'Apron strings' close
for State High grads
By PAT McKENNA
Collegian Staff Writer
When most students first come to Penn
State, they come with a sense of ad
venture and a feeling of responsibility
and independence. For many, leaving
home and going to school is the first
crack at going it alone in the world,
(with one or two roommates and Ma Bell
standing by for the call home, of
course).
Some Penn State students, however,
do not have to travel Route 80 or the
Pennsylvania Turnpike to get here. They
have no special loyalty to Pittsburgh or
Philadelphia. They live on McKee
> Street, or Hillcrest Drive, or Nittany
Avenue.
They are graduates of State College
High School; for them, home is a ‘local’
call or a ten-minute walk.
But even after spending 18 years of
their lives in Happy Valley, many State
High alumni still pick Penn State.
The reason they stay in town, is, of
course, because it’s cheaper. Going to
school without dorm fees or rent lowers
the cost considerably. In addition, the
parents of many State College students
.work for the University, thus qualifying
them for a 75 per cent reduction in
tuition. For most, it’s an offer they just
can’t refuse.
Besides the cost factor, N State College
graduates go here for reasons similar to
those of out-of-town students. Some
wanted to go to a large school for
example, and Penn State is a logical
choice. “I wanted to go to a big
university,” said Mark Smith, (6th
elementary education), “and out-of
state tuitions were just too high.”
Some students from this area also take
advantage of the opportunity they have
to familiarize themselves with the
University before they make a decision.
“I had considered a more specialized
music school,” Rob Passow of State
College said, "but I knew some people in
the Penn State music department and it
seemed like my best bet.”
However, most of those interviewed
Pros, rookies hit the trail; jog their way to fitness
V--. /'•*
SIS??
' * <■* > • •»--”
Lightnin' Lucas
John Lucas, professor of physical education, "hits the trail” daily as part of his
physical fitness program. During his •18-year lifetime, the former Penn State track
coach has run more than 50,000 miles.
were relatively unfamiliar with the
campus before they became students.
Robin Keller (2nd-division of un
dergraduate studies), for example,
didn’t have much contact with Penn
State until she got a part-time job on
Campus last summer. Mike Philips (9th
physics), also said he had little contact
with the campus while in high school
even though he had never considered
another school.
The reason for this lack of familiarity
stems partially from the natural friction
between campus and town and partially
from the fact that high school students
naturally use the high school as a center
for social activity.
Once they enroll, many State College
students choose to live in dorms or
apartments rather than at home. Smith,
for example, lives in an apartment with
another State College graduate, Rob
Lehman. "Education in the classroom is
only a small part of a college
education,” Smith said. “Being
responsible for yourself is part of it,
too," Smith said. He also said he is
transferring after his second year to
meet some people in a new enviornment.
Rob Nesbit (3rd-science) lives in a
dorm. “Living at home cuts you off from
college life and you’re not a part of high
school anymore. It’s really just a matter
of meeting new people,” he said.
Some of those living at home would
also like an opportunity toi get out on
their own. “I enjoy living at home, but I
think I’d like to try something dif
ferent,” State College grad Jean Kazez
said. “I wouldn’t want to live in a dorm,
but if circumstances were right I’d like
to get an apartment,” she added.
Students from this area living in
dorms or apartments are minutes away
from a home-cooked meal or a washing
machine with no coin slots advantages
students from the far reaches of the
state sometimes wish they had. Although
some State College graduates would like
more independence, they enjoy the ad
vantages of a relatively low-cost educa
tion within hailing distance of people
they can depend on not a bad deal.
M7>‘ „
, o
- ' "*"*”*,*•*.*• •»"-'<■ 111 W** l- 11 1 1 ,
,'SP|
Photo byDanlsoGln
(3 s *
O* O* C3* G
** G£=* (3** (3*
O** (3* G£“* G
is* (3* GUOs
-Collegian living
•£VSM« A***®?"**
By TOM LUCAS
Collegian Staff Writer
Twice around the world and still going strong. That
statement pretty well sums up John Lucas, professor of
physical education and self-proclaimed spiritual leader
of the Happy Valley joggers and runners. Lucas has run
slightly less than 52,000 miles in his 48-year lifetime.
“According to the American Medical Association, the
single most effective means to physical fitness is at
tention to one’s diet and a running and jogging program
over many years,” Lucas said. In addition, he said, the
benefits of physical fitness are twofold: fitness itself,
and the satisfaction of knowing you’re physically fit.
Lucas said he is just a reflection, of a national phe
nomenon that started in the late 50’s at the University of
Oregon. Bill Bowerman, former track coach at Oregon,
originated the concept of running for fitness and fun.
The running and jogging boom really took hold in the
60’s, and has been strong ever since, Lucas said.
According to Lucas, Penn State is unsurpassed in the
east for the number and seriousness of runners and
joggers
Although the terms running and jogging are often
used interchangeably, there is a big difference. Lucas
said most knowledgeable runners agree that a running
speed is any speed which covers a mile in less than eight
minutes; any speed that would yield a mile in more than
eight minutes is considered jogging.
Runners and joggers are in great abundance here at
Penn State, as anybody who plays golf or is in Rec Hall
at all would know. Most students interviewed indicated
that they ran to either get in shape or stay in shape.
“I’m only 24,” said Dave Sell (grad-speech‘pathology
and audiology), while preparing to run at Rec Hall,
“but I can already see how the years take their toll.
