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Articles by Julia Key
State College activities, events to attend this week
With the holiday season now in full-swing, State College offers a variety of festive and seasonal activities for students, residents and visitors. From winter-themed events to holiday activities, here are some of the upcoming events this week: The State Theatre is showing holiday and non-holiday movies this upcoming week and all throughout the month of December in the Friedman Auditorium. “Mean Girls” will be shown on Tuesday at 8 p.m to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the film.
Fatema Jivanjee-Shakir gives ‘Body Image Beyond Weight’ speech as finale of ‘Love Your Body Week’
As a part of Penn State Student Affairs’ “Love Your Body Week,” which lasted from Oct. 30 - Nov. 6, eating disorder therapist and author Fatema Jivanjee-Shakir visited Penn State and gave a keynote speech in Freeman Auditorium on Wednesday evening. Jivanjee-Shakir’s “Body Image Beyond Weight” presentation contained information that expanded the understanding of eating disorders and body image issues by highlighting the importance of considering cultural and individual differences found within them.
Centre County Board of Commissioners to recount more than 10,000 mail-in ballots
Editor's Note: This coverage has since been updated with the release of new information. The Centre County Board of Commissioners released a statement regarding presidential election mail-in ballots early Wednesday and one later that day with announcement that the re-scanned mail-in ballots were added to the unofficial Election Day results.
Penn State Homecoming announces 2025 executive committee
Penn State Homecoming announced its 2025 Executive Committee via Instagram on Monday.
Students voice opinions on Donald Trump’s visit to Bryce Jordan Center
Former president Donald Trump’s campaign team announced that he will hold a rally at 4 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday. With 19 electoral college votes, Pennsylvania is the swing state with the most electoral votes in the upcoming election. Sam Wilson said they don’t support Penn State hosting Trump and thinks that a “flock” of Trump supporters from the county will gather downtown all weekend.
'It really is a home' | Annual THON 5K brings community together
Penn State THON hosted its annual 5K race as a kickoff to the fundraising events taking place between now and THON weekend 2025, Feb. 21-23. Students, faculty, alumni, Four Diamonds families and community members gathered outside of the Bryce Jordan Center for face painting, bracelet making, balloon art, and live music before the race began Sunday.
Penn State, Hillel issue statements regarding recent ‘online vitriol’
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include more information from a Hillel official statement. Following the publication of a statement by Stefanie Tapper from Penn State Hillel on Sunday regarding the increase of bias reports on campus involving Jewish students, the university issued a statement condemning online discourse regarding “turmoil in the Middle East” and “Antisemitic, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim comments,” later that day.
Congresswoman AOC to visit Penn State, encourage early voting
Editor's note: A location for this event has yet to be confirmed. New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will appear at the "Penn State Students for Harris-Walz Get Out the Early Vote Rally" 4:30-7 p.m. on Friday, as announced Tuesday night. Ocasio-Cortez’s been serving in Congress since 2019 in New York’s 14 district and is currently serving her second term in office.
Penn State issues statement regarding recent ‘online vitriol’
Penn State issued a statement regarding the online response to turmoil in the Middle East on Sunday. “Antisemitic, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim comments have no place at Penn State and do not at all align with the University’s values,” the university statement said. “We unequivocally reject all forms of hate, discrimination, harassment, and intimidation, as well as the vitriol online that perpetuates the cycle.
Penn State students reflect on unique majors, diverse interests
With over 275 majors for undergraduate students to choose from, CollegeVine lists Penn State as one of the top universities for major variety. Abigail Charnetski said she first encountered her major while on a campus tour. The unique research and other opportunities in this field immediately piqued her interest. "People are usually surprised when I tell them about my major because they often have never heard of it," Charnetski, a first-year studying pharmacology and toxicology, said.
Penn State Hillel commemorates one-year anniversary of Hamas attack on Israel
Penn State Hillel and Chabad of Penn State united for a day in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war on Monday. The events were intended to honor the solidarity of students, staff and community members as they remembered those who died in the attack. Downtown at Penn State Hillel, therapists were available for students to utilize as mental health resources.
