Fall 2005
Danielle Ramsay
A survey reveals that 91% of
the student residents of Penn
Gate agree that a pool table is
both feasible and necessary for
the social environment. Karen
Krueger, Director of Housing
and Food Services, argues that
a pool table will not fit in the
only available room at the
gates. Additionally, this
conference room was designed
for student use as a quiet
meeting place, not a hangout.
As a compromise,
administrators installed a
foosball table in the lounge of
the Penn Gate II.
Students, however, are not
satisfied. At fifty cents a game,
students say they would rather
spend their money on pool.
82% of the survey respondents
currently using the available
pool tables either sometimes or
never, indicated that they
would use a pool table at the
gates more frequently. Several
students wrote in requests for a
ping pong table in addition to
the pool table, claiming that
Heather Cairns
From 1997 to 2001,
enrollment in distance
education courses increased by
185% according to recent
survey results from the
National Center for Education
Statistics. As the popularity of
online universities like Phoenix
increases, other universities
make way for online courses
like Penn State’s World
Campus. While most
‘traditional’ colleges offer the
option, some students are
unsure about signing up for an
online course because they
don’t know anything about
them.
Penn State’s experience with
distance learning began in 1892
when education was conducted
by correspondence. By the
1920s, PSU had changed their
distance learning curriculum to
incorporate radios. It wasn’t
until 1994 though, that Penn
State officially introduced their
distance learning program.
According to Penn State’s
official website, twenty-four
students earned their MBA
degrees from Penn State’s
World Campus in 2004.
The popularity of online
courses is growing. What
originally started as an option
for working adult students is
now spreading to traditional
students.
Students who have taken
online courses have mixed
reviews. Some students rave
about their online classes while
others are less impressed.
see Online page 7
there is an available table in
Penn Gate I.
Reasons stated on the
which all students would have
to incur if something were to
happen.
survey for
wanting a
pool table
at the
Gates
include
the incon-
venience
of the
walk to
Wiestling
or the
Hall and
the desire
to build
8.6
Opposed
Requests
for a pool
table started
last year
when Matt
Ha ss:
former
S$: GEA
President,
asked ' the
Council of
Common-
wealth
Student
Govemments
community.
One student who is against the
pool table expressed concerns
regarding the cost of damages
(CCSG) to
address this issue. George
Conway, CCSG Southeast
Caucus Director, replied to
Hass with an email stating that
they held a meeting with
members of housing and food
services who expressed
concerns regarding “the extreme
chance of breaking the
windows” and therefore
denied the request for a pool
table.
Hass argues that students
need the pool table because it
provides a “decent
environment” for them to
socialize at any time. Hass
points out that Wiestling closes
at 11pm, which leaves students
with no choice but to hang out
at the gates and a pool table
see Pool Table page 4
Travis Johnson
The distance between the Penn
Gates and Mont Alto Hall
might as well be a hundred
miles. While all of these
buildings serve to house
students for the school year,
they are different in regard to
what they offer and what
students take from living in
these different residence halls.
In fact, they may be two
different communities
altogether.
Cost may be the most
important determinant for
incoming students when
choosing a residence hall.
Mont Alto Hall is the cheapest
place to live on this campus, at
$1715/semester per student.
Penn Gate I is more expensive
by $120, costing $1835. If
you're looking for luxury then
you will pay $2020 per semester
to live in Penn Gate II. For
more money, you get more
space and amenities. Besides
these obvious facts, what other
factors contribute to a student’s
decision as to where to live?
Matt Souders, a former
Mont Alto Hall resident,
highlighted what Penn Gate II
offered him: “Penn Gate II has
air conditioners, full carpet,
and it’s much quieter to do
work.”
A number of other Penn
Gaters state that personal
showers and privacy that the
Gates offer were the main
factors that influenced their
decisions.
There are no personal
showers at the Hall and this is
a downfall to living in Mont
see Residence page 6