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As a new of era of change begins for Penn State, the many complicated and unsatisfying details of the Freeh report have unfolded and shocked students, faculty, and alumni alike. We hear outbursts of disgust from the media and the public, often directed at the wrong people, to pinpoint blame on the university as a whole and thus also on the student body for crimes committed by others. We know we are not responsible for the actions of a select few, but it is often very hard to communicate such distinctions to a person who only finds updates via social media or breaking news reports. In the few conversations I have had with people about the trial verdict and recent dismissals, the name Paterno rolls off everyone's tongue in a disappointing tone that renders it as though he committed the acts himself. It becomes obvious through the opinions of both Penn Staters and non-Penn Staters that the Paterno legacy today is different than it was just a short year ago. The connotations associated with his name are unsettling and undefined; some believe the name still stands for the value of hard work and ethical leadership while others believe that it stands for unchecked authority and moral failings. Places like Nike's Joe Paterno Child Development Center and Paternoville have already taken action in removing the name from their titles as a result. The statue has been taken down, the NCAA has imposed heavy sanctions on the Penn State football program, yet the University Library continues to bear the Paterno name. However, these changes are not of particular interest to me. What I am concerned with is the Paterno Fellows Program.

As a senior entering my final semester at Penn State, my concern is, understandably, I hope, self-interested. My worries center around my own future, and I question myself if the incidents of the past nine months will impact my ability to obtain interviews and ultimately a full-time position after I graduate. Up until the past few weeks, I have had the title "Paterno Fellow" on my resume right under The Pennsylvania State University, B.A. English and French, Schreyer Honors College, three elements of my student character that I say with pride. I hadn't realized until very recently that my association with the Paterno Fellows program could become something of an issue as I apply for full-time jobs this fall. Just the other day my mother texted me, "You should take Paterno Fellow off your [email] signature for a bit....Many will question it." As disturbed as I was by this comment, I believe it was sound advice. For now.

In removing Paterno Fellows from my resume and email signature, I felt torn between two feelings - fear and pride. I feared what potential employers might think when they see the "Paterno Fellow" line on my resume, but I am enormously proud of what I've accomplished through the program. One such achievement includes the research position I held this summer for a non-profit organization in New Canaan, Connecticut, called Voices of September 11th. I applied by writing a simple email inquiry with my resume attached back in December of 2011, asking if any internship positions were available for summer 2012. There was no cover letter or writing sample attached with it. This inquiry led to a phone interview with my current boss, Frank, in which we briefly discussed my involvement within several organizations on campus and previous job experience. His final question involved Paterno Fellows. "I see you are a Paterno Fellow here. That looks impressive. Mind telling me what that's all about?" Fifteen minutes later I was hired.

As Fellows, we know the quality of the program for which we have worked so hard throughout our college careers. For some students, myself included, gaining access to the Schreyer Honors College first became a real possibility because of the Paterno Fellows Program. In becoming a Scholar, I have set out to do exactly what the Paterno Fellows program encourages: to enrich my Penn State experience by integrating my classroom education with advanced external opportunities. My upper level honors courses in English and French have deepened my relationships with faculty in my departments. Studying abroad and declaring a second major - choices I made in order to become a Fellow - have influenced my education and character in ways I would never have imagined. I have received priority scheduling every semester since my acceptance so that I can register for classes that further my personal and professional goals. Even beyond the $4,500 I have received to date through the program to relieve out-of-pocket expenses for traveling and internships, my educational experience as a Fellow has made all the difference in my college career.

My apprehension about the title of the program is, again, fundamentally selfish. In any other context, most non-Penn Staters right now see the name Paterno and do not think of the values of discipline, hard work, ethical leadership and academic excellence for which the program was created. Will they do the same when I advertise to potential employers that I am a part of an academic program named after Joe Paterno?

I am also concerned about incoming classes and the freshmen and sophomores who are currently aspiring to be Fellows. Just the other day I had a friend question whether she should continue aspiring and whether or not it "was all worth it." I hope that she continues to pursue the Paterno Fellows program, because regardless of the title, the program sets Liberal Arts students up for success. It motivates us to do more and to want to do more during our time here. It makes us realize that the power of education can be multifaceted, and that enrichment of all kinds is most certainly accessible right here on campus. I only hope that the rest of the world gives students in the Paterno Liberal Arts Undergraduate Fellows Program a chance to explain that rather than flipping to the next resume as soon as they read the name Paterno.

