I ran into Dongju on College Ave. last week and couldn't help but notice that gray peacoat. You see so many blacks and blues around (I'm guilty of conforming too), so it was nice to see something different. Then I looked down and noticed what I really loved about Dongju's outfit; it was her shoes. I wish I could tell you what material they are, but what I loved about them is that they look so sturdy and classic.
Most of all, why the shoes make her look is how she's wearing them. For some reason, a lot of dressier shoes look better without socks, and with the weather in the 20s that day, it took a lot of guts not to wear any socks. In the end, it paid off for Dongju. She's rocking them in the best way possible, not to mention I really like the accent her green sweater gives to the peacoat.
Lastly, check out the buttons on her peacoat below. I like trying to notice the little things that make people's outfits look unique, and I didn't even notice this until I cropped the photo. The eagle and shield emblem on the buttons are awesome.
CATA's lack of support for cash-strapped Graduate students here at Penn State has started to get on some bus rider's nerves.
Two of those Graduate students, Crista M. Livecchi and Emma Gaalaas Mullaney, have started a Facebook group called "PSU Grads for Transportation Equity," calling for CATA to give them the same kind of financial break it gives full-time Penn State staff members. According to the group, Penn State staffers are currently eligible for CATA's Ride for Five program, which offers a bus pass for $5 a month as opposed to the regular rate of $49 a month.
The Grad students, on the other hand, who don't have two pennies to rub together, have to pay the full monthly rate.
To an outsider like me, this seems like a humongous load of crap, but, as I said, I'm on the outside looking in. Fortunately, both creators of the group were kind enough to offer me some insight on the situation, explaining things much better than I ever could. Read on to find out what they had to say.
The STATEtorialist is a blog about Penn State, college sports, and fashion. Every week, Ben from The STATEtorialist will be writing a column for Onward State. If you like what you read, be sure to comment and read more at The STATEtorialist!
Today I was reading my favorite blog, The Sartorialist, and underneath a picture of someone walking through a blizzard in New York City, the author Scott Schuman exclaimed his disapproval of "The system" and how it kept him from being able to buy a pair of gloves. The system he is referring to is the one that makes everyone, specifically store owners, think that just because the holidays have ended, that spring has sprung (regardless what happens in Punxsutawney).
Clearly, if you look out your window, winter is still going strong, as it is in New York as well, and stores are in a spring fashion state of mind. Scott's post got me thinking that while we're still getting mounds of snow here in State College, my posts might as well still be winter fashion oriented, especially since stores like Harpers and Barefoot are putting their fall and winter stuff on sale right now.
Something that I never really thought about until recently is the uncomfortable, un-versatile accessory that is the dress sock. Does the prospect of socks pique your interest? Read the full post after the jump to find some good deals on dress socks.
Our local Congressional representative, Scott Conklin, has begun circulating nomination petitions for a Lt. Governor run later this year.
Conklin, a Democrat, has been the representative of Pennsylvania's 77th district, which includes State College, since 2006. During his term, Conklin has been a strong supporter of PHEAA, a Pennsylvania organization that helps students with their pursuit of higher education. He has also helped Penn State secure grants and supported our basketball team when they were doing better than they are now.
With the primary election coming up May 18, he only has a few months to prepare. Even if he runs for Lt. Governor, he will still be allowed to run for re-election in his house seat, so he's not taking a big risk. Conklin's main motivation for running is to help reform PA's constitution. Considering how abysmal the state's budget process has been in the past few years, this might not be a bad idea.
State College Music Spotlight is a new feature at Onward State where we find local artists in the State College area and share them with the community.
These guys have something special.
Johnny Action Figure is a quartet based in Philadelphia, PA. The band is made up of guitarists/vocalists Brendan Fullam and Chris Sheehan (the latter of which is a Penn State album from 07!), bassist/vocalist CF Fullam, and drummer Brad Rittle. On their latest release, Good Eye, Johnny Action Figure shows a future for pop rock as it could be. You'll find no auto-tune gimmicks or flashy egos here, just four guys who have great ears for melodies, harmonies, rhythms, and how they can all go together.
Good Eye is a very confident, sincere album, where everything seems to be done for the purposes of producing a solid sound. For instance, the second track on the album, "Young Rider", incorporates 3-part harmonies, doo-wop backing vocals, horns, transitions from 4/4 to 3/4, a walking bassline, and two guitar solos in just over three and a half minutes - yet none of it comes off as gimmicky, show-offy, or unnecessary. It's clear that these four chaps have excellent technical prowess on their respective instruments, but they show enough restraint to not come off as obnoxious.
Read the full post for more.
