Every once in a while, a movie comes along that redefines cinema as we know it. The Big Lebowski is not one of these films. Nonetheless, I was thrilled to hear that The State Theater would be showing it this Friday.
The film is being shown as a "welcome back" event for students. What other movie better captures the spirit of college than one about a jobless stoner and his bowling buddies getting caught up in a mob deal gone bad?
There will be two showings at 7:00 and 9:30 p.m., and tickets are only $5. I'm fairly certain most of you didn't get a chance to see this classic in theaters back in 1998, so I recommend taking advantage of this unique opportunity.
Also, in the meantime, take a half hour and read Two Gentlemen of Lebowski, a Shakespearean take on the film. It's better than an acid flashback.
As Sports Editor for Onward State, it's not often that I get to sink my teeth into a story on crime. However, athletes are people too, and they sometimes find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Track and Field recruit and Penn State freshman Evonne Britton qualifies as one of those cases.
Britton was arrested after she attempted to shoplift a bottle of vitamins from McLanahan's downtown store on College Ave. But the criminal activity didn't stop there:
Officers tried to escort Britton out of the store to a police car, but as they were walking through the store, Britton let her body go limp and fell to the ground, police said.
Britton was lifted back up and taken outside, but refused to get into the back seat of the vehicle and tried to pull away, police said.
It was then Britton "donkey-kicked" Officer E.J. Kessinger, who sustained minor injuries to the lower left leg and left wrist, police said.
Last night at Zola New World Bistro a few dozen students enjoyed free food (and, for those over 21, free booze) while staffers from the Center for American Progress (home to Campus Progress) distributed literature about the need for more affordable college tuition.
UPUA Governmental Chairwoman Colleen Smith, UPUA President Gavin Keirans, and Director of University Services Chris Smith also spoke to the need for more affordable Penn State tuition, stressing its origin as a land grant institution and what that means.
Michael Mann, the Penn State professor at the center of the "Climategate" controversy, is set to be scrutinized by a small team of Penn State faculty. This committee has 120 days to delve into the details of the accusations that Mann falsified information and provided misleading evidence to support climate change.
The committee investigating this situation is made up of three people including Henry Foley (Vice President for Research), William Brune (Mann's boss in the Meteorology Department) and Candice Yekel (Director of the Office of Research Protections).
It's my sad duty to inform you of the death of a fellow Penn Stater.
Jaime Haney, 20, was killed on Monday afternoon while driving back from her Baltimore home to Penn State for the start of Spring Semester. The Bio-behavioral Health major wrote on her Facebook page that her lack of Monday classes was her reason for leaving for University Park on Monday instead of over the weekend. Facebook has subsequently pulled Miss Haney's profile page, as per their policy.
She was traveling on Route 322 East when her car left the road and collided with a tree in Howe Township. She was pronounced dead at the scene by responding authorities. It is currently unknown why her car left the road, but authorities did say that she was wearing her seat belt. It is never enjoyable to write about the death of anyone, let alone someone so young in their life. The hearts of everyone here at Onward State go out to the friends and family of Miss Haney.
Ed DeChellis' team now sits at 0-4 in the Big Ten after losing to the Illini, 53-54, in Champaign.
The Lions outscored Illinois 28-23 in the first period, and held the lead for over ten minutes in the second, only to trip up with 1:16 left in the game. The go-ahead score was enough for the 12-5 Illini, as Penn State finished the game by missing four consecutive jumpers.
It's looking like it might be a long year for the NIT Champions.