Latest news with #campus
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Construction, demolition happening across Penn State's campus. See the projects
Summer is typically a busy time for construction projects on Penn State's University Park campus, but this year, it seems you can't turn a corner without running into scaffolding or fencing. From high-profile projects like the $700 million Beaver Stadium renovation to new and improved classroom spaces, below is a recent look at various under-construction spots on campus. A new $96 million, three-story classroom building is going up near the intersection of Park Avenue and Bigler Road. The 90,000-square-foot building will have large lecture halls, general purpose classrooms with seminar-style and flexible seating, and will be available to any academic college, according to a news release from the university. It's anticipated to be completed in time for the fall 2026 semester. Major work continues at the Sackett Building, part of an overall $89.9 million project and part of the College of Engineering Master Plan. Kunkle Lounge, which connects to the Hammond Building, is also being demolished. Work is expected to continue throughout the year and be completed for fall 2027. Oswald Tower is being demolished following the spring semester opening of the new Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building. Renovations to the Nursing Sciences Building include a 2,700-square-foot expansion on the building's northwest side for a 180-person active-learning, simulation-ready classroom and knowledge commons space. The project was not expected to exceed $28 million, with $10 million coming from philanthropic gifts. Work on the renovations and addition to Osmond Lab started last year. The $115 million project's 48,000-square-foot addition will be a 'high-bay research facility' that supports the physics department, according to a university release. A $21.25 million Jeffrey Field Soccer Complex project includes renovations to the soccer stadium and a new soccer operational facility. Construction began in 2024 and the university is targeting a late 2025 completion date. South of Jeffrey Field, an indoor practice air-supported structure is in the works. The estimated $10 million project will feature artificial turf, sports lighting and surface parking. The most high-profile — and expensive — of Penn State's ongoing construction projects is the Beaver Stadium revitalization. The site has been active since the end of the 2024 football season, with the demolition of the press box in January kicking off the start of more extensive work. Penn State's board of trustees approved up to $700 million in spending on the renovation project last May. In a May 15 video update on the Penn State Athletics website, Associate Director of Development Michael Mauti explained that micropiling, a deep foundation technique using small-diameter, drilled and grouted piles with steel reinforcement to support or stabilize structures, has started on the west side. Temporary seating will be installed there for this football season. A $3.9 million roofing project is underway at Thompson Hall. The project will replace the existing slate roof system. The Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating after an employee working on the project was injured after a May 27 fall. Updates to Ritner and Wolf residence halls are first up in Penn State's plan to renovate all nine Pollock residence halls. The $92.1 million plan aims to completely renew the 1960 residence halls with new amenities such as air conditioning and private bathrooms.
Wall Street Journal
6 days ago
- General
- Wall Street Journal
International Students Fear Leaving the U.S. as Trump's Visa Threats Mount
Finals are wrapping up on U.S. campuses, but international students are struggling with a bigger test: Stay put during the summer break or travel home and risk not getting back. The Trump administration's growing crackdown on foreign students—threatening schools' ability to enroll them, revoking or withholding visas, and signaling tougher re-entry—is forcing students to make high-stakes decisions with little information.
