THE DAILY COLLEGIAN
Happy Valley
avoids pain
of recession
By Nathan Pipenberg
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
It's a phrase touted by Penn State tour
guides, shirts in local stores and ESPN
announcers broadcasting from Beaver
Stadium we're in Happy Valley.
The phrase originated after State
College made it through the Great
Depression almost unharmed, and since
then, the town has enjoyed a level of eco
nomic comfort foreign to most small
towns.
That's especially true in Pennsylvania,
where 19 towns and cities are considered
"economically distressed - under a state
government program and the state
capitol may be poised to be the next city
added to that list.
That program, known as the Financially
Distressed Municipalities Act, or Act 47,
allows cities to restructure debt and essen
tially declare bankruptcy
Since the creation of the program in
1987, 25 towns and cities including
Pittsburgh and Scranton have applied for
the "financially distressed" declaration. To
date, only six have recovered to the point
where they have been removed from the
list.
State College has kept itself clear of Act
47, and discussion of applying for the pro
gram hasn't even surfaced among State
College Borough Council members.
Talk to anyone university officials,
students, members of government and
one fact stands out the university is the
driving force behind this economic insula
tion.
Penn State's aggressive expansion,
increased enrollment, and higher tuition
rates are all factors, but downtown officials
say even local businesses have been shar
ing in the wealth.
What brings students buried under
loans and debts to continue shopping
downtown?
Jody Alessandrine, director of the
Downtown Improvement District, said the
rate of student spending amazes him
sometimes.
He attributes that to the shortsighted
ness of the average student, and their par
ents' checkbooks.
A lot of students are really spending
PSU ranks sth in shaving
By Vince D'lmperio
FOR THE COLLEGIAN
Scruffy faces are few and far between
among Penn State students, according to a
recent study by the makers of Schick
Hydro and Sperling's Best Places.
Penn State ranks fifth on the list of
cleanest-shaven universities in the coun
try with 83 percent of male students sport
ing a clean shave.
"It makes sense to shave on a daily
basis," clean-shaven Jack Sheehan (fresh
man-division of undergraduate studies)
said. "It's keeping up with hygiene and it
helps you feel better in the morning. Just
shaving makes all the difference."
The ranking is the result of a study in
which researchers in schools across the
country observed about 200 men during a
two-hour period in a residence hall com
mons area.
Texas Tech University ranked first as
the cleanest-shaven school. Harvard
University and Rutgers University came in
as the scruffiest of the 60 schools polled.
Additionally, a national research poll
conducted by StrateKvOne revealed
lifestyle benefits to those who shave regu
larly five or more times per week.
Schick Senior Brand Manager Dan
Kinton said the survey showed that males
who shave regularly have twice as much
Information to be passed
out for Beaver Stadium 5k
By Alyssa Bender
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Many Penn State students and fans
watch their favorite football team play in
Beaver Stadium during the fall season, but
most people never get to step foot on the
field.
Five COMM 473 (Public Relations
Campaigns) students are providing the
chance to do just that while supporting
Special Olympics Pennsylvania and
Special Olympics Centre County.
Though the second annual Beaver
Stadium 5k Run/Family Flin Walk won't
take place until Blue and White weekend in
April, organizers want to start getting the
word out now.
They will be distributing information
before the football game Saturday from 1
to 8 p.m.
The five classmates took over promo
tions and public relations for the event's
second year.
Group member Danielle Scarpa said
last year 800 students and community
members participated in the event, raising
a total of $35,000 for Special Olympics.
"Our goals for this year's event are to
significantly surpass the first annual
Beaver Stadium Run's student attendance
and donations," group member Brezden
VanOrden (senior-advertising-public rela
tions) said.
Only 25 of those 800 runners last year
were students, she said.
She said the ultimate goal of the project
is "to make our campus home to the
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their parents' income, despite debt that is
on the horizon," he said.
Brian Cohen, owner of Harper's, 114 W.
College Avenue, said that even though his
menswear shop offers the kind of goods
that most people would pass up if they're
pinching pennies, he's only seen business
flag slightly in the past 18 months.
