From conversation hours to opera trips to dinners, Circolo Italiano, the Penn State Italian Club, offers students a chance to experience Italian culture in central Pennsylvania.

Italian Club President Lauren Innella (senior-Italian) said the club offers a chance for people to meet others with similar interests and similar backgrounds, whether it be in cooking, music or opera. She said the club is hoping to expand its membership and emphasized the idea that it is open to everyone.

"You don't have to be Italian or speak Italian," said Carla Scardino (senior-operations and information systems management), the club's marketing director.

Scardino said the club will hold a bake sale later in the month to raise money for the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. She said the money raised will go toward purchasing items that will be raffled off to benefit THON.

The group plans to travel to Pittsburgh to see an opera in the spring, Innella said.

Lana Carbonara (junior-Italian), the club secretary, has been a member since she was a freshman. She said the club offers members a chance to improve their Italian and take part in related activities, including watching Italian films.

"It's just a fun club if you enjoy the culture, the food and the movies," Carbonara said.

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the club offers conversation hours. Scardino said students can attend to learn or practice Italian in an informal setting. Those interested can meet at 8 p.m. in front of the big screen television in the HUB-Robeson Center.

The club has been around for a few years, Scardino said, but is not well known on campus.

"Most people don't even know we have an Italian club," she said, adding that being part of the group is a good way to explore the culture.

Scardino, in her fourth year in the club, said the group has several events throughout the year, with the biggest being the opera trip and Italian dinners.

The dinner, known as "la cena," is held once a semester. Scardino said members get together to cook Italian meals, relax and watch soccer on television. She said one of her most memorable experiences in the club came at one of these dinners.

"We actually had a really good turnout," Scardino said. "We made just about every Italian dish you could imagine."

Scardino said there are no requirements for membership, and the level of involvement is up to each member. She said the club will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in 301 HUB-Robeson Center and anyone who would like to join can attend that meeting.