I was excited when I read about the possibility of a Christian college affiliated with Penn State ("Christian college wants affiliation with PSU," Feb. 8). Although Penn State is not a Christian college, it is undeniable that there are many who profess Jesus Christ on this campus. This is also evident by the numerous Christian groups among the organizations housed in the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center.

I agree that Penn State has many avenues for spiritual discovery in its current state. However, Rev. Paul Grabill is right in stating students do not have "an opportunity to have their faith issues dealt with in a way that draws on the voluminous evangelical Christian scholarship." It is a basic matter of knowing the audience, in this case, the students. There are many people who choose to go to Christian colleges or seminaries. There are also many students who attend secular universities (such as Penn State). However, there seems to be nothing in between the two. Penn State already offers many religious courses that teach about Biblical history and philosophy; however, the proposed Christian college would not serve the same purpose.

Finally, what is the mission of a secular, public university? I've searched to no avail. What I did find was the Penn State Principles, which express Penn State's dedication to "personal and academic excellence." I believe courses like those proposed would have been an integral part of my pursuit of "personal and academic excellence." After all, a well-rounded education is not just about "books."