A letter criticizing Penn State's academic environment that appeared in Friday's Collegian highlights the need to remind students of the educational opportunities afforded by this university.

Childress' letter, "Football should be least of students' concerns," implied that the growing course enrollment and increasing responsibility placed on teaching assistants at Penn State is leading to a decline in academic excellence.

I would like to remind Childress and anyone who shares such a pessimistic view of Penn State academics that college is an entire educational experience.

Look around, and you will notice that at University Park you are surrounded by thousands of intellects representing a diverse array of scholastic perspectives.

If you find that you're not being adequately stimulated in class, take the opportunity outside of class to speak with these academics.

Stop by the office of assistant professor James Pawelczyk and ask about his trip to space.

Perhaps you should email Zachary Battles (Class of 2001), who despite physical handicap managed to graduate with three degrees and a Rhodes scholarship.

Ask if he thinks Penn State offers a good educational experience.

After all that, if you're not fully convinced that a university of this size can offer a quality education, I would encourage you to transfer.

Then, I'll pull my car into your empty parking space, prop my feet up on your empty seat in class, and ponder the wonderful educational opportunities that only a university of this magnitude could offer.