“I The Daily p CollegiaiH Published independently by students at Penn State @ Meyer steps down as coach By Andrew J. Cassavell COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER A coach in the 2011 Outback Bowl will be walking the sidelines for the final time at a nationally prominent football program, concluding a historically suc cessful tenure. And no, it’s not Joe Paterno. In a press conference Wednesday evening, Florida’s Urban Meyer announced he will retire from coaching following the bowl game on Jan. 1. His last game will come against Penn State in Tampa, adding more pizzazz to an already intriguing bowl matchup. Meyer, who turned 46 before this sea- The Lionettes Dance Team rehearse a new holiday routine during a Monday night practice in the White Building. Dancers boost team morale By Erika Spicer FOR THE COLLEGIAN While the Lionettes dance team won't perform in front of 110,000 fans again until next fall, the basketball season provides the dancers with different things to be excited about. The self-coached dance team is known for its high-energy performance of kick lines, jazz, hip-hop and pom. On the sidelines of Tuesday night's Penn State mens’ basketball home game against Mount St. Mary's, the Lionettes did pom routines to energize the audience. They were awaiting their big moment dancing to 'Livin' on a Prayer," a routine that highlights their trademark kick line. Theatre to host wedding By Lauren Ingeno COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER This June, a couple from Ridgway, Pa., will stand on stage in front of more than 150-people at the State Theatre. But the pair won’t be singing, dancing or acting instead, they’ll be saying their “I do’s." The planning has begun for Matt Frank and Sara Gerber’s wedding the first wedding to ever take place at the State Theatre, 130 W College Ave. Gerber said she and Frank spent weeks looking for a venue but nothing seemed right. They wanted to find somewhere unique. “One night in August we sat down and brainstormed and we son, will coach against Paterno, who will be 84 Dec. 21 and has been the coach at Penn State for 45 years, for the first time. "If Joe Paterno would have stepped down at my age it would have been 1972 or something like that," Meyer said. "We're actually great friends and I can't wait to see him." Last year, in what he termed a "knee jerk" decision, Meyer resigned as coach, citing health issues. This time. Meyer pointed to his family, specifically referring to his two daughters and son. He said he won't coach any time in the immediate future, and he hasn't thought long-term yet. For this dance, the kick line was per formed in a pinwheel formation and included a crowd-shocking jump split. "We definitely get the strongest reac tion from the 'Livin' On A Prayer' rou tine," Lionette Alvssa Guttendorf (sen ior-public relations and English) said. ' Especially like tonight, when the audi ence was excited by the game, it makes us more excited and the performance quality is better." The dance team is continually work ing toward new and innovative ways to engage their audience at basketball games, said Marisa Pollack, one of three Lionettes co-captains. "At basketball games, we're more up close and personal with our audience." she said. "It's a huge thrill when people Courtesy of Matt Frank Engaged couple Matt Frank and Sara Gerber plan to get married at The State Theatre, 130 W. College Ave. both agreed a theater was an exciting ways to use the theater untapped resource," Frank said, for the community, so this was “Like, why wouldn’t other people right up our alley,” Shedd said. do this type of thing?" Shedd said she, the staff and Susan Shedd, the operations the couple all brainstormed manager of the State Theatre, together to think of ways to use said everyone was on board with the space for the wedding, the idea when the couple contact- “It was really neat the way it edher. happened. It all made sense," “We were looking for new and See WEDDING, Page 2. Associated Press photo Florida coach Urban Meyer announced his decision to retire yesterday. "I'm stepping down as head football coach at the University of Florida to See MEYER. Page 2. are closer, and we want to start getting the crowd involved to spark interest." Pollack (senior-elementary educa tion) said the audience interaction can involve anything from incorporating the Lion mascot into routines or getting audience members to participate. The team is still brainstorming, she said. The team has also started alternating with cheerleaders on the concourse in the Bryce Jordan Center for meet-and