HEARD ON CAMPUS – SPEAKERS AT IST GROUNDBREAKING
“I want to know, as a former township supervisor who” dealt with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation “to get just one highway encroachment, how the dickens you managed to get one for this.”– The Honorable Robert J. Thompson, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee for the Pennsylvania State Senate, speaking at the Information Sciences and Technology (IST) Building groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 26 in reference to how the building will form a connection between central and west campus over Atherton Street.
PATERNO REACHES PIGSKIN PINNACLE WITH 324th VICTORY
It’s been a long time, and a lot of wins, since Joe Paterno recorded his first career victory against Maryland in 1966. On Saturday, 35 years after that first triumph, Paterno and wife Sue stood with their family on the field of Beaver Stadium, celebrating another milestone: win number 324. The Nittany Lions, behind a strong performance from freshman quarterback Zack Mills, beat Big Ten border rival Ohio State, 29-27, moving Paterno ahead of the late Bear Bryant for the lead in career victories among major college football coaches. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of this football team,” Paterno said to the crowd of 108,327 on a makeshift stage following the game. “They could have packed it in a long time ago. But they came back last week, and they came back today, and I tell you they’re going to be one hell of a football team.” For more on this story and all news related to Penn State intercollegiate athletics, visit http://www.GoPSUsports.com.
IST BUILDING UNDER WAY, STATE PLEDGES $25.5 MILLION
Ground was broken for a new Penn State landmark Friday (Oct. 26), as word came that the Commonwealth has pledged $25.5 million toward the project. The Information Sciences and Technology (IST) Building will straddle North Atherton Street and bring together under one roof the University’s School of Information Sciences and Technology and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. The $58.5 million project should be completed in late 2003. “Problem-solving professionals who are skilled at putting technology to work are in demand,” said Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker. “The ideas and ingenuity of technology workers are a source of inspiration for our digital, global economy. And it is distinguished centers of learning like Penn State’s School of Information Sciences and Technology and its Department of Computer Science and Engineering that are grooming future leaders for that economy.” For more on this story, visit http://ist.psu.edu/headlines/HeadlinesDisplay.cfm?HeadlineID=88. For photos from Friday’s groundbreaking ceremonies, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/istphotos01.html. To download a brief video on IST and the new building, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/videos/IST/.
HOMECOMING 2001 ARRIVES AT PENN STATE
As Penn State roars into the 21st century, the members of the Penn State community look to the past and future with pride. Homecoming is a time where alumni commemorate their time at the university and students look to forge their own memories to look back upon. Major Homecoming 2001 events begin Wednesday, Oct. 31, with coronation of the Homecoming King and Queen at 6 p.m. on the HUB Lawn. Weekend events get under way on Friday, Nov. 2, with the annual Homecoming Parade at 5 p.m., followed by fireworks on the HUB Lawn, a pep rally and candlelight vigil in front of Old Main, and -- starting at 10 p.m. -- the traditional Guarding of the Lion at the Nittany Lion Shrine in front of Rec Hall. Penn State’s Homecoming football clash with Southern Mississippi on Saturday, Nov. 3, will kickoff at 12:10 p.m. ET in Beaver Stadium and be nationally televised by ESPN2. A Homecoming Breakfast and awards ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 9 a.m. in the Nittany Lion Inn will bring the festivities to a close. For more information on Homecoming 2001, go to http://www.greeks.psu.EDU/homecoming.
PHASE THREE SET TO START AT INNOVATION PARK
Innovation Park at Penn State is set to launch Phase Three of development involving the remaining undeveloped 75 acres in the western part of the 118-acre site. In a competitive bid process concluded recently, Penn State chose Innovation Capital Partners (ICP) to develop Phase Three. ICP is leasing the park's entire remaining undeveloped parcel and can develop up to 800,000 square feet in that acreage. The number and type of buildings developed will depend on tenant requirements. The University's Board of Trustees adopted Innovation Park at Penn State as a phased-development project in 1987 to assist in the economic revitalization of the Commonwealth.Karen Dickinson, park director, says, "Currently, there are 41 tenants at Innovation Park employing more than 770 people. In addition, 39 percent of the tenants provide work experience for Penn State interns and the same proportion have hired Penn State graduates." A complete list of the companies located at Innovation Park at Penn State is at http://www.innovationpark.psu.edu/companies.html. For more on this story by Barbara Hale, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/phase3innovationpark.html.