Penn State seniors have until Friday to decide how to leave their mark on the university.

This week, the Class of 2005 can vote online or in person to determine the Senior Class Gift. Seniors can choose from benches around campus, a commemorative piece on the terrace at the HUB-Robeson Center, and a gateway at the corner of Atherton Street and Curtin Road.

The committee organizing the class gift is hoping to get more than the 1,911 students who voted last year, said Bryan Wright, voting and special events chair.

"We'd like 2,500 to completely demolish last year's [vote count]," he said.

So far, Wright said the HUB terrace decoration is in the lead, though the gateway is not too far behind. The least popular gift choice is the benches.

Students will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day this week on the ground floor of the HUB to answer questions and help students fill out their ballots. Seniors can also vote at the committee's Web site, www.giveto.
psu.edu/SeniorClassGift.

Valerie Heruska (senior-English), who worked at the voting station in the HUB yesterday, said funding for the gift will come from the deposit all students paid when they first enrolled at Penn State. For most seniors, she said, the deposit was $100.

"It's not like you're actually giving money because it's already there," she said.

Students can elect to donate any portion of that deposit toward the gift, and the remainder of the money will be returned to them. Students who do not vote will have the deposit returned automatically.

Heruska said some students are confused because they had forgotten about the deposit, but she said most students are willing to donate once they understand it.

As for the leading choice, Wright said the university has already approved an expansion to the HUB terrace. "Our class gift would go toward decorating it," he said.

The gateway would be similar to the one at the corner of Pollock and Burrowes roads, Heruska said.

Lindsay Bailey (senior-communication sciences and disorders), who also worked the table at the HUB, said the committee was trying to entice voters with a number of giveaways, including candy.

"It's been steady the whole time," she said. "It's the Swedish fish. That's what everyone wants."

In addition to candy, Bailey said they were registering voters in a raffle to win a football signed by Joe Paterno or a $100 gift certificate.

The winning gift idea will be announced on Nov. 4.