The
Published independently by students at Penn State
UPUA
reacts
to lost
liaison
By Casey McDermott
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
DJ Ryan's resignation from
UPUA and blistering critique of
cross-campus relations ignited
discussion
Thursday on the
future of the two
student govern
ments. ift
Ryan, govern- -
mental affairs -
director for the
Council of
Commonwealth Ryan
Student Govern-
ments (CCSG). stepped down as
CCSG Liaison for the University
Park Undergraduate Association
(UPUA) on Wednesday night.
Many UPUA members said the
move came as a surprise
especially when coupled with
Ryan's allegations that some of
the student government's assem
bly members regard Common
wealth Campus students as "sec
ond-class."
UPUA Internal Development
Chairman Dustin Dove called the
claims against UPUA "unwar
ranted" and - over-the-top. -
- Ryan's position was instituted
simply to facilitate communica
tion between our organizations,
and what he did by resigning was
to cut communication literally
and figuratively" Dove (senior
secondary education) said.
Dove also said he thought the
move was political, but both Ryan
and CCSG President Nick
Borsuk denied these claims.
"This was not a political move
by any sense," Borsuk (senior
history) said. "It's what we
believe was in the best interest of
the Commonwealth students,
and the best interests of all Penn
State students, as well as the
relationship between UPUA and
CCSG."
UPUA President Gavin
Keirans said he has an enormous
amount of respect for both CCSG
and all Commonwealth Campus
students but he regrets the
See UPUA, Page 2.
Asit Mishra/Collegian
UPUA President Gavin Keirans
reacts to CCSG liaison DJ Ryan's
resignation Wednesday night.
Colts, Saints fans prepare for Super Bowl Where to watch
By Danielle Vickery
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Super Bowl XLIV doesn't mean
just anything to Jarrod Williams.
It means everything
Williams (senior-sociology, bio
logical anthropology), a Louisiana
native and lifelong fan of the New
Orleans Saints, is pulling for a win
over the Indianapolis Colts on
Sunday.
Williams whose Saints are
playing in their first-ever Super
Bowl after quarterback Drew
Brees led them to an overtime
courtesy of live.psu.edu
Penn State plastic surgeon Shane Johnson holds a
Haitian earthquake victim prior to repairing the child's
scalp laceration.
courtesy of live.psu.edu
Fans at THON 2009 in the Bryce Jordan Center (BJC) cheer on dancers from the stands. There are 15,000 seats in the BJC open to students,
friends, family and anyone who wants to experience THON. Many dancers say the fans are what keeps them up on their feet for 46 hours.
This is the third in a five-part
series spotlighting the people
and places that make THON
what it is.
By Katrina Wehr
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Everyone knows about the
THON dancers, who stand for 46
hours in support of kids stricken
with pediatric cancer. But it's
easy to overlook the 15,000 seats
Campus prepares
for winter weather
By Laura Nichols
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Penn State could see anywhere
from four to eight inches of snow
in the first major snowstorm of
the semester this weekend,
depending on which way the
storm travels.
As of now, meteorologists say
University Park could receive
between four to eight inches this
weekend, with snow expected to
begin falling between this morn
ing and this afternoon.
defeat of the Minnesota Vikings on
Jan. 24 in the NFC Championship
Game is one of many football
fans at Penn State gearing up for
the big game.
"I had faith that they would win,
but I was getting scared when
they went into overtime," Williams
said of the NFC Championship
See SUPER BOWL Page 2.
Daryll Clark picks the
Saints to win the Super
Bowl. See predictions on
the MAKE PLAYS blog:
psucollegian.com
Doctors return,
more go to Haiti
Medical professionals from the Penn
State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
return home from Haiti today after per
forming about 100 surgeries in a makeshift
operating room during their two-week visit
to the ravaged country
The ten medical professionals from
Hershey Medical Center who traveled to
Haiti with Operation Smile flew into
Norfolk, Virginia on Thursday and began
the six-hour drive home, said Megan
Manlove, spokeswoman for Hershey
Medical Center.
enclosing the Bryce Jordan
Center (BJC) floor and the thou
sands of supporters who fill them.
Friday evening, after dancers
rush through the human tunnel
from Rec Hall to the BJC, their
supporters are close behind, rac
ing toward the stands to get the
best seats.
Just like the student section at
football games, the crowd during
the Interfraternity
Council/Panhellenic Dance
Marathon (THON) weekend real-
But Danielle Knittle of the
Campus Weather Service said if
the storm shifts even 50 miles
north, it could mean double the
precipitation in the area possi
bly up to a foot, she said. . . .
"Central Pa. is where it is in
flux the most right now," Knittle
(senior-meteorology) said. "We're
right on the bubble for this
storm.-
Anyone planning to travel
southeast is cautioned, though.
The Philadelphia region has
been consistently forecasted to
Associated Press Photo
New Orleans Sainti quarterback Drew Brees answers questions during
an NFL football news conference in Miami on Thursday.
By Megan Rogers
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
o . t
-4
ly has an impact and can make or
break a dancer's spirit, said Liz
Hoesly, a member of Gamma
Sigma Sigma sorority.
"INvo of my friends had break
downs last year," Hoesly (sopho
more-hotel, restaurant and insti-
Abby Drey, Collegian
A student walks through the snow near Old Main last semester. Between
four and eight inches are expected to cover State College this weekend.
get anywhere from seven to 12 Penn State Police and the admin
inches in the next few days, istration will continue to monitor
Knittle said.
The Office of Physical Plant,
psucollegian.com
Team members told Manlove while they
wanted to stay and see their patients heal,
they knew it would have taken months.
The medical team could not be reached
for comment Thursday. but some Penn
State students said they appreciated the
work the doctors provided.
- I think it's great that any medical pro
fessional is willing to go down there and
sacrifice their time and help out when it is
so urgently needed," said Sarah Dorward
(graduate-communications and sciences
See HAITI. Page 2.
For coverage on how students are helping the
Haiti earthquake victims I LOCAL, Page 5.
tutional management) said. "I
think if we weren't all there in the
front row cheering them on, I
don't know if they would have
made it through."
The 15.000 hard blue seats are
the temporary homes for the hun
dreds of organizations that make
THON what it is. Those faithful
onlookers sing, sway and dance
through the long hours. Bright
colors dot the sea of blue seats, as
members toss tennis balls and
See THON. Page 2.
weather forecasts and react
See WEATHER, Page 2.
When: 6:25 p.m. Sunday
if you're looking for a deal:
Champs Sports Grill (1611 N.
Atherton St.): Bucket of 5 Miller
Light bottles for $6.50, all-you
can-swallow buffet for $10;
70 Lounge (324 W. College
Ave.): $5 64-oz. Bud Light bot
tles, half-price burgers during
the game; Damon's Grill (IQ3I
E. College Ave.): $ll ribs to go
all day, Miler light 22 oz.-draft
for $3.25
004tompos spots:
HUMbeson Center. The big