CBC
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Benito Skinner's new show Overcompensating is like 'queer Never Have I Ever'
From Pitch Perfect to Community, so many movies and TV shows have mined the dramatic and hilarious potential of those first few days on campus where new students get to re-invent themselves. But despite everything that's come before it, Benito Skinner's new series Overcompensating manages to tread new ground. Today on Commotion, culture writers Chris Murphy and Jackson Weaver join guest host Rad Simonpillai to talk about why the Prime Video show is so refreshing. We've included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion, listen and follow Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud on your favourite podcast player. WATCH | Today's episode on YouTube: Rad: Chris, I'd never heard of Benito Skinner before this show, but I understand millions of people follow him on social media. So for those of us who haven't heard of him, tell me more about what made him pop. What made him stand out from all the other people on TikTok that are doing these kinds of celebrity impersonations? Chris: Well, I was going to say, you obviously haven't been on TikTok if you haven't heard of bennydrama, Benito Skinner. But yeah, he's really a classic character comedian. He loves impersonating people in pop culture: Kourtney Kardashian, Lana Del Rey, Jennifer Coolidge, Shawn Mendes. And he also has original characters … and just a wealth of different personalities that he embodies. I think the thing that sets him apart is that they're all very funny, but it never feels like he's really making fun of them in a mean way. A lot of these people who he does impersonate on TikTok have embraced him and have taken him in as one of their own. So he films all these videos with the Kardashians, and Jennifer Coolidge and all these people. So I think he's coming at TV not from a standup perspective, but really from a character comedy background. Rad: Well Jackson, after impersonating all these other people, now Benito's creating this show that's about a character whose story is much like his own. So in a nutshell, what is Benny's story in this show? Jackson: I mean, "queer Never Have I Ever" is basically how I would describe it. It's the perennial story of somebody who grows up, [but] specifically for him in the '90s as someone who's in a somewhat more accepting society for queerness, for being gay — [it's] not necessarily literally illegal — but it's still not the best thing to find out you are, especially when you're a boy among friends you're not sure are going to accept you. And then you try and cover that by being as straight as possible. You make up a fake version of yourself. And then you get to university, you see gay-straight alliances, and you flail towards some sort of authenticity, some sort of self acceptance — the divide between either becoming your true self, or harkening to the thing that has gotten you all the accolades, all the acceptance, up to that point. I think it's a pretty universal story, a pretty well-learned and well-earned experience. There's a book called The Velvet Rage that is about how if you are a gay man and have grown up in a straight world, as all of us kind of have, you will have created this fake self, this way to hide from shame and covet validation. And when you finally get to the point where you are sort of making the baby steps towards giving up that fake version of yourself, you realize that your ability to support your own sense of self, to have your own sort of self-confidence is totally juvenile and not necessarily there. And all you need is external validation. And this show is kind of all about that, where he does not have any sort of self-confidence or ability to feel good about himself unless it's people telling him he's good at football, or he is great at hooking up with girls or he's really hot, and he needs that. But he also needs to be himself. It's a very recognizable stage of life for the young gay man, I would say.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Quadient Surpasses 300 Higher Education Locker Customers, Helping Campuses Modernize Logistics and Tackle Food Insecurity
Quadient (Euronext Paris: QDT), a global automation platform powering secure and sustainable business connections, announces that more than 300 higher education institutions in the U.S. are now relying on Parcel Pending by Quadient Lockers for streamlined package pickup and drop-off, bookstore merchandise, class and IT equipment exchange points, and addressing the challenge of student food insecurity. Higher education institutions, from large public systems to private colleges, depend on Parcel Pending by Quadient Lockers to modernize and optimize the management of increasing volumes of packages on campus. Quadient's automated lockers send alerts to students, faculty and staff when packages are available for pickup. A key driver behind reaching the 300 milestone is the growing adoption of Quadient Lockers as part of campus food security programs. An analysis by the U.S. Government Accountability Office published last year found that 3.8 million, or 23% of undergraduate students, reported experiencing food insecurity in 2020, more than twice the rate of food insecurity among the U.S. population. Higher education institutions are increasingly leveraging Quadient's technology to provide discreet, 24/7 access to meals and groceries for students facing food insecurity. By integrating automated lockers into their food distribution initiatives, colleges ensure that larger numbers of students can be served in a safe, stigma-free manner. 'We are honored to partner with higher education institutions to address critical challenges like food insecurity while enhancing campus logistics,' said Austin Maddox, executive vice president, North America, Lockers Automation, Quadient. 