Recent News
News Archive
LETTER TO CAMPERS (November 15th, 2009)
A letter from PCC President Alex Cohen:
Dear Paternoville,
It is hard to believe another season out at Gate A is in the books. After finishing my third year camping out and my first year as President I wanted to take this time to say thank you. This season wouldn't have been as fun or as memorable if it weren't for everyone who camped out. We had over 1,700 different students camp out this season. The passion and dedication every single one of you demonstrated this season in camping out is why we continue to be the "Best Student Section in the Country".
Looking back on this season, it is impossible to pinpoint my favorite memory. There was the first campout against Akron and the excitement that comes with a season opener. Although the game result wasn't what we wanted, Iowa week as a whole were some of the wildest 5 to 6 days I have ever experienced. I will never forget homecoming week and all the ups and downs of those 7 days in mid-October that culminated in Paternoville winning best float for an independent org.
To my fellow officers, John Tecce, Dan Saxton, and Chris Grassi, thank you. To the other members of the serpentine crew, Tom Boroch and Michael Higgins, thank you. To our homecoming chair Nick Rotondi, thank you. To ESPN Analyst Rob Stone, damn you. And last but not least, to three Paternoville veterans who will be leaving us, Secretary Amanda Meyerson, serpentine crew-member Kevin McCaffrey, and lead cow-beller Bud Parks, thank you for everything you did for Paternoville and good luck in wherever life takes you.
When I took on the responsibility of being President, my number one goal was to make sure that everyone who camped out at Paternoville had an enjoyable experience week to week. I hope every one of you enjoyed your stay at Paternoville and I look forward to seeing all of you out at Gate A next season. To any seniors, good luck and don't hesitate to visit. Thank you to all of you for making these past months some of the most memorable of my entire life. Have a great rest of the semester, a safe and happy holiday season, and I think we can all agree in saying, to the football gods, "May TCU, Boise State, Iowa and any other team ahead of us in the BCS polls lose." Thanks again and see you all next September for Youngstown State.
For the Glory,
Alex Cohen
PCC President
P-VILLE B-BALL PROMO (November 12th, 2009)
As the football season winds down, basketball season is set to begin. To drum up support for the basketball team and to reward students for participating in Paternoville, the Athletic Department is offering a promotion for Friday night's men's basketball season opener v.s. Penn at 7:30 PM at the Bryce Jordan Center.
So, what do you have to do to take part in this promotion? It's simple. On Friday, November 13th, 2009, Mr. Joel Diamond of Athletic ticketing will be at the Resolution Booth at Gate A of Beaver Stadium from noon until 2:00 PM. There he will have a list of every student who has camped out for a game this season (as well as a list of all students who hold season tickets for basketball). If you name is on the list, you can buy one ticket for the game and get another ticket free. Tickets cost $5 and you must present a valid PSU ID and you may only pay in cash.
Basketball season ticket holders must merely show their ID and they receive a free extra ticket for a guest. If you purchase a ticket for a guest, and you hold season tickets for basketball, you will be able to bring your guest into the game with you 15 minutes before doors open for regular patrons (season ticket holders get a 15-minute head start on entering the BJC).
So come on out and support the Nittany Lions as they begin a new season, fresh off their NIT Championship season in which the Penn State basketball team won more games in a single season than they ever had before!
COLD TEMPS CLOSE CAMP (November 5th, 2009)
Cold temperature, more appropriate for November than they were in October, have forced the closure of Paternoville for the night of November 5th to the morning of November 6th. Campers must leave camp by 9 PM on Thursday the 5th and return by 9 AM on Friday the 6th. Campers are encouraged to remove their valuables from their tents but to leave their tents standing during the closure. Thank you for your cooperation.
SNOW CLOSES P-VILLE (October 16th, 2009)
The earliest accumulation of snow in State College has managed to close Paternoville for this week. Due to safety reasons, the University cannot allow students to camp outside in this kind of weather. Thank you to everyone who came out for this week.
If you did come out and signed up before camping was officially suspended, your name remains on our list. On Saturday morning you will receive your wristbands and we will enter as normal. Everyone in your group must return to Gate A by 11:45 AM at the latest on Saturday. Thank you for your cooperation.
HELP BUILD THE FLOAT! (October 14th, 2009)
Paternoville has a float for Homecoming 2009! And we need your help to build it!
The float has been delivered to the Fleet Operations truck park north of Beaver Stadium. In order to get there, you must go to the building marked FLT on this campus map. Please contact PCC President Alex Cohen if you don't know where it is even with the map. We need all the help we can get to help make this a success.
P-VILLE IN THE MEDIA (September 25th, 2009)
Folks, just as a reminder, you can keep up with all the festivities at Paternoville through various means. First, we have the Paternoville in the Media section of the website where we post news articles and videos involving Paternoville.
Secondly, we have our interactive electronic resources, namely our Paternoville Fan Page on Facebook and our Paternoville Twitter. Both are updated fairly regularly with information, pictures, and videos of Paternoville. Don't miss anything!
IOWA CAMP OUT NOTES (September 20th, 2009)
Iowa, as you might have guessed, is a "week-long" camp out. Tents may go up at 12:01 AM Tuesday morning.
WHEN YOU ARRIVE: The officers will be signing people in. Make sure you have the names of those in your group ready at this time (group limit is 10 people). You will sign in on the "short list" with just one name, the number of people in your group, and a contact number. Your group will then be called later to sign into a section, so please make sure that anyone who will be out at Gate A for your group will know the names (we recommend a written list). You will be given a slip of paper with your section and group number at this time, this will be needed on Saturday morning to get your wristbands.