The flap in Harrisburg over whether Act
47 will ease the city's problems city offi
cials said they don't have the money in the
general fund to pay employees this week
shows just how the situation here in
State College differs compared to other
cities, towns and municipalities across the
state.
For example, the borough's 2010 budget
passed last December with little fanfare
and no tax increase.
But State College Mayor Elizabeth
Goreham said the economic condition of
the state and country does affect the bor
ough because it relies on state and federal
funding to balance it's operating budget.
In other words, despite the university's
growth and State College's 6.6 percent
unemployment rate well below the state
average of 9.2 percent, according to the
Department of Labor problems do exist.
While it may be Happy Valley for the
population of State College, Goreham said
the borough government is ever mindful of
the economy.
Still, for business owners, life in State
College is better than elsewhere in the
United States.
"I'm lucky to live in this community"
Cohen said. "Compared to talking to other
guys [who own menswear stores] around
the country I'm very lucky"
To e-mail reporter: ndpso4s@psu.edu
sex 15.5 times per month versus 7.8
times per month and are 8 percent more
social.
wouldn't go to a job interview looking
like I just rolled out of bed," Sheehan said.
"Not shaving makes me feel like a slob."
Interesting patterns related to the cul
tural and geographic locations of each
school were also uncovered upon analysis
of the data, said Bert Sperling, president of
research firm Sperling's Best Places.
"Schools with more liberal arts curricu
lums tend to be less clean-shaven, -
Sperling said. "Those with an emphasis in
engineering, finance and business are
more clean."
Sperling also said schools in the South
and Midwest were likely more cleanly
shaven because of their conservative cul
tures.
But not all Penn State students spend as
much time man-scaping, though.
"I know more people like the clean
shaven look, but right now I like to be
myself," scruffy Patrick Tomassetti (jun
ior-crime, law and justice) said. feel like
it looks good for me."
According to research conducted by
Schick, the most common reason why men
avoid shaving is skin irritation, as 64 per
cent of men said they would shave more
often if there was a way to prevent the irri
tation.
largest Special Olympics event in the state
of Pennsylvania."
Students who attend the information
session this year will be able to pre-regis
ter for April's race. Pre-registration
includes a T-shirt and entrance into a raffle
to win a football signed by Joe Paterno or a
volleyball signed by the Lady Lions volley
ball team, she said.
Group member Matt Rapposelli (senior
advertising-public relations) said that as a
major supporter of Special Olympics, Sue
Paterno provided the football for the raffle.
He said wristbands, shirts and pins will
be available on Saturday. There will also be
an opportunity to make donations to
Special Olympics.
All of the organizers are hoping to get
the students excited about this event.
"The Special Olympics is such an
incredible organization that doesn't get the
attention that it deserves from the student
population at Penn State," Scarpa said.
To e-mail reporter: ambsB74@psu.edu
If you go
What Beaver Stadium 5k Run/Family
Fun Walk information session .
When: Saturday Oct. 30 from 1. to 8
p.m.
