Though I appreciate the human-interest side of Collegian journalism, I have to take exception to the sort of nostalgic "those were the days" sentiments offered up by Brent Burkey ("Tuition Buys More Than Just Classes and Credit," Jan 28). Burkey asserts that tuition provides "four years of the college experience," which amounts to shutting down The Rathskeller and sleeping through 8 a.m. classes. Because, after all, "classes are overrated."

Wishing that you had skipped more classes during freshman year may be easy when one's major has no GPA restriction.

But for many at Penn State, blowing off freshman year has the unfortunate consequence of causing denial of admission into one's desired major. I don't know about you, but that might have put a serious cramp in my "college experience."

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy college antics as much as the next guy; I've closed down The Phyrst on more nights than I care to recall.

But, as far as I can tell, the only thing that differentiates a Penn State student from a State College resident is that one of them presumably engages in higher education.

There is definitely a happy medium to be obtained between work and play.

But, if your collegiate career culminates in skipping classes and discussing the meaning of life rather than receiving a diploma, then you have to ask yourself: Was tuition really worth it?