The Pennsylvania State University. . .the place where we learn and live. . .go to class and go out. . .the place where we are free to expand our horizons and yet still call home. . .the place where we meet our friends at the HUB for a quick word between classes. . .where we cheer on our sports teams with overwhelming pride. . .where we study until damn. . .where we share ideas and grow as individuals.

Each student of this University is an integral link in the long train of tradition we call Penn State. Believe it or not, we are not much different than Penn staters from 10, 50, even 100 years ago. We all dedicated valuable years of our lives to an institution where we received an education in school and in life. College Avenue, the Allen Street mall, Mt. Nittany, Beaver Stadium, the Creamery, The Diner, Pattee Library, the HUB, the Willard Preacher. . .some landmarks have changed or expanded, but one remains the center of life at Penn State. . .Old Main.

Old Main was built in 1863 with limestone quarried by students from the gates near the Corner Room. Old Main was the entire college, containing classrooms, labs, a musuem, a kitchen, and housing. Old Main was a place where students, unlike some of today's pranks, would sneak pigs, cows and mules into classrooms up to the belltower.

Today Old Main still stands as the central focus on campus, housing University administrators. You are invited to visit Old Main and learn more about Penn State history and tradition as the Penn State Alumni Association, the Office of University Development and the Lion Ambassadors host OLD MAIN OPEN HOUSE tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors will have the rare opportunity to view campus from the belltower, view slides about Penn State history, see the famous land grant fresco paintings and learn about the different offices and their functions.

I would encourage all of you to share in this Penn State tradition and visit Old Main. As Penn Staters we should be very proud of our long history. And Old Main has a big role in this history.