For now, "Paterno Fellow" stays off my resume. I have made this choice because the current situation is so uncertain. The turmoil is ever-changing, unfortunately. I cannot predict what will happen this semester or by the end of this year, and I do not believe that I need to make a personal sacrifice and risk missing an opportunity because an opinionated recruiter reads that name and dismisses my education and my association with Penn State. I have acknowledged that unfortunately, those people do exist, and I will do my best to educate them and defend the education I received at Penn State. I can defend the Fellows program created for Liberal Arts students, but as wonderful as the program is, I cannot defend its current name.

Paterno Fellow Kate Thompson joins us for episode 37 of our bi-weekly podcast Liberal Arts Voices.  In this episode, Kate talks about her study abroad experience last fall in Kenya and Tanzania. 

Kate discusses how this School Field Studies program in East Africa resounded with her academic interests in Biological Anthropology and Community Development.  The program focused on wildlife management and environmental policy.  Kate talks about her experience researching the impact of wildlife conservation on local African communities. Specifically, the research focused on how the alleviation of economic stress by the promotion of anti-poverty and social health programs might help to make conservation issues become realistic options for these communities. 

Kate also shares her experiences learning Swahili, performing field research in a variety of locations, participating in homestays, and blogging for Penn State's GeoBlog (if you are interested in reading more about Kate's experiences abroad, check out her blog). Kate explains how she feels fortunate to have been able to study abroad early in her College career because the experience gave her more direction regarding her academic pursuits.   

Lastly, Kate talks about her experience as a Paterno Fellow in the College of the Liberal Arts and how the program's enrichment funding enabled her to participate in this study abroad program.  More details about the Paterno Liberal Arts Undergraduate Fellows Program can be found online.

Liberal Arts Voices: Episode 37 " Kate Thompson's Study Abroad and Paterno Fellows Program Experience "

To subscribe to Liberal Arts Voices through iTunes, click here.

We encourage all of our listeners to write to us with comments, questions, or suggestions at laus@la.psu.edu. We may even respond to these comments on the next episode of Liberal Arts Voices.

In episode 33 of the bi-weekly Liberal Arts Voices podcast, Kaitlyn Randol discusses her experience as an undergraduate student in the Paterno Fellows Program. 

Kaitlyn did not apply to the Schreyer Honors College in her initial application to Penn State. However, she talks about how the Paterno Fellows Program provided an excellent opportunity for her to perform her way into the Schreyer Honors College.  Kaitlyn explains some of the academic requirements involved in this program, as well as how it allows students to distinguish themselves in areas traditionally associated with the liberal arts: ethics, service, and leadership; excellence in communication; and international and intercultural awareness.

One of the requirements of the program is to complete a study abroad or internship experience.  Kaitlyn spends some time discussing her transformative year-long study abroad experience at the University of Oxford.  She talks about how she had to adjust to the different education model at Oxford, which is structured around a tutorial system where students meet with a faculty member (or tutor) throughout the semester instead attending traditional classes. Kaitlyn talks about how this writing and research intensive system prepared her for her senior research capstone project at Penn State.  Kaitlyn explains how her thesis, focusing on "Just War Theory" in modern theology, allows her to combine her majors in Religious Studies and Political Science, as well as her minor in Philosophy.

Liberal Arts Voices: Episode 33 "The Paterno Fellows Program Experience: Kaitlyn Randol"

To subscribe to Liberal Arts Voices through iTunes, click here.

We encourage all of our listeners to write to us with comments, questions, or suggestions at laus@la.psu.edu. We may even respond to these comments on the next episode of Liberal Arts Voices.

For the past six weeks, friends and family have asked me how my internship has been going, what's it like to work for Parliament? I admit, I have continuously given vague, generic answers: 'It's going well, I like it a lot.' I assume they're still waiting for a real answer, and now that this is my final week in Parliament (where has the time gone?), I think I'll try to answer what this internship has really been like for me.
 
First and foremost it must be said that working for Parliament has an aura of importance that never really faded for me. From the tourists snapping pictures of Big Ben and queuing up to visit where I work, to the possibility of running into a quasi-famous politician, I loved coming to Westminster for work.
 
But those are exterior impressions, things that anyone would notice. The impression that will really stick with me is being on the inside, being in the office able to see what is actually done on a day to day basis. To start, Gordon's Westminster office has a staff of two: myself and a full time researcher, Sam. He arranges Gordon's diary, writes letters and press releases, researches and briefs current events and legislation. I have been Sam's shadow, doing whatever he needs me to do--which could be anything. Some days I'm simply typing letters that Gordon scribbles onto yellow sheets of Parliament paper in just barely legible script. There are also the stereotypical intern days when I'm doing the office busy work of photocopying, mail sorting, and typing letters. Other days I am reading through reports, collecting statistics, and reporting back to Sam if the article was interesting or worth passing on to Gordon. Still other times I am looking up names or statistics or dates of events as quickly as I can while Sam puts together power point presentations for Gordon's next meeting or debate. I've searched the Internet countless times for the contact info of someone Gordon wants to speak with. To date, the most challenging person to find personal contact information for has been a writer on German savings banks. Any information on a Stephen Clarke would be greatly appreciated.
 
