About 12,000 mourners packed the Bryce Jordan Center for "A Memorial for Joe," but with a campus of more than 40,000 students, not all were able to watch or attend the memorial.
Citing a range of reasons, from having class to lacking cable television, many students missed the memorial to the late head football coach Joe Paterno.
While many students expressed positive sentiments towards the memorial service, two people in separate instances said they had no interest in going. Both cited their dislike of a "god-like" treatment of Paterno in life and in death.
Neither would disclose his or her identity.
Victoria Bonetto was among those who wanted to attend, but when she tried to get a ticket, she was too late. Tickets for the service sold out in seven minutes.
Not having cable prevented Bonetto (junior-history) from watching the event from home, but even though she was unable to be a part of the memorial, she attended the "Guide Joe Home" procession on Wednesday.
Kyriakos Sotos also wasn't able to get a ticket and instead watched part of the service in Reese's Café in the Information Sciences and Technology Building before going to class.
"I thought it was really nice to have players come out and speak, and Jay Paterno's piece at the end was very moving," Sotos (sophomore-information, sciences and technology) said.
Other students echoed the same reason for not attending the memorial.
Cassandra Loucks was unable to get tickets and tried to watch it but had to leave for class during the streaming.
"It was really emotional," Loucks (sophomore-biochemistry and molecular biology) "I liked how they stressed Joe wasn't just about football. He impacted so many people."
Katy Sharman couldn't watch the service because of work obligations.
Sharman (sophomore-early childhood education) said she wanted to go, but didn't know the process to get tickets.
While her job at Gary Schultz Child Care Center at Hort Woodsprevented her from watching the tribute to Paterno,
Sharman said she plans on watching the services online later.
Jason Ho said he didn't attend the memorial service, but he still felt an emotional connection with the former head football coach.
"I watched the highlights on TV but I didn't watch the entire memorial service," Ho (senior-hotel, restaurant, and institutional management) said. "[I didn't watch because] I feel like JoePa knows I love him."
