March 2010 Archives

Paterno Fellows can now pick up their VIP tickets for the Toni Morrison lecture on the evening of April 7--the one that includes an introductory gathering featuring at least one Paterno.  Come to 119 Sparks to get your ticket.

April 7 should be a very special evening for Fellows. At 8 pm Nobel Prize winning author Toni Morrison will be speaking in Eisenhower Auditorium.  She is author of several amazing novels, including Beloved--a book which many regard as the greatest novel written by an American in the past fifty years. Perhaps you saw the recent front page story in the Collegian, touting Toni Morrison's appearance. I saw her myself about a dozen years ago, and her presentation is one that I'll never forget:  it all built up beautifully to the last word she spoke: "home."

The evening will also feature two other special features.  First, you'll have a chance to socialize before the lecture with Sue Paterno, who has indicated that she would like to meet some Paterno Fellows before the lecture. (Joe Paterno will attend if his schedule permits--it's spring football season, after all.)  And so we have arranged for a reception beforehand (from 6:45-7:45) in a large conference room located at the rear of Eisenhower Auditorium.  When you arrive at 6:45, you'll be directed to the right place.

Second, as part of the reception (which includes some good food and drink), English professor Lovalerie King will provide a brief and informal introduction to Toni Morrison that will help you to enjoy the lecture even more.  Dr King, who also directs the Africana Research Center on campus, has published extensively on Toni Morrison's life and works.

Paterno Fellows have no "required" events--but this is as close as it comes to one.  Please plan on attending; Fellows are expected to be there. The first 50 Paterno Fellows will get special VIP seating in the first five rows of Eisenhower Auditorium.

Here's some information you'll want to have as we approach the end of the semester--information about moving from "aspirant" status to full Paterno Fellow. Take two minutes to read this note carefully.

First, some background: While 72 sophomores have already been accepted as Fellows into the SHC, I know that about a hundred other sophomores are still working hard to finish departmental requirements and to achieve the required 3.4 GPA. (That's why they are known as "aspirants.") In addition, hundreds of freshmen are working for the same goal (they are "aspirants" too), and many of them will finish the year ready to be designated as Fellows and Schreyer Scholars because they are ready to declare a major, have taken the necessary courses, and have the 3.5 GPA required of first-year admits.


You should be aware of your eligibility status; if you aren't sure, check with your adviser to be sure where you stand. After grades are sent out in May, we will know which of you have achieved the necessary requirements for you to move from "aspirant" to Fellow (and to gain acceptance into the Schreyer Honors College). Although all students must ultimately take responsibility for tracking their progress and for letting their advisers know when they expect to meet Paterno Fellows requirements, we will independently check your record to determine who has met the requirements--and then provide the SHC with the final list of accepted freshman and sophomore students. (The SHC is committed to accepting every student who has met PFP requirements.)

Please note that Liberal Arts students have two paths for entry into the Schreyer Honors College: the Paterno Fellows Program (the one you are following) and the traditional Gateway application. If you are a "rising junior" (i.e., finishing sophomore year) and do not meet the requirements for entry through the Paterno Fellows Program, you may apply through the SHC Gateway process. However, while Paterno Fellows who successfully complete the requirements will move directly to the SHC, acceptance is not guaranteed to Gateway applicants.

So let me repeat, for emphasis: If you are using the Paterno Fellows mechanism, and you meet eligibility requirements, you do not have to apply to the SHC in order to be accepted. You'll hear from us about June 1 with the news. To be a Paterno Fellow, you perform, not apply!

Paterno Fellows:

A quick look ahead: Before you finish your exams, I'll be asking you to fill out a questionnaire.

It will be asking you to identify your major; your intended second major (or 24-credit minor); how you'll be addressing the communication and ethics requirements; whether you'll be studying abroad or doing an internship (and when); and how you intend to satisfy the leadership and service requirement. That way I can make plans (especially for the financial rewards you've qualified for!)--and make sure you're all planning ahead yourselves.

So give it some thought in the meantime. And as we turn toward April and springtime, remember to keep your noses to the grindstone: finish with a flourish!

On Thursday, April 15 a supporter of the Paterno Fellows will be in town, making a presentation in one of the courses I teach. She's a successful businesswoman who would like the fun of meeting a female student or two who has benefited from the Paterno Fellows Program. This visitor also is a booster of sororities--she benefited from the Greek system when she was a Penn State student as a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma--so if anyone is a sorority member that would be doubly interesting.