Students, faculty discuss opinions on Beaver Stadium renovation
As of last Wednesday, Penn State Athletics has raised over $60 million for the ongoing renovation of Beaver Stadium. According to Penn State, the renovation is planned for completion in four years and will be paid entirely by Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics, using no tuition dollars or educational budget funds. Logan Quinn said she hopes donations are made to other buildings on campus that need renovations, not just the stadium.
Penn State Homecoming presents 'In Every Roar, Tradition Soars' parade
Penn State Homecoming hosted its annual Homecoming Parade, a tradition since 1912, on Friday. Students, alumni and community members gathered to celebrate and prepare for the ranked Homecoming football matchup between Penn State and Illinois on Saturday.
'There’s no balance' | Charlie Kirk brings ‘You’re Being Brainwashed Tour’ to Penn State
Editor’s Note: Two of the names in this story have been changed to protect the identities of the individuals involved. The Daily Collegian has verified through fact-checking that these individuals exists. The Penn State chapter of Turning Point USA hosted Charlie Kirk’s "You're Being Brainwashed Tour” on the HUB-Robeson Center lawn at noon Thursday, Sept. 19. Kirk, a conservative political activist, founded Turning Point USA in 2012 and has made stops at colleges all across the country.
Penn State students, faculty rate reliability of Rate My Professor
With over 19 million student-written comments and ratings, Rate My Professors is a website initially launched under the name “Teacher Ratings” in 1999. The site allows students to rate, comment on and critique their professors for the benefit of other students. Self-proclaimed as the "largest online destination for students to research and rate professors," Rate My Professors functions solely on student evaluations to determine a professor's difficulty rating out of five stars.
Penn State ranks 228 in College Pulse's 2025 Free Speech rankings
Penn State has is ranked 228 in Free Speech, according to College Pulse’s 2025 rankings. This is a fall from College Pulse’s 2024 rankings, where Penn State ranked 189. Penn State’s overall ranking is based on a variety of categories voted on by students, including comfort expressing ideas, where the University ranks 102 overall, and tolerance for both liberal and conservative speakers, where Penn State is ranked 42.
The Nittany Lion Inn reopens after being closed to the public for nearly 4 years
After being closed to the public in 2020, The Nittany Lion Inn, a joint partnership with Rockbridge and Scholar Hotels, officially reopened on Sept. 3. The re-opening event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony in which Penn State University president Neeli Bendapudi, Happy Valley Adventure Bureau President Fritz Smith and CEO of Scholar Hotels Gary Brandeis were present. The Nittany Lion Inn, which first opened in 1931, is today completely redone with new modern restaurants and decor.
How multilingualism impacts Penn State community, campus culture Original
Keeping track of the number of different languages spoken across Penn State’s campuses can be difficult, given the volume of students from an estimated 140 different countries. Today, Penn State continues to be one of the top destinations for international college students, according to Penn State’s School of International Affairs. The University Park campus includes more than 90 international and multicultural student organizations.
The danger of doomscrolling | Column
The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I do before going to bed is scroll on social media. What’s the harm, right? I get to stay in touch with friends, laugh at the TikToks or Reels my roommate sends me, and stay updated on the state of the world. In moderation, social media is a tool Gen Z has nearly perfected in use. However, it does have a dark side. Spending excess amounts of time online does have an impact.
Lion Ambassadors highlight campus life at Berkey Block Party
The annual Lion Ambassadors campus showcase took place on the Berkey Creamery Lawn from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. on Tuesday. This block party offered students the chance to engage with a variety of campus-associated organizations, partake in carnival activities and enjoy complimentary food. Megan Lavelle, the vice president of Lion Ambassadors, said these campus-wide events foster Penn State pride and emphasize the long-term benefits of being a Nittany Lion.