greet sessions with basketball game attendees, said Lionette adviser Sue Sherburne, also an instructor in the biobehavioral health department. Even though the hectic football and basketball seasons' overlap has ended, the team continues to be just as busy as See MORALE. Page 2. THON releases totals For the second year, the Interfraternity/Panhellenic Dance Marathon released a summary of its fundraising activities revealing that the organization donates more than 90 percent of its total funds to the Four Diamonds Fhnd. THON donated $7,447,671.33 of the total money raised to the Four Diamonds Rind, according to the fundraising report released Wednesday after noon. The $7,447,671.33 represents 92.4 percent of money raised, THON Public Relations Overall Chairwoman Jonv Rommel said a feat that reflects the efforts of students throughout the year. "THON's really proud of its efficiency level and the fact that we re able to give so much of the money to the Four Diamonds Flind," Rommel (sen ior-philosophy) said. The American Institute of Philanthropy regards philanthropies that donate at least 75 percent of their funds as highly efficient charities, according to the report. The THON 2011 Overall Committee released the summary’ waich encompasses the fiscal year of July 1. 2009 to June 30, 2010 to ensure trans parency and let people know THON is a reliable philanthropy. Rommel said. “Transparency is extremely important to build trust with donors and the students who fundraise for THON," THON Overall Chairwoman Kirsten Kelly said. The report details the amount of money given in various gifts to THON as individual gifts, corporate, foundation and small business gifts, and the amount raised through the THON store and fundraising events. It also details how much money THON spent on THON store inventory’, event man agement, administration, development, account balance and the Four Diamonds F\md. Of the total gift income. 82.20 percent came from individual gifts, Rommel said. Individual gifts include alternative fundraisers held by student organizations, THONvelopes. online donations and canning efforts, she said. Last year, THON donated $7,093,777.66 94.55 percent of money fundraised to the Four Diamonds Rind, Kelly (senior-marketing) said. Though a lesser percentage of the total money was donated to the Four Diamonds F\md this year, the percentage donated equates to a larger sum of money, she said. The main difference between the 2008-2009 fiscal year and the 2009-2010 fiscal year is that more money was spent on stocking the THON store. Kelly said but the THON store garnered more money for the philanthropy this year. THON summary of fundraising activities THON released data on how funds were used Inventor, 5269.685.02 0.49% Account Balance $39,393 52 Scurce: THON fundraismi UPUA selects test prep group By Alyssa Sweeney COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER The University Park Undergraduate Association chose The Princeton Review to help provide graduate test prepa ration courses to Penn State stu dents at discounted rates. The Princeton Review con tract passed over the Kaplan con tract by a vote of 32-3-4 at the meeting in the HUB-Robeson Center. “In this economy, there are more students now than ever enrolling in graduate school,” UPUA President Christian Ragland said. “This is a really great program, and we’re really excited to get it up and running.” UPUA Chairman of the Assembly Mark Cannon said the preparation classes will be avail- ennsylvania tuudi collegian.com dailycollegian By Megan Rogers COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER To e-mail reporter: mers2oo@psu.edu 2.17% o Event Management THONS,*; 5175.009.7 a ■Ll.c-r W."., able to students at the beginning of next semester. The Princeton Review will offer students and faculty signifi cant discounts on retail MCAT, LSAT, GRE, GMAT, DAT, OAT preparation courses, and provide all materials required—including books, practice tests, and online tools. The UPUA will provide and reserve classrooms, practice tests and informational sessions at no additional cost. UPUA Vice President Colleen Smith said working with The Princeton Review will not only cut down costs, but provide more options to students. “ We’re all on tight budgets as college students, and these are much more reasonable rates,” Smith (junior-histoiy) said. “It See UPUA, Page 2. unique “Nutcracker” imes to State College VENUES Development 593.608.94 Operation ana Administrative 533.921.98 92.41% Four Diamonds 57.447.671.33 Junlin Chen/Collegian
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers