Class Of 1998 Chooses Hub Terrace

10-20-97
University Park, Pa.-- Penn State's Class of 1998 has voted to fund the construction of a terrace for the Hetzel Union Building expansion as its class gift.

In voting held last week, a majority of the ballots favored the terrace over three other possible class gifts. The terrace will be an outdoor study and eating area on the south side of the expanded HUB, with a view of the HUB lawn.

Construction now underway is adding 91,000 square feet to the HUB, including new facilities for the Paul Robeson Cultural Center. The HUB daily provides nearly 18,000 students, faculty and staff with study lounges, eateries, student organization offices and recreation space.

"I think the terrace was popular with our voters because it's included in the architectural plans already, so as soon as the HUB addition is completed, our gift will be there," said Paula Shaki, chair of the senior class gift committee. "Also, many students feel a strong connection to the HUB from spending a lot of time there in-between classes."

Shaki is a resident of Monroe, N.Y., and plans to graduate with a degree in journalism in May 1998. In addition to her student activities, she is a reporter with the Centre Daily Times.

Seniors are asked to pledge the balance of their $50 general deposit toward their class' gift. Nearly $10,000 has been pledged for the 1998 gift in this manner so far. The general deposit is held during a student's undergraduate years to cover unforeseen expenses, fees, and emergency costs.

"We'll continue to raise money for the terrace during the rest of the academic year by focusing on appeals to student organizations and other creative efforts," said Shaki.

"This is a wonderful way for current students to share with future students," added Vice President for Student Affairs William Asbury. "The terrace is an excellent choice, because it will be an attractive and very heavily used area that provides a constant view of one of the treasured memories at Penn State-the HUB lawn."

The other gift options presented to the seniors involved a display area for the recently-restored, mounted Pennsylvania mountain lion in Pattee Library, a courtyard between Whitmore Lab and Pond Lab and a scholarship endowment. In addition to accepting votes at various on-campus polling sites, this was the first year in which seniors could vote on a University-sponsored website devoted to the class gift.

Ideas for the class gift have been accepted by the Office of Annual Giving throughout the year. Approximately 100 people submitted ideas, which resulted in 35 distinct proposals being brought before the gift selection committee, consisting of 10 seniors and members of the faculty, staff and administration. The committee narrowed the options to the final four gift ideas on the ballot.

Senior class gifts have been a Penn State tradition for more than a century, and include the Old Main clock tower, the Nittany Lion Shrine and an endowment for preservation of the American elm trees on campus. The class of 1997 has raised nearly $115,000 to design and construct a Peace Garden that will celebrate a peaceful and civil University community.

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Contact: Gary W. Cramer (814) 863-4512 gwc104@psu.edu