level that would be tasked with making legitimate, important decisions that would actually affect any college or university. With billions of dollars, thousands of jobs, and worldwide prestige on the line, it would be foolish to give students more than nominal control. You can't have the inmates running the asylum.
This year, the State College community has focused all their efforts on fighting the "menace" that is State Patty's Day. They're bringing in the cavalry, police from beyond just Centre County in an attempt to halt our drunken revelry. But if you know your rights, your chances of making it through State Patty's with a clean record can rise exponentially.
At this point, it is beyond cliched to say that THON unites all of Penn State behind a common cause--the fight towards the eradication of childhood cancer. But for some involved with THON, the charity and the event take on a greater meaning. Count dancer Eric Clair amongst those who have a personal connection with pediatric cancer. "When he was 9 months old, Eric was diagnosed with cancer," his mother, Cindy, explains.