PSU News and commentary
There are many myths and legends surrounding Penn State, here is the real story behind them: 1. Penn State began as a high school: FALSE: Penn State was named The Farmers’ High School until 1862, which led to the misunderstanding that it began as a high school. The truth is that Penn State began as an agricultural college with the aim of promoting the application of science to farming; but many farmers at the time were distrustful of the traditional college curriculum so the founders of the University called it the Farmers’ High School to alleviate their concerns. 2. Penn State's Old Main Lawn Sundial is the geographical center of Pennsylvania: False: The sundial on Old Main is not in fact the geographical center of PA, but scientists believe it in within miles of PSU, but is hard to pinpoint due to the irregular shape of the state. 3. There are no sorority houses at Penn State because an old PA law says more than 5 girls living in a house is considered a brothel, making it illegal. FALSE: Penn State houses it's sororities in dorms because years ago Sorority houses where getting old and costing a lot of money in upkeep, Penn State struck a deal with them to use dorm floors in South Halls. Sororities are allowed to move off campus, but now the price of land is too hard to come by, or costs to much. 4. Penn State Creamery Ice Cream is in other places due to not meeting FDA rules to be classified as ice cream. FALSE: Penn State doe not sell it's ice cream anywhere as to not create competition in the dairy industry. 5. Penn State's Campus is its own town: TRUE: Penn State is it's own town called University Park, we have our own Police Department (yes campus pd are real police), hospital and even our own zip code. 16801. 6. If you get hit by a CATA bus you get free tuition. FALSE: CATA has no agreement in place that if you get hit they will pay your remaining tuition. So don't walk in front of CATA busses. 7. Penn State's original colors were Black and Pink: TRUE: Penn State switched after the colors kept fading in the sun. We still have the black and pink S-Zone every homecoming game. 8. The Hammond Building was suppose to be a skyscraper but do to miscommunication between the architect and the builder, it was built on it's side. FALSE: It was always meant to be built the way it is. 9. Penn State has heated sidewalks so we will never have a Snow Day. FALSE: The tunnels under the sidewalks are used for steam pipes that lead to the buildings on campus for energy, the pipes being close to the surface is what melts the snow, but they are not there for that purpose, it's just an extra bonus according to PSU OPP. 10. There is an unsolved murder in the Library: TRUE: In late November 1969, Besty Aardsma, a Penn State graduate student, was in the level two stacks of Pattee when she was stabbed by an unknown assailant. She was found lying on the floor and, because her red dress disguised what little blood there was, she was thought to have suffered a seizure. She was then taken to Ritenour Health Center, where were she was pronounced dead. Only after an autopsy was the death ruled a homicide and an investigation launched. No one was every charged with the murder. 10b. She was killed by notorious serial killer Ted Bundy. FALSE: Fingerprints found at the murder scene do not match any in the National Crime Information Center database, where Bundy's would be on file. And the single, fatal wound Aardsma suffered did not fit Bundy's criminal profile. So while the case has not been solved, it is pretty safe to say that the Ted Bundy Penn State myth is also false.
1 Comment
4/30/2024 04:33:23 pm
Many typos, such as it's when its should be used in #3. "does" is spelled wrong in #4. State College is the town Zip 16801. University Park is the campus, 16802.
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