From reading the comments, though, it became clear (if it wasn't already clear) that there's a large rift in the State College community between the students who just want to have a day of drunken fun and the residents who don't want the town or themselves to be needlessly disturbed. I think it's important that we have an open, intelligent dialog about the issue, which is why I'm asking the following question:
What do you think should be done (if anything) about State Patty's Day, and how should Onward State be covering it?
Hello faithful readers. We here at Onward State have written about a lot in these past few weeks, from why to join a Sorority to the UPUA's marathon of arguments about the Student Handbook Commission. We've even brought back one of my most beloved features--The Natty Nittany.
But Onward State is a small organization. Stories can fall through the cracks in the bustling metropolis that is State College. That's why we're asking you, the readers, What should Onward State be covering?
About an hour ago, the PSU TXT service sent out the following text:
UPark alert MSG: Suspicious package found on Old Main patio. Police on scene. Avoid area. Details soon: http://live.psu.edu/
The Collegian reported that police are on the scene and that the building has not been evacuated. Minutes ago, Penn State's Facebook page announced that "Police determined package is safe. Area re-opened." More details as they become available.
It's starting to look like the dream of a single Spring music festival may be coming to fruition. Recently, leaders of the University Park Undergraduate Association, Association of Residence Hall Students, the Student Programming Association, and The LION 90.7fm have been talking about the feasibility of combining Last Stop, Movin' On, and Celebrate State.
Find out what this could mean (and what challenges are ahead) after the jump.
Recently, some Penn State professors in the Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences wrote an updated report on the economic impact of Marcellus Shale, a sedimentary rock formation on the east coast with lots of natural gas reserves, and how it could affect Pennsylvania's economy. You may be wondering, "What does Marcellus Shale look like?" According to the study, it looks like $20 billion and 200,000 new jobs by 2020.
You can check out the full report after the jump.
A Moment With Your New Community Manager
Hello there. My name's Evan. I co-founded Onward State, along with Davis and Eli, back in November 2008. I've been a writer, an editor, and even an amateur sketch artist over the past two years.
But, as Kanye West once said, "I'm living in the future so the present is my past," so let's move on.
I've now taken over the reins as the Community Manager for Onward State, which will be a different position than it has been in the past. Essentially, I will be acting as a liaison between the Onward State staff and you, our glorious readers and commenters. Since this position is new, it will surely develop and evolve as the semester progresses.
For now, though, let's focus on one of the things that makes Onward State really neat--great online conversations. As some of our more regular readers may already know, our comments section can be both entertaining and engaging (ideally both at the same time). To start off the new semester, I have some guidelines to follow in order to keep our comments great and make them even better over time. Check them out after the jump.