Students were offered more than the usual selection of food while dining in Waring Commons yesterday, as organic foods were available during lunch and dinner.

As a project for a political science class, students stationed themselves inside the dining hall to inform and test students' knowledge about organic foods.

"We are promoting awareness about organic foods," Jon Ajello (junior-telecommunications) said. He and four other classmates were positioned at a table within Waring Commons to present the project.

The class, Political Science 135 (The Politics of the Ecological Crisis), aims for students to examine the current state of the environment and the politics behind improving it.

Molly Pace (senior-geography) said the project was designed to see how students feel about organic foods being offered in the dining commons.

"It went really well; students were really receptive and seemed to enjoy organic foods," she said.

The group asked students to partake in several activities dealing with the foods.

A table was set up with organic and non-organic cookies and sliced organic and non- organic apples and students were invited to see if they could tell the difference between the two. Students were then asked to fill out a survey. The survey asked students if they prefer a healthy lifestyle, if they are interested in having organic foods offered in the commons, and if students are willing to pay more for organic foods.

Two participants, Lori Lees (sophomore-nursing) and Andrew Selby (freshman-mechanical engineering) simply stopped by the table just to see what was going on. Both preferred the organic chocolate cookies.

"We want Penn State students to have healthier lives," Chris Radich (freshman-business) said. He said that although this is all set up for a class project, the group would like to gather their results, present it to the Office of Housing and Food Services, and perhaps enact change on campus.

"You can take the project as far as you want," he said.

Lisa Wandel, associate director of food services, said there has not been an interest in an organic food option before, but added if students show an interest, food services will look into the option.

"Students would need to be willing to pay more, because organic food is more expensive," Wandel said. She said that organic foods may be able to be offered in places such as R.C. Proffits.

In addition to the food test and surveys, students were given fliers with facts highlighting the benefits of organically produced foods.