The Penn State faculty bowling league was once an extremely intense and competitive league.

But that description, as well as that league, now reside in the past.

This year's version is more of a fun-loving, casual league.

"It's more of a fun league now," said league secretary Warren Coleman.

The bowling league, held at the South Lanes adjacent to Rec Hall, meets at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. It runs for a 10-week period during the school year.

Coleman, a Penn State bowling instructor for the last 25 years, said that the league used to be comprised of predominantly male faculty and staff.

That is no longer the case, however, as the current league is "a mixture of all kinds of leagues," Coleman said. He cited the presence of friends and family of faculty members, in addition to a sharp increase in the amount of women, as major changes in the league.

Coleman said the lack of adequate parking was a prevailing factor in the change of the league. He said that the parking "made it somewhat unbearable for some people."

But Doug Holmes, manager of the University Parking Office, said that there are "hundreds of spots." He added that any spots between Atherton Street and Shortlidge Road are reserved until 9 p.m. for students and faculty.

Holmes said that most problems arise because "either the faculty and students didn't read what they were sent or didn't read the press," which he said explicitly detailed where they were permitted and prohibited to park.

Jim Starling, associate dean for the administration of agricultural science, is one of the few holdovers from the previous league. Starling was a member of the two previous championship teams, the A&P (Agronomy and Pathology) team. Starling, one of the better bowlers in the league with a 157 average, has been bowling for over 30 years.

Starling's teammates Marv Risius and Leon Johnson also add many years of experience and talent to the league.

Risius, a professor of plant breeding in the agronomy department, has been a member of the league since 1966. He described bowling as "fun" and added that "you can't take it seriously."

Risius converted the extremely difficult 7-10 split two weeks ago.

Johnson is a retired professor of soil science, also in the agronomy department. He started bowling in the 1960s and has been going on and off since.

"Bowling is a good exercise," said Johnson, "and it's something to do."

Johnson added that "there was a lot more interest in bowling back then."

Don Watkins agreed with Johnson. The retired physical education teacher, who carries a 180 average, said that bowling was more popular in the 1950s.

Watkins bowled in the North Lanes, which were situated under Rec Hall, when the league started. The league used to be sanctioned, said Watkins.

"You had to pay dues to belong and you got a ring and recognition for a 300 game," Watkins said.

Kimberly Hahn (senior-biology) is one of the beneficiaries of the new bowling league. She was asked by a friend to bowl and "really enjoys it." She hadn't bowled seriously until taking a bowling course last year.

Tom Rinker, a junior who has worked at the bowling lanes for over four years, has also benefitted. Rinker, who had a 200 average at the outset of the semester, usually just fills in on teams when he is needed.

Secretary Warren Coleman's interests aren't restricted just to bowling. He also DJs from time to time. Coleman, who started as the "Witch Doctor" in the mid-1970s playing soul music for WQWK-FM, still DJs occasionally. He is now known simply as "The Doctor" and is hired once every couple of months to put on his show for such establishments as Days Inn.