The Daily Collegian
Family,
friends
honor
owner
By Casey McDermott
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Some afternoons, Charles
Petnicks routine was simple.
He’d stroll into his clothing
store a slice of pizza and a
Coke in hand find a comfort
able seat on the leopard-print
couch in the back of the boutique
and listen as customers browsing
through racks of sweaters and
dresses told stories about the
clothing they’d bought there.
Petnick, the co-founder and
longtime owner of Mr. Charles,
228 E. College Ave., died
Thursday morning at age 98
but his amicable nature and
seven-decade legacy on the State
College fashion scene still live on
in the eyes of those who were
close to him.
“He loved to live." Charlene
Rosen, the current owner of Mr.
Charles, said of her father. “And
through all of the different things
IFC warns of suspicious man
By Casey McDermott
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Leaders from both the
Interfraternity Council and
Panhellenic Council sent e-mails
Thursday warning members to
be on the lookout for a man who
arrived in State College on
Wednesday after having sent
“inappropriate and creepy" mes
sages to a female student on
Eacebook.
IFC President Max Wendkos
sent an e-mail to all fraternity
chapter presidents Thursday
warning them to be on the lookout
for a suspicious man who has
COLLEGE
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State College Borough Residents
Snow Removal on Sidewalks Reminder
Sidewalks must be cleared of all snow and
ice within 24 hours after a snowfall has
keeping the sidewalks clear is critical for both public
safety and accessibility. It is especially important to
clear ramps at comers so that full access is
maintained. Failure to clear sidewalks will result
in violations and costs to the property owner when the
Borough has to contract for the sidewalks to be
cleared (Please remember that residents are required
to make arrangements for keeping their sidewalks
clear when they are out of town.) The full ordinance
can be found online by going to the Borough's
website which is www.statecollegepa.us clicking on
Borough Codes and then on Chapter XVI. Part G.
Questions may be directed to the
State College Department of Ordinance
Enforcement & Public Health
at 81 -4-234-"’ 1 PI or healthdept@statecollegepa.us
Shoppers look at items inside Mr. Charles, 228 E. College Ave
that evolved over the last century,
he evolved, too.”
But along the way, Rosen said,
Mr. Charles evolved, too.
Petnick and his wife, Mary
Louise, first brought Mr. Charles
to State College in 1940, Rosen
said.
The couple, newlyweds at the
time, came from Altoona, Pa., to
open a men’s clothing store on
Allen Street, Rosen said.
In a matter of years, though,
World War II began the
Petnicks were left with few poten
tial men’s apparel customers,
Rosen said so the store
changed directions and began
catering to women’s fashion
instead. The boutique’s owners,
selection and storefront have
changed a few times since then,
Rosen said, but her parents’ mis
sion remained simple: it was all
about providing one-of-a-kind
pieces and a shopping experience
that meant something to its cus
tomers.
“It’s really full of tradition,
been harassing a sorority mem
ber at Penn State, and PHC mem
bers confirmed that a similar
message was sent to Penn State
sororities.
According to the e-mail from
Wendkos (senior-marketing and
psychology), which was forward
ed to all IFC fraternity members,
the man arrived in State College
Wednesday after harassing the
student online and telling her that
now is the time for them to be
together. When he arrived,
Wendkos said the man was greet
ed at the bus stop by police who
“cautioned him to stay away from
the girl that he had been harass-
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Rosen said. "Everyone who
comes back to the store has a
memory from it whether it was
one year ago or 40 years ago.”
Rosen said she's heard count
less stories through the years of
women who still hold onto the
graduation outfits, prom dresses
or other heirloom pieces that they
bought from Mr. Charles, which
celebrates its 71st anniversary
this year. Veronica Burk, Mr.
Charles' manager, as manager,
Burk said Mr. Charles and the
Petnicks have become like family
to her. Today, a framed picture of
Petnick. smiling and surrounded
by Mr. Charles employees at a
company party last winter, sits on
the front counter of the store.
To both Burk and Rosen, that
positive spirit is what made "Mr.
Charles" the man and the bou
tique a State College institu
tion.
"I think his name will live on
forever." Burk said.
To e-mail reporter: cmms773@psu.edu
ing." to which he responded that
he would respect their wishes.
Penn State Police said they are
investigating the man involved
but would not confirm whether
criminal charges had been filed
against him or if he had been
arrested as of press time.
In a separate interview,
Wendkos said that to his knowl
edge. the man was previously
involved in an incident at the
University of Maryland where he
posed as a fraternity brother from
a separate college and trespassed
onto several properties.
To e-mail reporter: cmms773@psu.edu
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Media helps student
adjust to U.S. culture
Series Note: This is the third
in a five-part series profiling
international students.
By Danae Blasso
and Cassandra Wiggins
FOR THE COLLEGIAN
Fahad Taimur has chosen to
expand his education in the
United States, but his true roots
lie over 7,000
miles away from
Happy Valley.
In July of 2008,
Taimur (junior
chemical engi-
neering) trekked
to the U.S. as an
incoming fresh
man at Penn Taimur
State's Lehigh
Valley campus, where he was an
officer of the Honors Club.
Taimur was raised in
Rawalpindi, Pakistan, which is
near the nation's capital,
Islamabad.
Taimur said most of his family
resides in Lehigh Valley, but
some loved ones still live in
Pakistan,
Urdu, the language of
Pakistan, is not the only language
he is fluent in. Taimur said.
“I used to watch some
American shows and movies in
Pakistan from a young age. so I
learned [English] from that," he
said. "The language was kind of a
barrier because at first making
friends and stuff is hard."
Taimur said sometimes he has
difficulty with reading English,
but in regard to his major, he has
not experienced much trouble.
He said he did not experience
complete culture shock when he
moved to the U.S.. since the
Internet and the news showed
him what to expect.
The national dress of Pakistan
is "salwar kameez. 'a long dress,
but this is not the only difference
between the U.S. and Pakistan,
he said.
“For food, we usually eat like
curry or rice or something like
that, but I pretty much enjoy food
from any country." he said.
"Usually I eat fast food, most the
time its some Italian food like
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Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 I 3
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pizza or macaroni
cheese."
Though he has been exposed
to different ideas and cultures,
Taimur said he is still deeply
involved with his Muslim religion.
“Over here, life is slightly dif
ferent as being a Muslim is con
cerned, because you are not sur
rounded by as many Muslims as
you would be [in Pakistan]," he
said. "But I do like interacting
with people from different cul
tures and different religions.”
Taimur said people generally
accept his religion, but there
have been instances where peo
ple were "racist, judgmental or
maybe just ignorant"
Being in America gives him
more opportunities to explore dif
ferent languages, cultures, and
ideas. Taimur said.
"Something which may be
shocking to you before coming
here, might become acceptable
to you after." he said.
Taimur lives with three room
mates one Pakistani student
and two Svrian students.
Majd Daher (junior-chemical
engineering), one of Taimur's
Svrian roomates. said he met
Taimur at the Lehigh Valley cam
pus and the two became friends.
"Fahad is very open and friend
ly with everyone." Daher said.
"He just loves to interact with
people and learn everything
he's just ambitious about life."
Taimur said he hopes to work
for a pharmaceutical company in
a major city, plans on becoming a
U.S. citizen and wants to live here
for the next 20 to 20 vears.
After traveling the world and
retiring, he said he intends to
return to Pakistan.
He's not unhappy being away
from home, though.
"Getting good grades every
semester, learning more stuff
just makes me happy," Taimur
said. "Most of my family is here,
so meeting them also makes me
happy."
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