Or is the Penn State alumni association really just that expansive? The website Very Small Array recently designed a special map of Park Slope in New York City ("brave, bourgiest corner of Bourgie Brooklyn", says Gawker), a hipster haven, music mecca, indie asylum. This map has all the streets in the Park Slope area, but the street names have been changed to the names of the colleges found on the rear windows of the cars parked there (maybe). Not surprisingly, Penn State is one of the largest names on this map, along with most of the ivies. What divine knowledge can we glean from this information?
Penn State (and a large part of Onward State's readers/writers) has a large, under-appreciated hipster population
Penn State graduates are some of the only people who care enough to put a PSU sticker in their rear windshield
Being included with these other prestigious schools CLEARLY shows that Penn State doesn't get the proper respect that they deserve as an academic juggernaut
This website could be a little biased
Take what you want from this map. Regardless of any revelations you come to, it's a pretty cool project by someone with clearly too much time on their hands, and it amused me (and hopefully you) for a solid minute. Not bad.
Do you love the Nittany Lion? The football team? PJ Maierhofer? The Drum Major? Cheerleaders? Have you ever dreamed of meeting these people? Ever wanted PJ to teach you baton twirling? Or wanted to play broomball with the PSU hockey team? Do you love kids?
As a Penn Stater, you should have answered yes to ALL of these questions, and therefore the following information should excite you: the Penn State Marketing Association is auctioning off the previously mentioned (and more) "dates" with some of Penn State's best! The event is Wednesday, January 20th, at 7:30 in Heritage Hall in the HUB. There is a suggested donation of $3 at the door, with all proceeds going to THON (note that this is NOT an official THON event). Check out the Facebook event page here.
What "date" would you most like to have? Magic lessons with Graham Spanier? Let me hear it in the comments.
Though it's everyone's favorite January long weekend, I can't help but wonder why classes are canceled for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The national holiday celebrating King's birthday is a relatively new holiday, having been signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 and indeed it has not been universally appreciated since its passage. In fact, it wasn't until 2000 that all 50 states recognized it as a holiday. Arizona in particular, led by John McCain, was against the holiday and withheld its support for years.
While in retrospect MLK is seen as a symbol of justice and purity, his actual life story was not nearly that simple. King was investigated by the FBI on suspicions of being a communist spy, and he is thought to have been both a frequent adulterer (one biographer called it "compulsive sexual athleticism") and a plagiarist.
So maybe the good Reverend wasn't the BEST role model, but I can look past that. Let's assume that he is worthy of a national holiday. The question remains: why does MLK Day receive preference over other national holidays that commemorate individuals, like Columbus Day and President's Day (Washington's Birthday)?
Friends, Nittany Lions, State College residents, lend me your ears. In this short time during which we inhabit this earth, it is seldom asked of us to partake in a venture so grand, something so much larger than any individual, that it could define our very existence.
Today is one of those days.
The U.S. News and World Report is once again holding a contest to determine the best alternative media outlet of 2009. We, the defending champions, are one of the four nominees, and while Onward State currently leads in the polls, it's a close race.
Ever say to yourself, "gee I wish the Penn State College Democrats had a blog!"? Well first off, I'm sorry that's what you are thinking about, and secondly, today is your lucky day.
Yes, it sounds like something out of a fairy tale, something too good to be true, but it's reality! This is what greets freedom lovers as they visit the brand-spanking new blog of the PSU College Democrats.
With general interest in politics dropping off after the 2008 election, and with the College Republicans luring in members with promises of food (and tax cuts), the College Democrats are looking to emulate the success of the Obama campaign. Since technology being a must-have weapon in any campaign or political organization, it seems only logical that the College Dems would try to spread the good word through the internet.
Are you the kind of person that sits around all day thinking of names for things (scientist, rapper, politician)? Well, the Eberly College of Science has just the opportunity for you! The Eberly College is adding a new student center to the Ritenour building:
The east wing of Ritenour Building will soon be home to science undergraduate co-op, internship, and externship information, as well as advising and career advice...vitally important career resources, brought together in one place. This new student center, designed specially for science students, will provide comfortable furnishings and space to study, learn, and collaborate.
It's like the HUB... only for science kids. Anyways, they need help coming up with a name for the student center. What would you receive for your efforts? The winner of the contest receives an iPod touch, a $250 gift certificate to the Penn State bookstore, and the chance to officially name the student center. Four runners-up will also receive a $50 gift certificate. You can enter as many times as you like until January 25.