While these skills are useful--I have certainly become much better at finding credible information on the Internet as quickly as possible--the most rewarding aspect of working for Gordon has been seeing Gordon work for his constituency.

Gordon is a shadow minister for the Business, Innovation, and Skills Committee (BIS), so his issues center on skills education, apprenticeships, and regional growth. (Side note: In British politics, the opposition party forms a shadow cabinet which essentially debates issues with the official cabinet and plays a watchdog role to government legislation. If the Labour party were to come into power, their shadow cabinet would step in as the official cabinet.) Focusing on job creation is essential to his position as the MP for Blackpool. In the 1950s, Blackpool was a thriving seaside resort town but has seen tourism plummet as more of the English vacation in Europe. Blackpool isn't a ghost town, but the economy was severely hit. Therefore, being instrumental in creating more job opportunities, for the youth and the older populations, is in large part why Gordon was elected. I can say from experience that Gordon focuses his energy on policy that will increase apprenticeship opportunities, re-education and re-skilling, and regional economic growth. Coming to work for Gordon, I didn't have a particular interest in skills development (not such as sexy issue), but after spending six weeks reading reports and reviewing statistics I understand why skills are essential for a healthy economy. Vocational training allows for someone to make a decent wage without attending college. It keeps a strong middle class.
 
Apart from pushing for legislation that will help all of Blackpool, I have seen Gordon take on causes for individual constituents. He's written a letter for a man attempting to carry the Olympic torch in 2012. He's written to cabinet members on behalf of constituents having problems with everything from visa issues to business grant issues. If a letter comes to Westminster from his constituency, I know he will read it and do something. I like knowing elected officials (at least some) want to represent those who elected them to office.

I've heard we must accept that politicians will be corrupt, will philander, and I am sure some do. However, working for Gordon and with Sam has reaffirmed my belief that government is capable of working for the common good and not in constant self-interest.

Growing up watching the Nittany Lions, Liberal Arts sophomore Kate Burlingame often dreamed of one day becoming a Penn State alumna. Penn State's location - Kate grew up in central Pennsylvania - and its strength in the humanities, her main area of interest, made the university a perfect fit for her. It was the Paterno Liberal Arts Undergraduate Fellows program, however, that Kate credits with inspiring her to reach her full potential.

The Fellows Program challenges interested Liberal Arts students to maintain a high grade point average, take numerous honors courses and ethics coursework, participate in relevant extracurricular activities, and develop their leadership and communication skills. Kate liked how the program was focused specifically on the liberal arts; she also liked knowing that meeting the goals of the program would be a challenge--but one fully within her grasp. "During my freshman year," Kate says, "the program pushed me to take more honors classes and made me really focus on the quality of my work." Her hard work paid off: at the end of her freshman year, Kate officially became a Paterno Fellow, concurrently gaining entrance to the Schreyer Honors College.

Kate chose one of her two majors, history, based on her positive experience in her high school history classes. "I've always loved ancient warfare and reading about the formation of powerful empires," Kate explains. She added Classics and Mediterranean Studies as her second major after taking a few CAMS classes, including an inspirational honors course called Lands of the Bible. With only fifteen students in this course, Kate found it easy to participate and to get the most out of the questions posed by her professor. "I'm so glad I took the honors classes that the [PFP] program requires," Kate said. "I've never felt so enlightened in my life."

Arriving at Penn State with the notion that the size of the university might keep her from finding a niche socially, Kate happily discovered that she was mistaken. She joined an intramural soccer team and auditioned for the university's jazz band, earning a spot as the piano player. Her recent volunteer experience, which she will likely continue next year, includes playing music for senior citizens at a local nursing home. "It's a great experience because the senior citizens really get into the music," Kate notes. "They are very appreciative of our taking the time to visit and share our music with them."

Funding provided by the Paterno Fellows Program will help Kate fulfill her dream of studying abroad in Greece, an ideal location for someone with her academic interests. This experience will dovetail well with Kate's long-term goals, which include graduate study in history or a related field. "I would love to oversee archeological digs, work in a prominent museum, and eventually teach at a major university like Penn State," she says. In the interim, she hopes to focus on her coursework, start thinking about her thesis and other Fellows program requirements, and of course, simply enjoy being a student. "I'm not planning my life out just yet," Kate says. "For now, I'm going to soak up as much knowledge as I can and enjoy the rest of my time at Penn State!"

