If you're like me, you like to go out and do things every once in a while (okay, so more often than not) -- just so long as you know what you're getting into.
We all have to pay our tuition and that pesky little activity fee on top of that, so we might as well go out there and try to attend as many university-sponsored events as we can, just so we are sure to get our money's worth.
Perhaps you enjoy watching sports and just want to know the schedule of your favorite Penn State sports team.
I'm also sure that a significant number of you out there just want to get
off campus and do other things (defined as things other than the illegal copious intake of ethanol-based liquids).
I for one have always wondered where I could find all this information about what's going on at Penn State all in one convenient place (or even if this one place existed), and what I have found is that there simply isn't one place anywhere that lists everything. Several Web sites scattered around the Internet attempt to conglomerate as many different dates and activities as possible into one place, but you're going to need a collection of links if you want to get it all.
It's a Friday night, you're bored, and you want to see a free movie (defined as one not downloaded from the Internet). What do you do? You could make the trek to the HUB-Robeson Center to see what's playing at Late Night Penn State, but that would require effort. And after an entire week of studying hard and taking test after test (midterms anyone?), putting forth effort is not necessarily the option you're thinking about right now. So what do you do? Do I sense the words "Web" and "site" popping into your brains? I thought so. Head on over to www.LateNight.psu.edu to find out what movie is playing (and what else is going on, too). You can even sign up for its mailing list and receive weekly updates through your e-mail if you'd like.
OK, now it's Saturday afternoon, you're well-rested and wondering what sports are competing that evening. Go to www.GoPSUsports.com to find out. You can view schedules by date and by sport, and the site provides information for purchasing tickets.
But sporting events only last until about 9 or 10 p.m., and you know that there's plenty of time after that to hang out and do stuff. Well -- what do you (legally) do? Go to www.psu.DailyJolt.com to find a rather complete listing of events happening on and off campus. Recent Penn State news also is featured on this site along with links to important university services. If you happen to stumble across this site at breakfast, lunch or dinnertime, you'll be pleased to find an updated menu as well.
What about concerts? Maybe you're thinking into the future. We all probably know that Britney Spears had a concert this past week at The Bryce Jordan Center. Who else is appearing next? Maybe you'd be interested in taking your significant other to a nice evening with the Boston Pops Orchestra on Dec 4. Maybe you'd be in the mood for Kenny Rogers or possibly Fuel (appearing with Sevendust)? The Web site www.BJC.psu.edu has an up-to-date listing of concerts and sporting events for the near future.
Maybe you are just looking to join a few clubs here at Penn State and would like to know when they're meeting next. Well, first off, you should look on page three of The Daily Collegian every day under the meetings and events section. Don't forget that each Friday, The Daily Collegian's Venues insert is also published to clue you in to what events are taking place in the following week.
But if you're still looking for more information, surf on over to www.clubs.psu.edu. From here you can click to visit any Penn State organization with a Web site, and take it from me, many of them do -- including greek life and interest housing. For instance, say if you were interested in the Linux operating system and interested in meeting other people with the same interest -- you could visit www.lug.psu.edu to find out more information about the group and its meeting dates and times.
Finally, if you feel that there's a Web site out there that does a good job of compiling all this information together, let The Daily Collegian know. Write a letter to the editor and let your voices be heard.
Maybe (unlikely hypothetical situation alert) I've even just inspired someone (or a group of people) to go and construct a Web site with all this information. One thing is for certain -- it would almost certainly have to be a collective and collaborative effort. If you think something like this needs done, by all means get out there and get to it.
