What takes place in a cramped basement with no seats, filthy floors, a wretched smell and a whole lot of strange cats jammin' to some obnoxiously loud music? No, it's not a frat party — not enough scantily dressed women.

Need another hint? Well, they don't offer refreshments, the company is rather odd and you must get by on the bare minimum. Nope, it's not Survivor II either.

I think you should give up, because there are probably about 100 people on the entire campus who have even heard of downtown's newest late night option — The Co-Op., 319 E. Calder Way.

This new musical venue is brought to us by and for the thriving punk culture here in State College. According to a press release from The Co-Op, the local punk scene is about positive change. They "hope to show the local community that punk is something to support, not turn-away."

The Co-Op is definitely something that could use some support. The place is obviously just in the beginning stages and has a long way to go.

The first thing The Co-Op needs to work on is explaining where exactly it's located. They're still working on providing a sign for the public to see; right now the only signifying mark is the 319 on the window. But for future reference, it's underneath the rear entrance of Metro, 324 E. College Ave.

Next is heat. The guys running the operation had three space heaters sitting in this approximately 30-foot by 60-foot basement. If any of these heaters were turned on, it would be news to me. Seating could also be improved, or just included for that matter. And the stage, well, let's just say if there wasn't a giant pile of equipment stuffed in the corner, the crowd probably wouldn't know which way to face.

Although The Co-Op's set-up is a bit dreary, it doesn't really matter. The only thing that does for those in attendance is the presence of the punk culture.

Paul Gero (sophomore-operations and information systems management), a self-proclaimed straight-edged punk, said, "I like the joint. It's a place where people who got a lot in common can come and be themselves."

"A lot of us can't find a place to jam-out to some punk, other than our own rooms. Right now the place looks like crap, but with some support it could really be a force around town," Gero said.

The place does indeed look like crap, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The local punk culture along with the local bands involved are sure to benefit from this venture. And although it sounds like I'm bashing the place, keep in mind that I'm not particularly fond of punk. So, the reference to obnoxiously loud music has nothing to do with the bands that play The Co-Op, but rather with the fact that the genre is not exactly my preference.

Another thing to remember is that The Co-Op is set up to help support local bands. The space, owned by Jump Start Records, also provides local bands with practice room and a chance to play with larger touring bands.

Jeremy Myers, coordinator of The Co-Op, said, the place got its name from the cooperative efforts of the local bands to get the venue started. The bands that practice there pay for the rent, therefore allowing Myers to pay the more popular bands. So far Myers is pleased with the two shows The Co-Op has had. The first show back in December had a turnout of about 110 people, and last Monday the show attracted about 65.