Penn State University - La Vie Yearbook (University Park, PA)

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On a beautiful fall day, Patty Sobocinski, Debi Dorisio, Michelle Spangler, Jim Bold and Jeni Stebbins head up Mount Nittany to prove that they're real Penn Staters. -by Susan Daugherty We're halfway there. Climbers stop along the path to take a breather before continuing on their trip to the top of the mountain. Marked by Tradition The view to Mount Nittany was quite different 30 yeaxs ago. .. ,b , ?.r', m; , 41;... 1. , V-byxstxjszhr bohgheity V

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Layout by Susan Daugherty -by Susan Daugherty Standing in Happy Valley for the first time as an anxious freshman, you scanned the strange surroundings for a com- forting sign. You could not help but notice the large gepogra- phic form that dominated the southeastern skyline. You had your first introduction to Mount Nittany, a landmark that has been a part of Penn State's student life and traditions since the founding of the University. Early Penn Staters, who seemed to have a love for legends, invented one to explain the creation of the mountain. The mythological Indian Princess Nita-Nt'ee was revered for lead- -by Chris Swope unnunsruwn-nnun-rvvvrv ing her people into the fertile central Pennsylvania valley, H same from enemy tribes. When she died from heartbreak after Everyone ShOUId being left by her lover, the mountain miraculously arose over- definitely climb Mount night at her burial site. . t 0 art before . In grlef over his daughter's death, Chief Waupelani had a Nlttiny pd age I t'S a hon guard Nita-Nee's burial site. The lion roamed the moun- t ey gra u ' . H tain and protected the heroine's resting place. At the begin- great tlme- ning of the twentieth century, her protector, the Nittany Lion, h. came to be the University's mascot. w'V'VNNNTJOhn W lte Mount Nittany was the subject of a university controversy in 1921. The senior class planned to create a giant 5 to stand for State on the north face of the mountain. Proposals called for the S to be created from whitewashed concrete or white pines. Both plans called for the symbol to be maintained by the freshmen class. The plan was halted when Fred Lewis Pattee claimed the mountain's natural beauty would be destroyed. More recent Penn Staters have tried to maintain Mount Nittany in its natural state rather than alter it. Different student and community groups purchased land on the moun- tain to protect it from development. In 1985, a campaign began to sell square inches of land on top of the mountain. Available to alumni as well as students, the offer allowed true Penn Staters the chance to own part of Mount Nittany. Pro- tected from developers, Mount Nittany will remain a stable part of Penn State's skyline and traditions. -by Susan Daugherty Well worth the climb, a break at the top of the mountain reveals a majestic view of Happy Valley. Landmark ln Excellence

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Layout by Susan Daugherty -by Christine Negley For one cold weekend in February, over 500 people decided they would rather dance than sleep. And after 48 hours of physical and emotional ups and downs, the participants in the Interfraternity Council's Dance Marathon had danced their way to a new record. Breaking the old record by nearly $27,000, the 1988 Mara- thon raised $324,199.85 for The Four Diamonds Fund. Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity and Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority led all fundraisers with over $92,000. Besides handling the paperwork and logistics, the organiz- -by Tim Fichmer ers made trips to Hershey. We met the children and their families. We got to see what the money is going toward which makes it a lot more rewarding, remarked Steve Target, Physi- Surviving the DanCe cal Plant Committee Chairman. Marathon is an The main gymnasium in White Building was transformed accomplishment not just with banners repeating the marathon's theme, One thousand feet will dance. Once the music started, one of the first things for yourselves! bUt for the dancers did was learn the steps to the popular line dance some little kid who for Free Ride. might not live to the When the dancers began to get bored, there were plenty of age Of five. You realize activities to keep them busy. The Morale Committee orga- d. d . f d nized group games like volleyball and Duck Duck Goose. As you 1 It or a goon an added feature, the morale squad divided the 48 hours into cause- the months of the year. So 7 RM. Saturdayethe halfway .rvrv'vru-vrv John Ferrara marke-was transformed into midnight New Year's Eve. Our job on morale was to keep the dancers' minds off the pain and remind them to remember the kids, explained Melinda Thomas. There were times you just felt like dropping out, but then one of the kids would come by. Seeing them made you realize why you were doing this and gave you the strength to contin- ue, stated dancer Lisa Giarrusso. But remarkably, only 37 out of 544 people dropped out. According to John Ferrara, Entertainment Committee Chair- man, It is a tribute to Penn State students that they have this involvement. They have a knack for raising money and doing it very well. -by Anthony Piccioni ' ' Bubble blowing adds a little variety to garked. b2; T111513 aggthon . the forty-eight hours. Keeping your alagilimbenplagued with sore krlzles mind off the time 15 all-important. ankles, and feet during and after the 48 hours.