Where: Curtin Road between the Bryce
Jordan Center and Beaver Stadium
Details: pre-registration is $2O or $35
LOCAL
rr=
Friday. Oct 29
A CAPPELLA SHOW
CASE - Featuring Penn
State's: Blue In The Face,
The Dreamers, The Grace
Notes, The Leading
Tones, None Of The
Above, The Pennharmon
ics, Rhythm Of Faith,
Savoir Faire, and Shades
Of Blue 10 PM,
Alumni Hall
CREATIVE CRAFTS -
Pumpkin Carving! - 9 PM
-1 AM, Ground Floor
GAPS GAMING - 9:30 PM
- 1:30 AM, Ground Floor
LATENIGHT BILLIARDS -
9 PM - 1 AM,
Corner Pocket
ARHS MOVIE:
INCEPTION - 8 PM & 11
PM, Auditorium (Note
show times)
FRIDAY LATENIGHT
FOOD SPECIALS:
Nathan's Hotdog, $1.29
Soft Pretzels, David's
Large Cookies at $1.59,
and 750 Box of Popcorn -
- 9 PM - 1 AM
Sbarroz $1.99 Meatball
Hero or Pasta Special
and $1 slice of Cheese or
Pepperoni Pizza
-9 PM-2 AM
WHITE BUILDING
ACTIVITIES:
Late Night Basketball
League - 7:30 PM start
T-shirt giveaways - 9 PM
while supplies last
Open Recreation -
9 PM start
Ballroom Dancing -
10 PM start
Open Pool Recreation* -
9 PM - 12 AM (Closed if
no Lifeguard)
Fitness Center* - 9 PM -
1 AM (*Requires Fitness
Pass/ID)
CREATIVE CRAFTS -
Decorate a Pumpkin Treat
Bag! - 9 PM - 1 AM,
Ground Floor
GAPS GAMING - 9:30 PM
- 1:30 AM, Ground Floor
LATENIGHT BILLIARDS -
9 PM -1 AM,
Corner Pocket
ARHS MOVIE:
INCEPTION - 8 PM &
11 PM, Auditorium (Note
show times)
SATURDAY LATENIGHT
FOOD SPECIALS:
$1.99 Fruit Smoothies,
$1.29 Soft Pretzels,
David's Large Cookies at
$1.59, and 750 Box of
Popcorn - 9 PM - 1 AM
Nathan's: 590 Mini-
Hamburger, 990 Nachos,
$1 Nathan's Hotdog, and
5 Kenny Rogers Roasters
Wings for $1.99 -
9 PM -2 AM
WHITE BUILDING
ACTIVITIES:
Free Throw Contest -
9 PM start
Open Recreation -
9 PM start
Open Pool Recreation* -
9 PM - 12 AM (Closed if
no Lifeguard) '
Fitness Center* - 9 PM -
1 AM (*Requires Fitness
Pass/ID)
ARHS MOVIE:
INCEPTION - 9 PM only,
Auditorium (Note
show time)
PSU-UPark Student ID
required at most
events. All events are in the
HUB-Robeson Center unless
noted otherwise. Check
out Union St. and get a great
deal on late
night food on Friday and
Saturday nights!
www.latenight.psu.edu
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
UPA
EZ2I
FRIDAY, OCT. 29, 2010 15
ARHS Movies Presents
Inception
Friday & Saturday: 8 PM & 11 PM
Sunday: 9 PM
(Note Show Times)
PSU Student ID required. All ARHS movies
are shown in the HUB Auditorium. All ARHS
movies are free & funded by UPAC! Your
Student Activity Fee at work!
There's one item missing from
"The twenty five things 'real'
Penn Staters do before
they graduate":
Getting involved with Service!
Applying for the
2011 Fresh START Day of
Service Planning Committee
is the perfect opportunity to mark
this item off your list!
WHY APPLY FOR THE
PLANNING COMMITTEE?
-Be a part of Penn State's largest
day of service
-Great leadership experience
-Inspire others to "get rooted
in service
-Prior experience (participant or
team leader) not required
but encouraged
WANT TO KNOW HOW
TO APPLY?
-Applications available beginning
Monday, Oct. 25 in 209 HUB
-Applications due Monday,
Nov. 5 by 5 PM in 209 HUB
-20 minute interview part of
the application
Join the 2011 Fresh START
Planning Committee and inspire
other students to "Get Rooted'
in service! For additional
information, please contact 2010
Fresh START Executive
Director, Carolyn Higgins, at
cjhs2l9@psu.edu
STUDENTS,
PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR
Penn State faculty & staff!
Nov. 2 - 4 10:30AM - 2PM
HUB-Robeson Center first floor
Recognize a special staff
assistant, housekeeper,
professor or any full-time Penn
State employee for
his/her act(s) of kindness.
*Personalize a "thank you" note
*Let us mail it
*Receive a gift
Habitat for Humanity
Five Guys Fundraiser
Nov. 3 SPM - BPM
Five Guys on College Avenue
Come support Habitat for
Humanity at Five Guys Burgers
and Fries on Nov. 3!