Earlier this week the Science, Technology, and Society program was informed that the a strategic review council had recommended its closure. The decision is not final at this point, as it must first pass through Faculty Senate and the Board of Trustees, but with a stated intention of closing the program by June 2012, the university does not seem to think that it will be a problem.
Tenured faculty will be transferred to other units and Penn State will make an effort to treat other faculty fairly, but effectively speaking much of STS found out this week that they would probably be laid off in the near future.
Students who are currently enrolled in the STS minor will be able to graduate with it. I know this because I am one of them.
If the urge to snack hits you while strolling the streets of downtown State College this evening keep an eye out for Relay For Life volunteers selling snacks at various locations. There will be three tables set up outside Rapid Transit, the Family Clothesline, and the CVS on Beave Ave. from 9:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.
Hot dogs will be sold for $2, meatball subs for $3, and if you're looking for an extra push to keep you buzzing through the night you can grab a Rockstar energy drink for just $1. Make sure you're carrying cash as credit cards and LionCash will not be accepted.
StateCollege.com reported this afternoon that the Penn State Board of Trustees will vote on the name 'Pegula Arena' for the ice arena being constructed adjacent to the Shields building at the corner of University Drive and Curtin Road.
The ice facility is of course the most significant facilities component of Terry Pegula's $88 million donation that will allow Penn State to launch a men's and women's Division 1 hockey program.
The next trustees meeting is Friday January 21. We'll post additional information as it becomes available.
Next Thursday, the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Gregory B. Jaczko will meet with Penn State faculty and students when he tours the Breazeale nuclear reactor.
Jaczko, a former science policy advisor for Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev), was appointed to the position
The university release described the purpose of the visit as follows:
The chairman and his fellow NRC commissioners periodically visit power and research reactors to help better inform their decision-making regarding such facilities.
Check out some video footage from the reactor after the jump.
Penn State men's soccer player Corey Hertzog was selected by the New York Red Bulls on Thursday with the 13th pick in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft.
While Joe Paterno has earned many accolades for his work on the football field, his many accomplishments off the field over the past sixty years have not gone unnoticed. He was honored again on Thursday night in San Antonio when he received the Gerald R. Ford Award at the annual NCAA convention. The Ford Award honors an individual who has provided significant leadership as an advocate for intercollegiate athletics on a continuous basis throughout his or her career.