{ ! { ET October 27, 2003 Night is right ... for some By MATT HALDEMAN Lion’s Eye staff writer MRH224@psu.edu As the sun sets on the cam- pus of Penn State Delco, still- ness passes over the tiny learn- ing community. Gone are the multitude of tricked-out cars and booming sound systems in the parking lot. Cell phones, with their end- less array of ring tones, have been silenced. The steady haze of cigarette smoke that hangs in clouds over the buildings has vanished into thin air. The large clusters of laughing students in front of the cafeteria, gazebo and on the benches have disappeared. Gone is the noise. But Delco continues to bring its students the opportu- nity to pursue a degree even when the streetlights come on. For this semester, Delco offers more than 50 night courses, ranging from literature and society to international busi- ness operations. Night classes allow many students who have obligations during the day to come and pursue a degree when it is more convenient. Jessie Barlow, a senior majoring in English and a sin- gle mother of two, says that night courses "allow me the opportunity to finish my degree while still being able to provide for my family." Barlow goes on to say that "it's very hard for me personal- ly to juggle a career and school while still having time for my children. Night courses give me the freedom to come home, spend a few hours with my kids and then go to class at night." Charlotte Barr, a junior majoring in English, feels the same way. "Night courses fit my sched- ule,” she says. “Work takes up The Lion’s Eye Eye on Campus Page 3 Photo by Matt Haldeman When daylight begins to fade at the Penn State Delco campus, the activities and the students do not. The campus offers many class- es during the evening hours, and the library is open until 10 p.m. “Work takes up most of my day ... and with night classes | have the freedom to relax and concentrate on my course work. most of my day and it's a has- sle to try and schedule classes around my job. With night classes I have the freedom to — CHARLOTTE BARR relax and concentrate on my course work." Some students, however, find night classes can be quite a nuisance. Andrew Quale, a sopho- more majoring in business, said that night courses "run too long and present material at a quicker pace.” - “By the end of the first hour,” he said, “you feel drained and your mind begins to wander. I find it very hard to concentrate on one topic while my professor rambles on nd on.” Quale is not the only stu- dent who feels that way. Jon Bucanna says that "night courses get in the way of study time.” “When your course ends at 9 it's hard to come home and concentrate on school,” he said. “You need time to relax and night courses don't let you do that." Even though the students disappear, the opportunities on campus do not. The library is open until at least 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The gym and weight room are open until 9 p.m. and many of the computer labs on campus are available for student use late into the night.
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