Once names are on our list, they are FINAL, and no names can be added once you are signed in. In the event that a group member cannot attend the game, their spot on our list will be forfeited and wristband will be discarded, it cannot be used for someone else.
DURING THE WEEK: You must have one person at your tent at all times, including overnight. There is no alcohol allowed at Paternoville, and the officers hold the right to remove your group from the campsite if a member of your group is involved in any alcohol-related activities.
SATURDAY MORNING: All tents MUST be down by 7:45 AM. You will collect your group's wristbands from an officer once your tent is down and trash is taken care of. Please have your group section & number slip ready at this time. Your entire group must be back at Gate A at 1:45 PM.
IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS: Please feel free to contact an officer. Their information can be found in the "Contact Us" section. You can also browse the "Camping Basics" section for any questions related to what you might need for the week.
IMPERSONATE JOEPA (September 14th, 2009)
The PCC officers have received the following e-mail from a PSU journalism student who is doing a story for ESPNU. Can you impersonate Coach Joe Paterno for him? Here is his request:
"I'm doing a story for ESPNU featuring students doing their best Joe Paterno impersonations. This could be his mannerisms, his voice, the things he says, how he looks, your favorite JoePa moment, how he acts, etc. Guys and girls are welcome and the more enthusiasm the better. We're looking for someone to dress up like Joe Pa as well. Again, this would be on ESPN U so it's a fun opportunity.
We are filming in front of the Joe Paterno statue. I plan to be out there tomorrow (Tuesday 9/15) between 2-6PM and possibly Wednesday if people can't make the Tuesday time. This wouldn't take much of your time, but I'd like to know who is interested and who would be able to make it during that time frame. If interested please e-mail me at rzh5021@psu.edu or call me at 203 217-1800 and we will go from there with specifics. Thanks!"
Don't let the PCC down, folks. We know there are people out there who can put on a good show for the cameras!
FIRST MEETING RECAP (August 31st, 2009)
Tonight the PCC held it's first meeting of the 2009-10 season. We covered lots of stuff. Most importantly, we covered the new gameday procedure. It is neatly sumarized by this PowerPoint Presentation. Please view it in order to become familiar with the changes.
At the meeting we also covered such things as the Paternoville Ball, Homecoming, electricity at Paternoville, and the buy one/get one deal for Paternoville campers and the Men's Basketball home opener. You can view information about these items in this PowerPoint Presentation.
Also, because of fear surrounding the spread of the H1N1 flu virus (better known as "Swing Flu"), University Health Services will be providing the PCC with free hand-sanitizer bottles to be distributed to campers when they register. Please be mindful of your surroundings, and if you're sick, please follow University Health Guidelines in order to protect both yourself and others.
FIRST MEETING INFO (August 26th, 2009)
We've secured a room and time for the first meeting of the 2009 season. On Monday, August 31st, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in 102 Thomas, the PCC will have its first meeting of the 2009-10 season. Please do your best to make the meeting. We have a lot to cover, and even if you only plan on camping out for one or two games, you'll be really glad you made it to this meeting.
Amongst other things, we'll be discussing how the new ID card swipe system affects us, the changes to the Gate A area, and new gameday procedures.
2009 PATERNOVILLE VIDEO (August 11th, 2009)
PCC President Alex Cohen has produced an another outstanding video. It is really awesome. If this doesn't get you pumped for Penn State football and Paternvoville, then you pretty much can be declared legally dead.
Be forewarned, though. This video is quite big at 74 megabytes. Your best best is to open the below link in a new window and let it go for a while. Also, it requires Apple Quicktime. It'll take some time to load... but it is totally worth the wait.
by PCC President Alex Cohen.
Addendum (added August 11th, 2009): Also, check these two videos out, but you have to view them in a specific order. First is the trailer to a new movie called Whiteout, set to be released in a few months.
The second video is also named, "Whiteout," and is done by PCC President Alex Cohen.
Pretty cool, huh?
Addendum #2 (added August 12th, 2009): Added some new photos from the 2005 season.
ELECTRICITY AND CHANGE (August 9th, 2009)
Recently, the University has made some changes to the Gate A area. There used to be three parrallel rows of trees heading from the corner of Porter and Curtin up to the gate. Now only the middle of the three rows exists (starting behind the Big Rock). Also, the Grassi Knoll, the small hill to the right of Gate A, named in honor of former PCC Vice President Christopher Grassi, has been leveled.
The most important change to Gate A this off-season, though, has been the installation of three small, black towers each with a standard electrical outlet. These three towers, one directly behind the Big Rock and two about 20 feet away to either side of the middle one, will provide limited-use power to Paternoville. When tents go up for the week, campers will be allowed to charge their air pumps for air mattresses. Also, campers may be allowed to use their laptop charger at these towers. However, any use beyond that is strictly prohibited. On Saturdays, the stadium staff will power their ID card scanners from these towers.
You can see the changes in these three pictures below (click on the thumbnails for a larger image). Note the leveled Grassi Knoll on the right in the first picture. In the second picture, some black patches of asphalt leading up to the Gate on the far right and left of the picture show where the old rows of trees used to be. Also, the areas where you see some orange and white road barriers are where the electrical towers will be placed. In picture three, you can see an example of what the towers will look like.
