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Jon Linn (senior-actuarial sciences) helps Emily Whitehead, a THON child from Phillipsburg. blow bubbles during Wednesday's 100 Days Til THON
celebration in the HUB-Robeson Center. The merchandise table, where students could purchase gear for THON 2011, drew the longest line.
Countdown takes over HUB
By Megan Rogers
COUFCii-.’. S:ArF WRITER
The HUB-Robeson Center was
noisier, more Crowded and more
colorful than it would have been
on a normal Wednesday but
that's OK. Renee Messina, the
mother of a THON child, told the
crowd at 100 Days Til THON.
Even if the celebration annoys
some of the students not involved
in the Interfraternity
Council Panhellenic Dance
Marathon, it is acceptable
Honor, which was given for his
Lt. Michael P. Murphy, Class of service in Afghanistan. He was
1998, will be honored with the killed in combat in 2005.
class of 2011's senior class gift.
Advocate
discusses
gay rights
By Leah Gillen
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Dan Savage, a world-renowned
LGBT advocate and columnist,
spoke to an audience of students,
faculty, staff and community
members alike, addressing ques
tions on LGBT rights from
marriage and relationships as
part of his "It Gets Better" cam
paign.
Laughter dominated the
Sutliff Auditorium in the Lewis
Katz Building as a crowd of more
than 100 people gathered for a
question and answer session with
Savage.
Savage addressed the current
political climate surrounding the
LGBT community and the issue
of civil equality.
because it is part of the fight
against cancer. Messina said
and cancer will at some point
affect everyone in the room.
"Cancer is a disease that will
disrupt your life in a way that you
can never imagine." she said.
Messina spoke not only to those
studying in the HUB, but to a
crowd of THON supporters. She
told the story' of her daughter s
fight against leukemia and said
THON and the Four Diamonds
F\md has provided exceptional
financial and emotional support.
Class remembers veteran
By Julia Anselmo
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Remembered today for their
sacrifices for the country. Penn
State veterans will be honored
through the class of 201 l's senior
class gift a memorial plaza that
will commemorate Lt. Michael P
Murphy, Class of 1998. and all
Penn State veterans for their mil
itary service over the years.
Murphy was the first Penn
Stater to be awarded the Medal of
The memorial will serve as a
Andrew Dunheimer Collegian
Dan Savage speaks to an audi
ence about LGBT rights.
“We’ve been subjected to a gay
hate campaign by the religious
right that we’re a threat to
family, a threat to the army and a
threat to national security," he
said. “It’s like we’re a bigger
threat than climate change."
While Savage joked, he touched
See ADVOCATE Page 2.
In the Messina household.
THON is a holiday second only to
Christmas and Thanksgiving, she
said.
Messina's story, along with
other events at the celebration,
pumped up the THON spirit on
campus, some students said.
Communications committee
member Chris Hershcy said the
event summed up the spirit of
THON
"What other school does this' 7 "
Hershey isophomore-division of
undergraduate studies) said.
tangible reminder to Penn State
students, alumni and staff of the
sacrifices Penn Staters have
made and continue to make for
their country, supporters said.
Tommy McCann (graduate
landscape architecture).
Murphy's former roommate, said
he can't think of a better way to
honor his friend and all war veter
ans at Penn State.
"Although my opinion's biased,
Lt. Murphy clearly exemplifies a
character of which any student or
university should deem worthy of
extraordinary tribute." McCann
said. "I was an undergraduate
here between '94 and '99 and now
Plans for arena in progress
By Anthony Barton
COItEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Of the three architectural firms
that had been vying for the rights
to design Penn State's new ice
arena. Joe Battista asked only
one thing: Listen.
The associate athletic director
for ice arena operations had been
part of architectural selection
teams in the past, and each time,
finalists would fall short in that
area.
"No matter what we were
telling the architects they would
say, 'That's great, but here's what
we think.' " Battista said. "I like
the idea that we're the customer,
and there are certain things we
want to see in our project."
In stepped David Murphy and
Crawford Architects of Kansas
City, Mo.
The firm worked with Penn
State on the original feasibility
study of the ice arena and follow
ing the announcement of the proj
ect, Crawford Architects received
COWGIRL
rf JH& CASANOVA
• Country superstar
*2 returns to BJC | VENUES
psucollegian.com
'What other school has this cele
bration?"
Hershey's friend, Lindsay
Scher. with whom he waited in
line to purchase THON 2011 mer
chandise, said the 100 days can't
go quickly enough.
'lt's the one time of year
probably the one time of my life
when there's such a huge group of
people together as a family."
.Scher (junior-recreation, parks
and tourism management) said.
The HUB was decorated with a
See THON. Page 2.
back as a graduate student this
year, and in this time have never
seen a gift of such value to the
Penn State community, nor a
cause more worthy of recogni
tion."
McCann said having the memo
rial become a reality makes him
proud.
"It's a hard one." he said. "Like
any friend you have, it s hard to
put it into words. We re all very
proud that it's happening."
Though its location has not yet
See VETERAN. Page 2.
More coverage on Veterans Day |
NEWS, Page 1
Members of Crawford Architects discuss plans for the new ice arena.
the Request for Proposal. tract, he had to assemble the
While Murphy said the size of right personnel,
the arena is Crawford’s expertise, Murphy said Crawford always
he knew if he were to get the con- See ARENA, Page 2.
@dailycollegian
Man
robs
store
Subway held
at knifepoint
By Casey McDermott
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
An unidentified man robbed a
local Subway. 283 Northland
Center, at knifepoint at about 8
p.m. Tuesday, taking an undis
closed amount of money with
him as he fled the scene, the
Ferguson Township Police
Department said.
Wearing a bandanna to con
ceal his face, the man entered
the store at about 7:57 p.m. and
approached the clerk with a
knife and demanded money,
police said. The man then ran
around to the back of the store
and fled the scene, police said.
No one was injured during the
incident, police said.
Police said the man was
described as a white, brown
haired male in his twenties,
standing between 5 feet 10 and 6
feet tall with a medium build.
In two security photos
released by police Wednesday
morning, the man police are
looking for is also seen wearing a
brown zip-front hooded sweat
shirt and loose fitting jeans.
In one of the photos, the man
is seen walking from the
entrance of the restaurant
toward the cashier, holding a
small pointed object in his left
hand. The other photo shows the
man pointing a small knife in the
direction of an employee.
Police said an investigation
into the incident is ongoing.
The sector of the Fferguson
Township Police Department
charged with handling the inves
tigation was not available for
comment Wednesday.
Subway employees were not
able to comment on the investi
gation. and a spokesperson for
the company could not be
reached for comment.
To e-mail reporter:
cmms773@psu.edu
An unidentified white man
robbed a local Subway Tuesday.