At 25, August Dombrow is a bit older than the average Penn State freshman. He does not see his age as prohibitive, however: "The diversity of backgrounds here, including my own, represents a great opportunity for the students to learn - not only from professors, but from each other as well," August notes. An aspirant in the Paterno Fellows Program, August has chosen to focus his own learning in the College of the Liberal Arts.

August chose Penn State for its many opportunities, knowing that a large school would provide him with access to prospects and resources not available at smaller schools. Entering the university with philosophy as his declared major interest, August added political science as a second major after taking a seminar in politics and film. "I'm interested in what motivates people and how that translates into real world consequences," August explained. "The Politics in Film class was an excellent example of how social and political ideas can manifest themselves in the most subtle (and in some cases, not-so-subtle) ways."

Initially hesitant about taking the Paterno Fellows Challenge, August only registered for one honors course his first semester. However, after having a rewarding experience in this course--Honors Rhetoric and Composition--the prospect of the program became more attractive to him. If he continues to meet the program's requirements, he will receive funding that will allow him to participate in an unpaid internship or study abroad in Cairo, Egypt. As August is supporting himself through college, funding provided by the Fellows Program will go a long way in helping him afford these meaningful co-curricular experiences.

One of August's impressive first-year accomplishments was becoming a member of the inaugural class of the Presidential Leadership Academy, a selective program led by Penn State President Graham Spanier and aimed at developing students' leadership skills. The program involves taking a seminar taught by President Spanier and participating in various field experiences planned by the Academy. August sees the program as "a great compromise between academia and application," and appreciates its emphasis on critical thinking. In addition to participating in the Academy, next year August will also serve on the executive board of the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council and work as a peer tutor at the Center for Writing Excellence.

August hopes to incorporate his academic interests in government and international affairs, and his undergraduate experiences more broadly, into his future career. Law school is a possibility, as is working for the government. "I think work with the State Department or something similar might prove both personally and professionally satisfying," he notes. Whatever path August chooses, the skills he develops and the knowledge he gains through the Paterno Fellows Program are bound to help him reach his goals.

When applying to colleges, Autumn Griffin was initially unsure that Penn State was the best fit for her. Her interest skyrocketed, however, when she attended Achievers' Weekend--three days of programming intended to recruit already-accepted minority students to the university. Here, she spoke with the Liberal Arts multicultural equity programs coordinator Earl Merritt, and learned about the various academic opportunities available to her through the College of the Liberal Arts. As she accepted her offer to attend the university so late, she did not have the time to apply to the Schreyer Honors College. Luckily, the Paterno Fellows Program is giving her a second path to a Penn State honors education.

An English and African and African American Studies (AAAS) major, Autumn loved to read and write from a young age. Her mother's interests in black history and art, as well as her Paterno Fellows adviser's encouragement that a double major was within her reach, inspired her to add AAAS as a second major. Some of Autumn's favorite courses her freshman year were the honors courses she took to fulfill PFP requirements, including an African American poetry course. "I just had the mindset that professors expected more out of me in honors classes, so I worked harder in them," Autumn said. "As a result, I ended up doing really well."

During spring semester of her freshman year, Autumn volunteered with a group of Fellows aspirants as part of Penn State's Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. In addition to introducing her to other Paterno Fellows aspirants in her cohort, the project inspired her to increase her commitment to community service. Next year, she will serve as the co-chair of a Day of Service committee, reaching out to local nonprofits that need volunteers and assigning student groups to these projects. Autumn's involvement in the Penn State community doesn't end here, meanwhile; she serves as the Features Editor for a multicultural campus newspaper called The Drum and gives tours to prospective students and families as part of the Student Minority Advisory Recruitment Team.

Autumn's goals for this year include gaining entrance to the McNair Scholars Program, a program that gives talented Penn State students the opportunity to research with professors in their fields at other Big Ten schools. This opportunity would give her a head start on another Fellows Program requirement--her capstone research paper. Autumn is also looking forward to studying abroad in South Africa her junior year, and to receiving the education abroad grant she is guaranteed when she officially becomes a Paterno Fellow. "It will be one less thing my parents and I will need to stress over," she says.

Eventually, Autumn plans to pursue a master's degree in education; one of her long-term goals is working to increase the number of economically disadvantaged students who attend college. For now, she looks forward to taking more humanities courses and, through the Paterno Fellows program, cultivating her Liberal Arts identity more generally. "I was inspired by a high school teacher with a Liberal Arts background who had such a broad knowledge base," Autumn says. "I knew that she was the kind of person I wanted to become."