Still Life

With four guide ropes attached to it, the east-side clock face is raised into position. While it didn't seem that windy on the ground on Saturday, Jan. 28, winds higher up were strong, requiring extra guidance to bring the clock face safely to the Old Main bell tower.

Old Main clock faces installed

Ben White of New Vibrations Audio and Video works on a ledge of the Old Main bell tower, to remove the speakers from the old chime system. The company installed a new carillon system today (Jan. 27) that will play a digital recording made of the original Old Main bell that now sits adjacent to Old Main and other bells of comparable sizes.

New carillon, restored clocks being installed

The funeral procession for Joe Paterno made its way past Beaver Stadium and down Porter Road as crowds applauded on Jan. 25. Thousands lined the procession route through the University Park campus and downtown State College to bid a last farewell to Joe Paterno.

Joe Paterno's funeral procession

Coach Joe Paterno was on the field for the first half of the Nittany Lions' football game. Penn State beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 13-3 on Oct. 8, 2011, in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Beaver Stadium.

Joe Paterno through the years

Katie Knobloch and Andrew Adamietz, members of the a capella group Blue in the Face, shared a candle at the vigil held Sunday, Jan. 22, to mourn the death of Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, who passed away earlier in the day. Several thousand members of the Penn State and State College community came out to the Old Main lawn on Penn State's University Park campus for the vigil.

Thousands mourn Paterno's passing

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University Police debuts electric motorcycles

Wednesday, September 17, 2008
University Police officers have begun using two electric motorcycles for patrols on and near University Park. For more photos, click on the image above.
Credit: Jill Shockey University Police officers have begun using two electric motorcycles for patrols on and near University Park. For more photos, click on the image above.

University Park, Pa. — The air was electric Tuesday morning (Sept. 16) as University Police unveiled two new motorcycles from its first ever motorcycle patrol.
 
However, these were not ordinary motorcycles. The two new bikes that will be roaming around the University Park campus are electrically powered and offer many new opportunities for Police.
 
“I have been looking at motorcycles for a few years now and I’ve learned that there are many benefits to having electric ones,” University Police Director Steve Shelow said. “They are perfect for operating in narrow areas like sidewalks, they are extremely quiet, and they are virtually maintenance free.”
 
The new additions to the Police fleet have some environmental benefits as well. They require no gasoline and they operate on a nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery, which is 100 percent recyclable. Lacking the tanks, chains and belts of a gasoline-powered bike, the new models require no oil changes and can be plugged into a conventional outlet to recharge.
 
The electric motorcycles last for eight to 10 hours and benefit Police most when patrolling lots, especially during football game days. In the past, officers only patrolled the lots on foot or by bicycle.

In some situations, the motorcycles can be used instead of a police cruiser, saving the department gas and bettering the environment.
 
“We are one of the first university police departments in the nation to begin an electric-powered motorcycle program, and we are the first department in the state to do it,” Shelow said. “Our new motorcycle patrol is a great opportunity for us in many ways. I think our two new bikes will be a great addition to our department and I look forward to seeing them in use to serve the Penn State community.”

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