Penn State student farm hosts 2024 kick-off to showcase community
Penn State’s Ross Student Farm hosted its annual Campus Food Systems Kick-Off on Wednesday, Sept. 4, showcasing food system engagement and initiatives that take place throughout the school year. Several farm-acquainted student organizations attended the event to exhibit how the student-run farm benefits Penn State and the State College community.
Penn State Involvement Fair date changes
Penn State Student Affairs announced the annual Involvement Fair will now be held from 1-5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, on the HUB-Robeson Center lawn, via its Instagram on Monday. The previously scheduled Involvement Fair date was Wednesday, Aug. 28. MORE NEWS COVERAGE Penn State University Police and Public Safety (UPPS) is warning Penn State football fans to… If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Send Letter to the Editor
Student move-in brings travel restrictions, parking changes Original
As students and staff travel back to State College to begin the 2024 fall semester, the Borough of State College has released travel restrictions and parking changes for student move-in. The travel restrictions include: From 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Aug. 17 to Aug. 18: East Calder Way between Sowers Street and Hetzel Street will be turned into a one-way northbound along with Hetzel Street between East Calder Way and East Beaver Avenue westbound. From 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Aug. 17 to Aug.
Penn State music festival announces executive board
Penn State’s annual music festival, Movin’ On, announced its Executive Board for 2025 and its 50th anniversary via Instagram on Monday.
Pros and cons of dorm life for Penn State students
All first-year students at Penn State are required to live in one of the five residential areas on campus, while it's optional and not guaranteed for second, third and fourth-year students. Although roommates and an unfamiliar space might make the transition to college stressful, many find positives to living on campus and continue to do so after their first year. Others opt for a commute, organization-based housing or an off-campus apartment. Here are some pros and cons of dorm life at Penn State.
GMS Vignettes: Where Obsession Meets the Plate
How three of the District’s most loved and awarded businesses have captivated devoted foodies By Julia Key Located on Thomas Jefferson Street NW is Baked & Wired, a family-owned business that has been open for nearly a quarter of a century. That wasn’t always the plan for the Velazquez family. “People are like, oh, did you always dream that you were going to be a baker and own your own bakery?
Breaking down LionCash, Campus, Commuter Meal Plans
From restaurant chains to residential buffets, Penn State’s campus offers a diverse array of dining spots on campus that may result in confusion regarding how and where to spend your money. The Campus Meal Plan is made up of two cost components: base cost and dining dollars. The base cost is paid up front at the beginning of each semester and used by the university to cover the cost of supplies and food services, ensuring food courts can be prepared to serve students on demand.
Olivia Rodrigo Spills Her Guts in DC
By Julia Key Last Saturday, grammy-winning singer and songwriter Olivia Rodrigo performed a sold-out show in Capital One Arena as part of her “GUTS World Tour.” As Rodrigo took the stage, flashing lights met the audience’s roar, screaming every lyric to each song she performed. The stage was set with a dynamic lighting system that accentuated Rodrigo’s every move.
How Penn State’s sustainability initiatives rank among other universities
Each college and campus at Penn State has the opportunity to create a Sustainability Council to advance all of the university’s different sustainability goals. The Sustainable Operations Council was organized in 2016 to better incorporate sustainability practices into Penn State Finance and Business.
A Full House for Hollow Coves
By Julia Key On Wednesday night, the Australian indie-folk band Hollow Coves performed at Union Stage on the wharf as a part of their “Nothing to Lose Tour” following the release of their second studio album “Nothing to Lose.” The band, which includes Ryan Henderson and Matt Carins, write and perform their songs and play the guitar and piano.
Spirituality & Practice
Often wonder is composed of questions — questions not meant to be answered but rather to evoke an awestruck response in the heart. This poetic book offers just this kind of question, accompanied by the beautiful and evocative illustrations of Helen Cann, whose work has appeared in exhibitions around the world. Two girls travel through the seasons together, from the tail end of winter until its return.
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