The apartments of Penn Tower, 255 E. Beaver Ave., Alexander Court and Cedarbrook, the 300 block of E. Beaver Ave., put students in the middle of the downtown social life and shopping, while just being one block away from campus.

These three apartment buildings, two standing at seven stories and Penn Tower towering at 12 stories, make up what has been dubbed "Beaver Canyon."

With the large number of apartments available in the three buildings, students are drawn to them for more freedom after enduring two semesters as freshmen in the on-campus residence halls.

Liz Wiggins (sophomore-secondary education) said she will be living in Penn Tower because its rent is cheaper compared to what she is paying at Beaver Hill on Garner Avenue.

"Compared to other apartments, it is closer to the frats and downtown," Wiggins said. The rooms, while somewhat smaller than other apartments, are still larger than those on campus.

A.W. and Sons, 309 E. Beaver Ave., has advertised "You've got to live downtown" to sell apartments located in the Downtown Group of apartments, which include Alexander Court and Cedarbrook. The Downtown Group's competition continues to grow with the building of newer apartment complexes around State College.

These three apartments draw more than students looking for housing close to their classes.

As uprisings over the past three years have demonstrated, Beaver Canyon is a hot spot for drinking, vandalism and riots.

While the location of the apartment was a factor in selecting Penn Tower, the social and party life associated with Beaver Canyon was not a turnoff for her, Wiggins said.

"The more parties, the better," she added.

Besides a close location, students desire rooms with access to a balcony facing Beaver Avenue.

In recent years, these balconies in Beaver Canyon have drawn criticism from the community for noise and the throwing of projectiles.

Discussions to limit both noise and projectiles have led to the numbering of balconies to enable law enforcement officials to have an easier time identifying balconies and tenants who are in violation.

In another case, a blackout resulted in students throwing various objects from the balconies of their apartments down into the streets below.

"It is a major route to downtown and to the fraternities," Cpl. R.F. Ososkie, of the State College Police Department, said.

"It has high foot and vehicle traffic," Ososkie added.

The fourth component to Beaver Canyon is Acme Pizza, 200 block of E. Beaver Ave.

Unlisted in the White and Yellow Pages and deserted during the day, pizza is made and sold during the late hours of night and early hours of morning. Hungry students converge to the line waiting for pizza.

In most cases, it is a peaceful gathering of customers waiting their turns in line. Other times are not so tranquil.

A fight occurred at about 1 a.m. last Friday in front of Acme Pizza. The fight broke out after a group of males, who were standing in line, exchanged words. Two men punched another male, who had to be taken to Centre Community Hospital for treatment, Ososkie said.

The intersection has also been the site of two of Penn States most recent riots.

Two riots have sprung up in Beaver Canyon during the time of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of Arts in 1998 and 2000.

The 1998 riot caused thousands of dollars in property damage, but was followed by a drunken mob last year that gathered in Beaver Canyon, chanting and taking down a lamp post before police in riot gear dispersed the students with pepper spray.

Police arrested 15 individuals in connection with the riot.