A new article in The Penn Stater magazine tells the story of the unheralded 1946 and 1947 Nittany Lion football squads -- two teams that that helped establish Penn State nationally as a top program and, more importantly, made the University a key factor in the nation's slow march to racial justice. The men who made up those two teams are widely thought to have inspired the University's iconic "We Are..." chant. Read more, and download a copy of the story from the magazine's November-December issue, at The Penn Stater blog: http://tinyurl.com/yzrp5ua online.
Earlier this year, Penn State Live also paid tribute to the teams. Watch the story of the "game that wasn't," when the entire Penn State football team refused to play at the segregated Orange Bowl in 1946, at http://live.psu.edu/youtube/OoCbPyPlfls online. Hear from Wally Triplett himself, talking about being first African-American to play in the Cotton Bowl in 1947, at http://live.psu.edu/youtube/OMB9ME4lCF8 online. (more)
Students in Steve Manuel's COMM 269 Photojournalism class scattered across Penn State's University Park campus and downtown State College recently, trying to capture fall in new and different ways. The results of their work, along with a photo depicting the same topic by Penn State Public Information photo intern Andy Colwell, can be found at http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/2177 online. (more)
Penn State ranked ninth among the nation's public universities in receiving federal research and development funds in fiscal 2008, according to a recent survey by the National Science Foundation. Penn State was awarded $405.5 million, compared to about $375 million in fiscal 2007, when it ranked it 11th among the nation's public universities. (more)
Seeking to respond more efficiently to the needs and concerns of parents and families of Penn State students, the University is planning a new Parents Program with collaboration among multiple offices across the university. "Penn State faculty and staff are in a unique position to help students and parents through the considerable number of transitions they face as students go through college," said Damon Sims, vice president for student affairs. "The Penn State Parents Program will partner with parents and families to help ensure their students' success and provide the opportunity for parents to be engaged and take appropriate and meaningful roles in our community." (more)
Alumna Isabel Molina, an associate professor at the University of Illinois, will present a lecture titled "Consuming Latina Bodies Through the Global Media" at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, in Foster Auditorium of Pattee Library on Penn State's University Park campus. (more)
Despite inclement weather, the Penn State Homecoming Parade was held as scheduled on Friday night (Oct. 16). The pep rally and coronation of the Homecoming King and Queen were moved from the Old Main steps to Alumni Hall of the HUB-Robeson Center, but otherwise also went on as planned. Weather also caused problems for those traveling to the Homecoming football game on Saturday, with 20,000 parking spaces being taken offline due to deep snow and muddy conditions in the grass fields that become parking lots on football weekends. Still, many of the Homecoming traditions were honored. For photos from the weekend, visit http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/2163 and http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/2164 online. (more)
The earliest snowfall on record for Centre County hit just two days before Penn State's Homecoming football game at Beaver Stadium, dropping between 4 and 6 inches of snow on the University Park campus and causing downed trees and power outages across the region. The heavy, wet snow also caused hazardous conditions in the grass fields that become huge parking lots during home football games, causing the University to scramble to replace the 20,000 parking spaces taken off-line in those lots. The University and community came together quickly to come up with solutions that while not perfect, accommodated the tens of thousands of fans that came into town over the weekend and provided the anticipated economic boost to the area.
Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley expressed his thanks, and the thanks of the entire University, to those who made the weekend possible. Read his open letter on Penn State Live. (more)
Alumni and friends of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences are invited to attend the Ag Live '09 Tailgate on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Snider Ag Arena, starting three and one half hours prior to the Penn State vs. Indiana football game. Hosted by the College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society, the tailgate will feature a hearty buffet, complete with Berkey Creamery ice cream for dessert. (more)
Twenty-four Penn State alumni were honored Oct. 21 for their outstanding professional accomplishments and given the lifelong title of Alumni Fellow, the highest award given by the Penn State Alumni Association. Each Alumni Fellow will receive a commemorative award, designed and hand cast by Jeanne Stevens-Sollman, an acclaimed sculptor and medalist and an Alumni Fellow. Since the award was established in 1973, just 642 alumni have been honored with the title of Alumni Fellow, designated a permanent and lifelong title by the Penn State Board of Trustees. "Alumni are the University's most valuable resource," said Roger L. Williams '73, '75g, '88g, executive director of the Penn State Alumni Association. "The Alumni Fellow program gives us the opportunity to showcase the significant contributions Penn Staters make to our nation and the world. At the same time, we are bringing these alumni ever closer to our shared Alma Mater." (more)
