The daily collegian. (University Park, Pa.) 1940-current, July 27, 2010, Image 1

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    The Daily
Collegian
Published independently by students at Penn State
Frat house to be demolished
By Megan Rogers
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
The university's decision to con
vert the former Phi Delta Theta
fraternity house into a “’green
space” has elicited disappoint
ment from the greek community.
Penn State bought the 243 N.
Burrowes property for $1.75 mil
lion in May, after a legal dispute
with the Phi Delta Theta fraterni
ty
The fraternity was disbanded in
2007 for drinking violations.
Three people throw a frisbee on the Old Main lawn Monday evening. The warm and sunny weather has allowed for students to participate in
many outdoor activities. The comfortable weather is expected to continue throughout the week, with d chance of scattered storms.
Collegian file photo
Simmons Hall will be one of the South Hails dorms
to undergo renovations for new rooms and suites.
South Halls
to add new
living space
By Megan Rogers
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
After about 500 upperclassmen were denied on
campus housing for the upcoming school year,
plans have been made to renovate South Halls to
decrease the number of dorm rooms and make
remaining space more livable. '
The renovation to South Halls includes installing
new windows, drywall and air-conditioning in
dorms, said Jennifer Garvin, director of ancillary
services.
Beginning in summer 2012, two residence halls
will be taken “off-line” at a time to be renovated,
she said.
Last year, the Housing and Food Services
department conducted a feasibility study on the
project, Stan Latta, department director, said. It
was decided that smaller student groups will bene
fit from the renovation, he said.
Design plans have been introduced to install
suites in South Halls, he said. The suites would be
complete with a living room, private baths, kitchen
and lounge area. The project may be the solution
for smaller groups looking to live together, Latta
said.
“We would think about moving our sororities and
some of our smaller fraternities into the area,”
Latta said.
The decision was made to turn
the former fraternity property into
a “green space” complete with
sidewalks and benches, university
spokeswoman Annemarie Mountz
said.
The demolition process began
Monday evening, when contrac
tors put up fencing around the
working construction area,
Mountz said.
But some in the Greek commu
nity say the house has too much
historical significance to tear
down.
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See SOUTH HALLS, Page 2.
Max Wendkos, Interfraternity
Council president, said that while
he would ultimately love to see a
fraternity living in the house, he
thinks the university could have
found other uses for the house if
that was not possible.
He said the property not only
boasts historical significance, but
also added beautiful architecture
to the campus.
“The Phi Delta Theta house is
an absolutely beautiful property,
and I really think it’s a shame that
See DEMOLITION, Page 2.
Bus company lowers
prices to compete
By Paul Osolnick
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Millington Trailways is fighting back
against competition like Megaßus by
offering loyalty rewards programs and
special summer rates.
Millington Trailways recently started
its $lO express trip deal that provides
trips to New York, King of Prussia and
Pittsburgh. The summer special will run
until Aug. 22.
Milt Weisman, Vice President of
Millington Trailways Intercity Coach
Services, said the $lO deal comes during
the first summer that Millington has
offered the trips.
After Aug. 22, Millington will return to
its regular prices, which will be
cheaper than last year’s fall prices,
Weisman, said.
Weisman said the company will also be
starting a rewards program for repeat
customers.
“One of the things we are going to start
is a Millington rewards loyalty program,”
Weisman said. “People will be given a
card, and after buying five one-way tick
ets, the sixth is free.”
Millington may be expanding their
Bouncers bust up party problems
Series note: This is the first in a
four-part series about the people
who make the party happen.
By Paul Osolnick
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
It’s the girl yelling and spilling her
drink. It’s the guy shouting and looking
for a fight. It’s the person puking in the
comer. They’re the people in bars that
everyone avoids.
But bouncers and doormen can’t
avoid these people, and they don’t sim
ply return to a conversation or order
another drink like everyone else enjoy
ing their night.
-•,- -‘' «• ;•
services during the fall to include addi
tional stops on trips that already run,
Weisman said.
Weisman said Millington may add a
stop in York, Pa. on the Bal
timore/Washington D.C. trip and a stop in
East Stroudsburg, Pa. on the New York
City trip.
Along with special offers on trips and
the potential for new stops for travelers,
Millington offers new amenities including
free Wi-fi and free bottled water during
the hotter summer months.
The increase in amenities comes after
companies like Megaßus offered cheap
trips with similar amenities.
“We have seen over the years other bus
companies offering Wi-fi,” Weisman said.
See BUS, Page 2.
No, for these guys, the worst people in
the bar are the bulk of their night.
Jay Petraitis, a member of the Cafe
210 West door staff, said most of the
people he escorts out of the bar are
VlP’s visibly intoxicated persons.
“Usually people are nice about it,”
Petraitis (senior-energy, business and
finance) said. “But you will get that
handful.”
Phi Delta Theta will be demolished by the university for “green space."
Fullington deals
What: $lO one-way tickets to
Philadelphia/King of Prussia, New York
City/Rockaway Mall, and
Pittsburgh/Monroeville
When: Now through Aug. 22
See BOUNCER, Page 2.
psucollegian.com
@ daily collegian
Police
review
video
New footage
helps search
Police released four images
Monday from surveillance video
of a man buying what they said
appears to be lighter fluid at a
State College convenience store
on the night of an arson at a
Marine Corps recruiting office.
The State College Police
department is calling the man a
•‘person of interest” in their
investigation.
The man in the images is buy
ing what police said appears to
be lighter fluid at about 2 a.m.
Friday at the Uni-Mart, 401 S.
Pugh St., the State College
Police Department said.
The arson at the Marine Corps
recruiting office, 242 S. Fraser
St., was started sometime
Thursday night or Friday morn
ing through the mail slot in the
back door of the building, police
said.
Steph Witt/Collegian
Police said the man is of inter
est to the investigation because
they believe that lighter fluid
may have been the accelerant
used to start the fire.
The fire caused minimal dam
age because it extinguished
itself quickly, police said.
Police said they have linked
the Marine Corps recruiting
office arson to two other arsons
that targeted State College
Police Department police vehi
cles.
In the July 18 arson, an
unmarked police cruiser was
completely destroyed by a fire
that police said was started by an
accelerant.
An unknown man, seen here from
two different angles, is consid
ered a person of interest.
M. Antonio Siias/Coilegian
Hopkins works as a bouncer at The Phyrst.
Steph Witt/Co!legian
By Brendan McNally
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
, See ARSON, Page 2.