There’s nothing more important than being in good
shape. It makes me sad to see people in their forties and
fifties hobbling down the street. I sure as hell don’t want
to be like that.”
Cecelia Ward, a State College resident, agreed that
her main motivation for jogging was to get in shape,
although she said she also derives enjoyment from it
now. “I wanted to do something to get in shape that I
could do alone without depending on anybody else,” she
said.
“It was really hard to do in the beginning,” she said,
“but now I look forward to it. I feel better on days I run
than on days I don’t run.”
<J~ u£* Uh-M
W*, >• *
See how they run
LEFT, Cashing in on the latest physical fitness craze, students build up their endurance in a jogging session on Curtin Hoad
RIGHT, Faculty members and members of the Nittany Valley Track Club take advantage of a crisp Spring afternoon to pick
up the pace and kick up the dust on the jogging trail.
Most people interviewed remarked on how hard it is
to start running or jogging regularly. “It’s like banging
your head against the wall,” said one co-ed, “because it
feels so good when you stop.”
Lucas said many people who begin running and
jogging quit for that same reason: they set a pace for
themselves that is much too rigorous in the beginning,
become discouraged and quit.
According to Lucas, anybody that wants to start
running or jogging should join the Nittany Valley Track
Club (NVTC), a club open to all age groups. Members
include Lucas and track and cross country coach Harry
Groves, both experienced runners who can help the
beginner get started correctly.
There are many areas where a beginner needs help,
Lucas said, such as the proper warm-up procedure, the
proper shoes to wear and the proper pace to set.
“It all boils down to starting very slowly,” Lucas
said, “after being thoroughly examined by a doctor.”
This approach, he said, will minimize the number of
beginners who quit running or jogging because they are
initially discouraged
Lucas is one of the professors who teach a physical
education course in jogging. “We can take a zero
beginner and in 10 weeks he or she can jog five miles
with no distress 90 per cent of the time,” he said.
Although Lucas was president of the NVTC from 1971
to last month, he credits Groves with doing a lot of the
work. NVTC sponsors about 30 competitions a year,
including a 26-mile marathon in February and a series
of seven track meets in the summer at the State College
High School track
NVTC currently claims about 100 members, including
about 20 men. The members range from students in
their twenties to professors in their fifties. Four
members, graduate students in their twenties and two
professors in their fifties, competed in the recent Bos
ton Marathon. All finished the race.
Running has always been an integral part of Lucas’
life, but after he suffered a serious fracture in his left
leg at the age of 15, he was told he would probably have
a limp for the rest of his life. However, Lucas battled
back and before long the limp had disappeared and he
was again running earnestly.
Lucas, a native of Boston, graduated from high school
and entered the service in 1945. After serving for
several years, Lucas returned to the states and entered
Boston University, where he captained the track team.
VJOHNNEee
tEJO OBJ UP
xHocLH j
F&RS'
(js=*
(3=* (3*
U G*C
'bf&C
u (3 1
Nj;
A weekly look at life in the
University community
After graduating, Lucas tried out for the 1952 Olympic
team in the 10,000-meter run, but fell short, finishing
seventh out of 31. The three top finishers were selected
for the team. Ironically, all three qualifiers were from a
place called Penn State College
“I picked myself up off the ground after the race,”
Lucas recollected, “and went up to Horace Ashenfelter
111, the winner of the race and the eventual winner of
the gold medal, and said ‘What the hell do you have up
there in Happy Valley to make you guys run so fast?’
He said ‘We’ve got a got a great coach and great
geography.’”
Ashenfelter was referring to Chick Werner, the
legendary Penn State track coach.
Lucas, who came to Penn State for his Masters
degree in history and received his doctorate from the
University of Maryland in physical education before
coming to Penn State as the track coach in 1962, agrees
the geography of the area around Penn State is great for
running.
“There can’t be many places in America more
conducive for running and jogging than here at Penn
State, and I’ve run all over the world.” Lucas explained
there are thousands of paths on surrounding farms,
orchards and mountains. “There’s almost an endless
variety of running locations here,” he said. In addition,
Lucas and Groves designed the four-and-a half mile
running course that encircles the Blue and White golf
courses.
Lucas resigned as track coach in 1968 to devote all his
time to researching the history of sports, his area of
specialization. Lucas returned to the coaching ranks in
1972 at the request of some women who wanted to form
a women’s track team. He again chose to step down
after the women’s track team had become established
to devote all of his time to his research.
Lucas has 700 books and 1,000 manuscripts on the
history of sports, including 175 on track and field. He
also claims to have the largest personal collection on
the history of the Olympics in the world.
As Lucas grows older, his book collection increases
and the miles keep piling up. “I’m running ap
proximately the same now as when I was training for
the Olympics, but not as fast, and enjoying it more.”
Lucas said he runs about 50 miles per week, 50 weeks of
the year. “I’m running about twice as much as I was 15
years ago,,’he said.
'riday, May 7,1976
"■ '~3 l - v; "J
' ••■•'*'‘!*r?s'aw' ■,•,'<■
- *v. », ;.- , *h . ; J f -*7; 1 -S*--'
-£U, »»., <'->«■* * , • 4 -* ;» • - "
. \: . . . i.-!.- 1 ;-. . .*1
Photos by DenlseGlll