Does anyone fit the description?  If you'd be willing to meet with this alumna on the afternoon of April 15, let me know (jselzer@psu.edu); it'll be fun and only take an hour or so....

Paterno Fellows have very a special evening in store for them on April 7.  It's just two weeks away now:  be sure to get it on your calendars.

You already know that the Nobel Prize winning author Toni Morrison will be speaking in Eisenhower Auditorium at 8 pm.  (You also know that she is author of several amazing novels, including Beloved--a book which many regard as the greatest novel written by an American in the past fifty years.  Hence the Nobel Prize!)  Perhaps you saw the recent front page story in the Collegian, touting Toni Morrison's appearance.

What you haven't known until now is that the evening will also feature at least one Paterno and maybe more, as well as a chance to socialize before the lecture by Toni Morrison.  Sue Paterno has indicated that she would like to meet some Paterno Fellows before the lecture, Joe Paterno will attend if his schedule permits (it's Spring football Season, after all), and so we have arranged for a reception beforehand (from 6:45-7:45) in a large conference room located at the rear of Eisenhower Auditorium.

As part of the reception (which includes some good food and drink), English professor Lovalerie King will provide a brief and informal introduction to Toni Morrison that will help you to enjoy the lecture even more.  Dr King, who also directs the Africana Research Center on campus, has published extensively on Toni Morrison's life and works.

Paterno Fellows have no "required" events--but this is as close as it comes to one.  Please plan on attending; Fellows are expected to be there.  We should have information about tickets about March 30, so stay tuned to this space because you'll need a ticket to get in for this event. In fact, Paterno Fellows will get special VIP seating in the first five rows of Eisenhower Auditorium.

A March 4 informal info session over pizza gave Fellows a chance to raise questions and to make suggestions.

And among the topics for discussion was this one: I asked those gathered to suggest some events that they would enjoy participating in and that would be attractive to the next class of Paterno Fellows, arriving in August.

Among the ideas: Group hike to Mt Nittany in fall.  A dance.  A pep rally before a game next fall.  A Christmas trip to London to experience the London stage.  A bus daytrip to Philadelphia or Baltimore or New York.  A Spring Break trip to Civil Rights Movement sites in connection with a spring course on the subject.  (These last two suggestions were inspired by the current Fellows trip to Paris that some students are enjoying over Spring Break as part of their First Year Seminar.)

As you can see, the ideas ranged from small to BIG.  How about sending me some other ideas?  You can either email me at jls25@psu.edu or suggest some ideas on our Paterno Fellows Facebook page. 

NOTICE:  As of March 26, we still need ten more volunteers:

Recently Sue Paterno was wondering if she could get some help from Paterno Fellows. The answer was Yes, and because you responded so enthusiastically, she's now looking for more volunteers.  Could you think again about helping out?

Here's the details. She first asked for help in the conduct of a 5K run for charity--Special Olympics--on the day after the Blue-White football game late in April. Thus a dozen Paterno Fellows will be assisting with the Sunday race, which benefits Special Olympics.  Beginning around 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 25, football players will be running with Penn State donors, with the finish line in Beaver Stadium, and we'll be helping with with arrangements, prizes, and so forth that morning.

But she also needs assistance on Friday evening, April 23 and during the day on Saturday, April 24, to sign up potential runners.  You probably know that a big festival is set up near the stadium on Friday evening and that the Blue White game on Saturday draws a huge crowd--Mrs. Paterno thinks that lots of festival-goers and football fans will want to sign up to run in the race.

So could you help out with the sign ups?  Pick one of the times below, let me know which one you want (by writing me at jselzer@psu.edu), and I'll schedule the first 24 people who contact me. 

Friday, April 23, 6-10 pm shift (during the festival)
Saturday, April 24, 9am-2 pm shift (before and during the game, in or near the stadium)
Saturday, April 24, 2 -6 pm (during and after the game)

How about it?  Sounds like fun, for a good cause, in the service of our Paterno Fellows namesake! Don't worry, you won't have to handle any money. You'll get further information on your duties after you sign up. And if there are slow times, you'll be able to enjoy the festival and the game. 

And there's this too: some of you will want to do the run on Sunday--check out their Web site to learn how.