IN THE NEWS: Mets pitcher Al Leiter currently in the World Series is a Penn State alumnus, having earned his associate degree in letters, arts and sciences in 1997through the Penn State Independent Learning program. For stats on Leiter, go to http://www.majorleaguebaseball.com/u/baseball/mlb/teams/NYM/

MEDIA POLLS INFLUENCE QUALITY OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS
Media sponsorship and coverage of election polls has affected the quality of the polls and their usefulness for citizens, says J. Michael Hogan, professor of speech communication. "Polls influence the quality and character of political campaigns, and their role in campaign coverage has changed dramatically. The number of polls has increased substantially in every election since 1980 and Hogan says the media organizations that sponsor them are more interested in news about the ‘horserace’ than in the substance of the campaign. "This portrays a very cynical view of the electorate. The danger in all of this is that it puts the American public in the role of spectators rather than active participants. This media obsession with polls–and I believe it is an obsession–also reflects a cynical view of the electoral process as a mere game rather than an important debate over the nation’s future. The proliferation of polls artificially affects media interpretations of political campaigns in ways that, in my opinion are bad for the political system, the presidential campaigns, and public discussion." For more on this story by Bill Campbell, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/polls2000.html 

THE TEN MOST INFLUENTIAL IDEAS IN REAL ESTATE
In the history of the world, few assets are treated more importantly than is real estate. Austin J. Jaffe, director of the Institute for Real Estate Studies in the Smeal College of Business Administration, has co-authored a list of the ten ideas that have changed the world of real estate. "Because of the special characteristics associated with real estate -- and due to the importance placed upon it by various societies -- a set of unique institutions have developed since the beginnings of civilization to cultivate, manage, transform, and conserve these incomparable assets," he says. The thesis of the paper is that the evolution of real estate markets can be traced to the fundamental developments in the history of the world, generally, and the history of real estate experience, specifically. For the list of iinfluential ideas and more on this story by Steve Infanti, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/jaffetips.html 

HALLOWEEN TRAIL, FESTIVAL AT SHAVER’S CREEK, OCT. 28, 29
Halloween evokes images of spiders, owls and mysterious nighttime noises. Find out why some creatures are so noisy at night or and how nocturnal animals deal with the darkness at the annual Children’s Halloween Trail and Festival at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 28 and 29. Events are geared toward children ages 4 to 10. The festival features Halloween crafts, singing, games, refreshments and the Enchanted Trail. Every 15 minutes from 11 a.m to 3:15 p.m., small groups are led down the Enchanted Trail that winds through the forest grounds surrounding Shaver’s Creek. Stops along the way include meeting non-frightening costumed characters and information about animals of the night. For more on Shavers Creek, go to http://www.outreach.psu.edu/ShaversCreek/Halloween/ 

THE PIANO LESSON BY AUGUST WILSON ON STAGE NOV. 3 TO 11
In his Pulitzer Prize-winner, The Piano Lesson, August Wilson has fashioned his most haunting and dramatic work yet about the African American experience in the twentieth-century. The prized possession of the Charles family is an ornately carved piano which has been gathering dust in the parlor of their Pittsburgh home. When Boy Willie concocts a plan to buy the same Mississippi land the family had worked as slaves, he plans to sell the piano to help his dream come true. But his sister Berniece refuses to sell, clinging to the piano as a monument of their family legacy. This dilemma is the real "piano lesson," reminding us how we must often decide whether to sacrifice the past for opportunity in the present. This School of Theatre production is scheduled in the Pavilion Theatre at 8 p.m. Nov. 3 to 11, with previews at 8 p.m. Nov. 1 and 2. A matinee performance is scheduled for 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 11. For more on the School of Theatre, go to http://www.theatre.psu.edu 

EXTENSION DR.. PROVIDES CHRISTMAS TREE FOR WHITE HOUSE
Gary Walters, Chief Usher at the White House, the White House horticulturist, representatives of the National Christmas Tree Growers Association and members of the media from southeastern Pennsylvania went to Paul Shealer's Evergreen Acres farm yesterday to select a Christmas tree for the White House.

Shealer is Cooperative Extension director for Carbon County. He and his family are eagerly looking forward to their trip next month to Washington when they will present their Christmas Tree to Hillary Clinton on Nov. 29. The 18’6" tree will stand in the Blue Room. For information on the White House, go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/ 

PENN STATE-IOWA FOOTBALL TO BE ON ESPN REGIONAL
The Penn State football team’s next home game versus Iowa on Saturday, Nov. 4, will be televised by ESPN Regional to a syndicated audience. Kickoff will be at 12:10 p.m. EST in Beaver Stadium. The All-University Day contest will be the 42nd consecutive appearance on television for the Nittany Lions, and is the 11th announced television appearance this season. Penn State is currently 3-5 on the season, and hold a 10-4 series advantage over Big Ten conference foe Iowa. For more information, including a list of Pennsylvania and regional television stations that will carry the game, go to http://www.GoPSUsports.com/pressreleases/pressrelease.cfm?anncid=598 

PATERNO SELECTED NATION'S BEST COACH
Coach Joe Paterno is the best coach in college football, according to a Bloomberg News poll of Division I-A football coaches. Paterno, who needs four victories to become the sport's all-time winningest coach, edged Florida State's Bobby Bowden by 1 1/2 votes in a survey asking coaches to name college football's best coach. Kansas State's Bill Snyder finished third. "I'm flattered and kind of startled at this because there's never been a time where I've seen so many great young coaching minds out there" Paterno said. "It's nice to know that you're so respected by our peers, even during the tough times.'' For more, go to http://www.GoPSUsports.com/home/