The lounges are set up similarly to supplemental housing. Usually 15 or 20 students choose to stay in the lounges, but sometimes as many as 30 students stay there, he said.
Penn State University and State College police said the most important security measure students should take before leaving is to lock dorm room and apartment doors.
They also recommended taking small valuables.
Ellen Aschenbrenner, a University Police patrol officer, said students could also consider storing bicycles in their door rooms.
Aschenbrenner said all empty residence halls would be locked down for the break. She said the housing staff would be checking for maintenance problems during the break, and would notify the police of any criminal incidents.
"It's been a couple of years since we've seen any kind of significant theft in the residence halls," she said.
State College police Sgt. Keith Robb said police would be checking most major apartments over break, but it is still important to secure apartments because police can not be everywhere at once.
Robb recommended taking "anything you can carry with you" and copying down the serial numbers listed on items. He said video game systems and laptops were some of the items most frequently stolen.
"We're not dealing with sophisticated burglaries here," he said. "They're just crimes of opportunity."
Greyhound is offering express buses today and tomorrow to New York, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and King of Prussia. An express bus will leave for New York City today at 4:30 p.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. Express buses for Pittsburgh will leave at 1:15 and 5 p.m. today. No express buses are scheduled to leave for Pittsburgh on Saturday. Express buses will leave for Philadelphia and King of Prussia at 6:45 a.m., 1:30, 3:45 and 5:45 p.m. today and 6:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. tomorrow.
Tickets are still available for students to purchase, but they're being sold quickly, Ben Budd, a Greyhound ticket agent, said.
"Tickets are going really fast," he said. "I don't know how much longer they'll last."
Tickets cost $46 for a trip to New York, $24.50 to Pittsburgh, $29.50 to King of Prussia and $36 to Philadelphia.
"We recommend all students buy tickets at least two to three days ahead of time," Budd said.
In the past, crowds have been very large and students are recommended to arrive at the bus station at least 20 minutes before the scheduled leaving time, he said.
"It's our busiest time of year," he said.
Express buses after spring break are only offered on Sunday, March 18. An express bus will leave New York at 4 p.m., Pittsburgh at 5:30 p.m. and Philadelphia and King of Prussia at 6 p.m.
Travelers are allowed two bags, each less than 50 pounds, for stowing under the bus, and two smaller bags for carry-on luggage.
