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

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TUCKED AWl world.studc 1. 0f Paucc n g AY FROM THE REST of the bustling bury themselves in research in the stacks CROW cnce 835p CONDIUONS tleftl in the Computer Sci- 1 ms. mg were heightened under the semester sys- K.- esearch continued well into the night In Pattee library and other Universi- Spent in :y buudings. Over $77 million was from all esearch last year and scholars came FCSOUrcesolgcr the world to utilize the many A total ann State had to offer. . ate de r 0 125 baccalaureate and 31 assocn- leges ngtEFS Were offered through 12 col- tigc 0f 0 1n the Penh State system. The pres- greatly lou:hdcademic' programs contributed basis of C Universnyls reputation. On the the .lone-Lindzey report and other surveys and ratings, Penn State was ranked number one in the nation in the doctoral pro- gram in Physical Education. graduate pro- gram in Art Education and the undergrad- uate program in Architectual Engineering. Other programs ranked within the uTop loll by one survey or another were the undergrad- uate programs in Engineering Mechanics. Engineering Science, Nuclear Engineering and Environmental Engineering. If there is a conclusion to be drawn, it is that Penn State does harbor many pockets of excellence. The countless changes that took place in 1984 have only strengthened our University and enhanced its excellence. As a student body, we have become closer because we had to face these changes together. As individuals, we have become more aware of our uniqueness in the entire University com- Davc Ollclt munity. When we leave Penn State, we will take with us a greater sense of who we are, and leave behind the makings of what we may become. The Renaissance of Penn State was not merely a change-over of tangible entities- new calendars and new administrators. It meant more than the addition ofa new build- ing or the renovation of an old one. Most importantly it was a renewal of spirit which took place each day. When the streets are empty but for the street cleaners and even Old Main is silent, the town and campus drifts into restful sleep. When the sun rises over Mount Nittany each morning, Penn State wakes refreshed and renewed, and looks confidently into the future. -Kim Kubitsa eJudy Jansen Renaissance l5

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PROGRESS NEVER SLEEPS AS RESEARCH CONTINUES WELL INTO THE NIGHT 1 Bound In Excellence W -. 4' l. Slcvc Manuel Pcdro Lacomba FUNDED BY DONATIONS from 83 corporations and agencies. the new Interview Center is located on the ground Door of the McAllistcr Building. A STUDENT PREPARES mom for a long night of studying by settling into a comfortable position in the stacks of Pullcc. AS PART of an extensive research project. a graduate student experiments with lasers in the basement of Da- vey Laboramry. University Photographic Services 14 Renaissance

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RICH IN SENTIMENT, OLD MAIN REMAINS THE HEART OF THE UNIVERSITY Tom Jones he walks along the mall were quiet beneath the hovering plethora of Norwegian Elms. The sky was dark, almost velvet, illuminated only by the in- cessant street lights lining the intercampus drives. A student hurrying home from the library stood out against the darkness, his clothes and style a clue to the year in the Universityls seemingly timeless environ- ment. As the student approached the expan- sive colonade front of Old Main, he quick- cned his pace. The surrounding floodlights had transformed this limestone edifice into a glowing beacon, visible for miles around. But this imposing facade was deceptive. Beyond Old Mainls arched front doors are pictures and objects that tell the story of Penn State-its early struggles, its lead- ers, its history from the very beginning. Not only is it our administrative head- quarters, but it has been a historical land- mark since 1857, when construction first began. Comprised of 69 students, the first class arrived in bobsleds from Spruce Creek on February 16, 1859 and found the building to be sadly incomplete. All of these stu- dents and most of the professors resided in Old Main. There was only one entrance and at each floor, a heavy door about three inches thick was placed for the purpose of locking students in at night. The environment was cold and dismal; a superintendent was in charge and there was no president to welcome the adventur- ous youths who would be the first to gra- duate with a Bachelors and Masters of Scientific andiPractical Agriculture from the Farmers' High School, a pioneer agri- cultural college. Each student was required to complete three hours of work on the farm each day. Mandatory work hours did have their ad- vantages, though. The sum of $100 was DEPICTING THE SIGNING of the Morrill Land Grant Act. the frescoes in the lobby of Old Main were painted by Henry Varnum Poor between 1940- 49. 16 Old Main Feature fixed as the charge for tuition, boarding, washing, fuel and lights for one session which began in the middle of February and ended in the middle of December. One of Penn Statels greatest traditions is turning potentially dull situations into an extravaganza of student ingenuity by discovering original ways to have fun. In the early days of Old Main, students brought farm animals home with them as pranks. One mule, Old Coaly, was a fre- quent late night visitor to the building. Some have said that he had been up in Old Main so many times that he could antici- pate the creeks in the staircase. Old Coaly eventually succumbed to the students, pranks when he was painted with a zebra- like coat of green. Although fire did destroy parts of Old Main in 1892 and 1896, the building never burned down. It was reconstructed in 1930 due to general dilapidation from its con- stant use. Using the same floorplan and materials, Charles Klauder designed the linew Old Main. One of Penn Statels best known and beloved works of art is not found in the Timekeeper 0f Traditionl work is the Land Grant Frescoes done by probably the worlds greatest frescoe lg painter, Henry Varnum Poor 0888919701. .1 The frescoes occupy three of the four walls . , in the lobby of Old Main. ,1 Paid for by the students and alumni, the 1 frescoes depict the history of the Morrill ; .1 Land Grant Act of 1862. Signed by Abra-l ham Lincoln, the act allowed each state to establish a college dedicated to giving an 1- education to the sons and daughters of the MI; common man. Many of the characters de- picted on the north wall are actual stu- dents who attended the college. Poor was; Musuem of Art, but in Old Main. The! ; i might observe the painting in progress. Old Main truly has a history as rich as .. the students who have walked down the 1,1 malls of Penn State. In the years ahead, it T will continue to represent the rebirth and: survival of generations in the Penn State tradition. t -Kim Kubitsa'; -Judy Jansen Steve Mnnuc