Almost two months after the tragedy of Sept. 11, life for the Penn State community goes on.

The homecoming parade went off without a hitch.

More than 100,000 fans packed Beaver Stadium for a football game against Southern Mississippi.

And classes, meetings and lectures continue to take place as scheduled all across the University Park campus.

For all of this, the many students, faculty and administrators of the Penn State community deserve a collective pat on the back.

The definition of terrorism is just what the word implies -- an act intended to frighten and intimidate its victims. But despite plane crashes and anthrax scares, Penn State still functions, arguably as well as ever.

Admittedly, things have changed, for better or for worse. There are new rules, new limitations, new attitudes and new emotions.

But there is not a newfound sense of fear.

In light of what's happened it would be easy to run for cover. But instead, the community has shown its strength and tried to maintain a sense of normalcy.

To its credit, the Penn State community has reached out to many of its own who need help. Students who have gone abroad have the option of coming home early. Counseling is available for those with questions and concerns they need to discuss.

And respect is being shown in a variety of ways. Calls for solidarity are finding a response. Cries for help are being answered. And viewpoints are being expressed without fear of repercussion. There is dialogue on the lawn of Old Main, on the steps of Willard Building and on the opinion page of this newspaper.

A lot has changed since Sept. 11, but the strength of the community has not disappeared. Life goes on as sure as ever.

Two months later, we are showing each other and the world that we still are Penn State and that we are not afraid.