Since 1855, Penn State has clawed its way from a sleepy agricultural school in the middle of Pennsylvania cow pastures to a well-respected institute of higher education and football powerhouse … in the middle of Pennsylvania cow pastures. From bewildered freshman to the scholars of Dickinson School of Law and other post-graduate programs, nearly 100,000 students proudly wear the blue and white each year. We walk the hallways of campuses from Erie to Abington, Altoona to University Park, standing united as Nittany Lions no matter where our attendance markers lie. And with diplomas in hand, we disperse across the country and around the world with “WE ARE…” etched into our hearts, souls and business card holders.
And in times such as these, when our beloved PSU fills headlines for failing our Alma Mater — “May no act of ours bring shame/To one heart that loves thy name” — we are the ones entrusted with the duties of defending her honor.
At Penn State, we are more than figureheads and football. We are more than today’s trials and tribulations. We are more than the deplorable and depraved actions of a few. We are an alumni of men and women — more than 500,000 strong — coupled with thousands of students who love this university more than words can adequately explain and we are the ones who will stand by her as she overcomes this, because she will. The road ahead will not be easy. The bumps will be numerous. But the time has come for us Penn Staters to do what we do best — STAND TOGETHER and yell with all our power and might “WE ARE…” and truly prove what it means to be “PENN STATE!” in the shadow of so much disaster.
Our Nittany Lion Nation will not let this define us because, despite what some may be quick to assume, this is not who we are. We are students, parents and grandparents. We’re doctors and lawyers, journalists and accountants, teachers, football players and everything in between. We are not and will never be a reflection of these incidents and behaviors, nor are they a reflection of the strong tradition annually emanating from our University with each individual who turns his or her tassel.
Our hearts may ache, our foundation may be rocked, but PSU will overcome. Just wait and see.
Fight On State.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I can’t even believe that this is going on.
“Our hearts may ache, our foundation may be rocked, but PSU will overcome. Just wait and see.”
I don’t think I could have put it better.
WE ARE PENN STATE!
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I’m so sick of all the hoopla around Penn state…it’s a state school..and now it’s a state school with a bad reputation because of its leaders. Wake up. Deal with it and hold them accountable. It sucks but now is the time to get angry about what they did and didn’t do. Hold them accountable for what will go down in history as the humbling of Penn state. Those poor little kids and what they have to live with for the rest of their lives…how about putting your energy towards how you might help them by building a foundation to help fund counceling or some other way to help…just stop whining about your stupid school for God’s sake.
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