'Reaching 300 higher education customers is a testament to the versatility of our parcel locker solutions and their ability to make a meaningful impact in the lives of students.' Quadient's Campus Hub solution combines Quadient's Web Tracking System (WTS) with its automated lockers to provide a full chain of custody for all goods and assets distributed and received across campus throughout the academic year. Higher education institutions using Quadient Lockers include the University of Alabama, University of Florida, Shenandoah University, Valencia College, Ohio University, University of Houston, University at Buffalo in the United-States, as well as the University of Northampton and University College of Oxford in the UK, and many more. Quadient is continuing to grow its smart locker network across key markets in the U.S., Japan and Europe, with more than 25,700 units currently installed worldwide. For more information on Parcel Pending by Quadient Lockers for higher education, visit: About Quadient®Quadient is a global automation platform powering secure and sustainable business connections through digital and physical channels. Quadient supports businesses of all sizes in their digital transformation and growth journey, unlocking operational efficiency and creating meaningful customer experiences. Listed in compartment B of Euronext Paris (QDT) and part of the CAC® Mid & Small and EnterNext® Tech 40 indices, Quadient shares are eligible for PEA-PME investing. For more information about Quadient, visit Contacts Joe Scolaro, Quadient Global Press Relations Manager +1 203-301-3673 jscolaro@ Kiley Ribordy, Walker Sands Senior PR Director quadientpr@ Attachment PR 300 Milestone Higher Education Locker Customers_ENError in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tradwives Are in Short Supply
Graduation season is upon us. As a literature professor at a Christian university, I'm often invited at this time of year to family dinners celebrating students' academic achievements—and not long after, I'm sometimes invited to their weddings, too. 'Ring by spring' culture, while no longer as pervasive as it once was, is still alive and well. And though it's most visible at faith-based institutions, the basic dynamic isn't unique to them: put young adults in close proximity for four years, and some of them will walk away with diplomas and rings. Were she alive today, Jane Austen might find the modern American university a fitting setting for one of her novels. Campuses are often equal parts social drama, romantic tension, and economic reality—a perfect cocktail for courtship, or at least intriguing complications. But in recent years, politics have slipped into the storylines, realigning the rules of engagement (pun intended). Because even as some young couples waltz down the aisle, other single romantics are still navigating confusion, resentment, and, to state it as nicely as possible, mismatched expectations about relationships. For young, more traditionally minded women especially, the path to that expected happy ending is feeling less like Austen and more like an unfinished draft—missing the resolution, and quite possibly the romantic lead. This confusion about young conservative women's romantic future hasn't stayed tucked away in library study halls, late-night dorm chats, or even sympathetic women's literature professors' offices for that matter. No, it's also made it into the public square, thanks in large part to viral clips from two conservative commentators: Megyn Kelly and Matt Walsh. Referring to the messaging coming from traditional right-leaning men like Walsh, Kelly said on her show that she often hears from young conservative women that 'What's happening is, they can't find men,' she said. 'They can't find a lot of young men who want to marry a working woman now. … How did we get to the point that we're now telling young, amazing conservative women that they're not attractive if they also work?' Walsh's response was characteristically blunt: 'Men are not generally attracted to ambitious, career-driven women,' he said. 'I've never once heard a man brag about a woman's career ambitions. It's not what men value.' This raises the question: Who, exactly, are these men? Because many men—my husband included—do appreciate their partners' ambitions. In fact, one of the first things that drew my husband to me was my love for literature and my pursuit of a graduate degree, and it was he who reminded me of this fact when I showed him the Matt Walsh clip while working on this article. 'Don't you remember me telling my friends how cool I thought it was that you were working on your master's?' he asked. 'That guy's friends are just that—that guy's friends.' Meaning: Walsh's observations are likely derived from who he hangs around with—and that doesn't always make for universal truths. The problem is the message sent to young conservative men who listen to Walsh, at least on this issue: Not valuing women's goals is part and parcel of masculinity, he seems to be saying. By extension, young, ambitious women who seek a like-minded conservative partner are provided a painfully small box to squeeze themselves into, as Kelly suggests, as well as slim pickings on the marriage market. Meanwhile—and I suggest not coincidentally at all—the tradwife fantasy is thriving online. Perhaps its most famous example is Instagram influencer Hannah Neeleman, a Juilliard-trained ballerina and former beauty queen turned rancher and social media influencer for her brand Ballerina Farm. For her 10 million followers, Neeleman shares lovely, pastoral videos and pictures of herself milking cows, braiding bread, and bathing babies in copper tubs. Her aesthetic is outwardly flawless, her sourdough is likewise always divine, and her children are scrubbed and angelic. (As a counter to this, I