"The Nittany Lion" resounded from the back half of the Bryce Jordan Center Saturday night, as the Nittany Lion ran up the center aisle, pulling an audience member to her feet to dance. He then ran to the stage and did 50 left arm push-ups as the crowd counted aloud.

Rubina Javeri, president of the Undergraduate Student Government, welcomed the nearly 5,000 members of the entering freshman class and the Nittany Lion to the President's Convocation. She then apologized to the group for the absence of the actual Penn State mascot at the event. The substitute Nittany Lion was University President Graham Spanier.

Javeri urged the members of the freshman class to establish themselves as scholars and members of the community and to find an activity and get involved.

State College Mayor Bill Welch also addressed the freshman class, welcoming the group to State College.

"I hear-by designate you all citizens of Happy Valley with all the privileges and rights to which this entitles you," he said.

Spanier took the stage again and gave the audience some facts about Penn State and their class: the 2002 entering freshman hail from 44 states and 42 countries, the University Creamery makes 2.5 million ice cream cones a year and college students change their bed sheets an average of four times during the first semester.

"Remember, that's a 15-week semester," Spanier said.

He then introduced five students, including two who had perfect SAT scores, an accomplished ballerina and two brothers who fled war in Sudan.

"Penn State is not like Survivor where you can vote someone off," he said. "We strive to create a place where everyone feels welcome and safe."

Spanier offered advice on how to succeed in college.

"Go to every class, even on Friday. Read the newspaper every day; they're free here," he said.

Some students found Spanier's speech engaging.

"His statistics were interesting and useful," Gözde Ülküer (freshman-communications) said.

Hanif Murad (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) thought Spanier's cautions on smoking and drinking would be a challenge for him.

"It will be hard because I come from a different culture," he said.

Christina Gonzalez (freshman-political science) enjoyed Spanier's opening act.

"I thought it was interesting how he didn't seem like the normal uptight president. With him being the lion, it got everyone into the spirit of what goes on at Penn State," she said.