Penn State President Rodney Erickson will testify before the Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, to answer questions related to the University's appropriation. The proceedings will be carried live on Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) and also will be available for streaming on the Web at http://www.pcntv.com/.
A committee of Penn State student leaders, campus representatives and State College community leaders including Mayor Elizabeth Goreham has united against State Patty's Day, an excessive drinking event that has taken place since 2007 in downtown State College. The committee is asking local businesses to curtail their participation and instead join in promoting a weekend of community-friendly volunteer activities. (more)
The No. 12/17 Penn State Lady Lions (21-5, 11-3) will square off against No. 9/11 Ohio State (23-3, 10-3) in a Big Ten matchup with regular-season title implications at 7 p.m. Monday in the Bryce Jordan Center. With a win, the Lady Lions will clinch at least a share of the conference regular season title. Fans are encouraged to wear white to the game and those fans wearing white can partake in a buy one ticket, get one free offer for Monday night's game at the ticket office prior to the contest. As always, Penn State students will get in for free. The game will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com with Beth Mowins and Stephanie White describing play. This is the only meeting of the season between the Lady Lions and the Buckeyes. (more)
Entrepreneurs in and around Philipsburg, Pa., soon will have a new resource to start or expand their own small business. The Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will host a grand opening celebration at 10 a.m. Friday, March 9, at the SBDC-Philipsburg Outreach Office, located at 203 N. Front St. (more)
Detectable for only a few seconds but possessing enormous energy, gamma-ray bursts are difficult to capture because their energy does not penetrate the Earth's atmosphere. Now, thanks to an orbiting telescope, astrophysicists are filling in the unknowns surrounding these bursts and uncovering new questions. The Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope, formerly called the Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope, launched on June 11, 2008. As part of its mission, the telescope records any gamma-ray bursts within its viewing area. (more)
The 46-hour Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) once again has set a new record, raising $10,686,924.83 for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital, surpassing last year's record $9.56 million. Funds raised by THON go to support the Four Diamonds Fund and its pediatric cancer patients, families and researchers at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital who are working to find better treatments and, ultimately, cures for forms of cancer that afflict children. First held in 1973, THON has partnered with Four Diamonds Fund since 1977 and in that time has raised more than $89 million FTK -- "For The Kids." (more)
Penn State University Police are investigating several incidents in which an unknown male contacted multiple female students offering them $500 Victoria's Secret gift cards. The male would refuse to identify himself and also would request to meet the students in person. Anyone who has experienced similar activity or has any information should contact University Police at 814-863-1111 or Centre County Crime Stoppers at 1-877-99-CRIME. Those providing information that leads to an arrest may be eligible for a Crime Stoppers reward of up to $1,000. Anonymous tips can be submitted at http://www.police.psu.edu/witness/ online. (more)
Underground blasting will begin Monday, Feb. 20, as part of site excavation for the new Pegula Ice Arena on the University Park campus, near the intersection of University Drive and Curtin Road. The blasts, which will take place twice a day from Monday to Friday for about six weeks, will make way for the arena's foundation and are a routine part of the excavation process. Penn State's Office of Physical Plant said there will be some noise associated with the blasts, but that the ground will contain and absorb most of the sound produced. (more)
Penn State officials have learned that the University has maintained its longterm rating of Aa1 from Moody's Investors Service and has been removed from the company's "Watchlist for Possible Downgrade," where it was placed on Nov. 11, 2011.
"Penn State's Aa1 rating is the second-highest category of Moody's 21 possible ratings and reflects the University's top financial position in U.S. public higher education," said Joseph Doncsecz, the University's associate vice president for finance and corporate controller. "This rating is on par with peer research universities and reflects our position as a leading public university with many fundamental strengths." (more)
Many people fall victim to emotional eating, but it doesn't happen only when they're feeling bad, according to researchers. Having a good day at work, for example, can sometimes lead to a candy bar treat from the vending machine, according to Karen Winterich, assistant professor of marketing, Penn State Smeal College of Business, and Kelly Haws of Texas A&M University. At other times, positive feelings lead to choosing a healthier option, such as fruit. (more)