admit to owning no cows but enjoying Burger King, having a broken breadmaker, and raising often tangly-haired and even smelly children who get in trouble. That said, I do not admit to having any less love in my life.) Importantly, what's left unsaid in Neeleman's gloriously beautiful videos is the cushion of privilege holding up her platform: Her husband is the son of JetBlue's founder. Her account isn't a return to traditional values once had and now regained. It's elite performance art that most singles straight out of college could never afford. Don't get me wrong: I love watching and following Neeleman's account. Yet the popularity of social media accounts like hers in no way reflects a mass movement of women leaving the workforce to embrace lives of making homemade jam. Instead, I think it reflects a knowledge of what many could never have (and likely don't want either because of its extremity) but an appreciation for the aesthetics of the 'idea' of her life. Followers recognize at some level she represents peak performance of extreme domestic arts. The problem is that when young conservative men point to someone like Neeleman as an ideal marriage partner, they're not looking for a real partner. They're looking for a fantasy, one that's underwritten by money they probably do not have. And, of course, the irony of her wildly successful career as an influencer—building that sort of audience is, after all, a career—should not be lost on anyone. Nor should one overlook the statistical reality that even attempting to emulate this fantasy is becoming increasingly untenable. As of 2023, only about 27 percent of married mothers with children under 18 are not participating in the labor force—and that number keeps shrinking. At the same time, women now make up nearly 60 percent of U.S. college students, a trend with no signs of reversal. If conservative men are adamant about marrying a woman without a job or college degree, they're limiting themselves to a dating pool that's actively shrinking. While recent polling suggests that Gen Z men are trending more conservative, their female peers are moving in the opposite direction. And at the same time, young women are leaving organized religion in record numbers, often citing rigid gender roles and outdated expectations as reasons for their departure. And while I began this article speaking about young conservative women feeling dissatisfied with their choices, statistics show that men aren't doing so hot either. A 2023 Pew Research report notes that nearly 63 percent of men under 30 are single, compared to 34 percent of women. Many men report being lonely, uncertain about modern dating expectations, and unsure how to form lasting romantic relationships. If women feel asked to shrink themselves to be loved, many men seem to have the opposite problem: They're unsure of how to grow into the kind of love they long for. But if today's dynamics feel new, a better model isn't. There's a long tradition in American life of what scholars call 'companionate marriages.' These marriages aren't built on hierarchy, but instead on emotional intimacy and shared purpose. Historians like Nancy Cott have pointed to Abigail and John Adams as one early example: their letters reveal a relationship exemplified by affection in tandem with serious intellectual exchange. In 1776 as the American Revolution gained momentum, Abigail famously wrote to John, 'I desire you would remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.' She warned that if women were not given a voice, they would 'foment a rebellion.' What she asked for wasn't his submission (even though she might be labeled a dreaded feminist today!). It was respect, a vision of marriage where liberty and love could coexist. A vision, I like to think, of marriage that I believe led to one like my own. And yet, the Matt Walshes of the world seem to have forgotten the ladies. Indeed, it's an odd oversight from someone who often claims to care about preserving the spirit of the American founding. Hypermasculine conservative commentators often verbally hold up tradition while skipping the parts that require genuine mutuality or meaningful sacrifice from men for women who might want to raise children and serve the world in other ways, too. While John was away founding a nation, Abigail was running their farm in every way, from finances to administration, taking on what were traditionally considered men's roles while raising children (including a future president). She is also considered one of the most well-read first ladies to have ever graced the White House. In today's dating landscape, companionate marriage remains possible. Still, it requires honesty and a willingness to see women as whole persons, not achievements in a war to own the libs. Most of the young conservative women I teach want to raise families. Most also have career goals tied to those degrees they're earning. All have ambitions that deserve the honor of someone else. And the same holds true for the young conservative men I'm teaching, who deserve partnerships that call them to something higher than the limited idea espoused on the internet. This isn't a new insight; Jane Austen understood it more than two centuries ago. Her heroines didn't surrender their intelligence or independence to win a man; they insisted on being loved for who they truly were. Elizabeth Bennet refused Mr. Darcy's first proposal not because she didn't want marriage, but because she refused a marriage that didn't have respect at its core. Austen's novels remind us that a good marriage isn't about the domination of any one person over another. It's about dialogue and recognizing when perhaps you might be the one who has a little too much pride—or prejudice. Young people deserve a Jane Austen kind of love story—not a Bachelor one. One grounded not in spectacle, but in sincerity.
