Around Penn State Berks, Part 1

Being back on campus has been great- there are a lot of new people to meet and things to do. For those considering college next year, I figured I would write up an article (series) on going around Penn State Berks. This week I will make it my duty to stop in and take photos of various places around campus. Let's get started!

Here is our Lion Shrine, located outside the back of the Franco Building. Franco is largely for business majors and many math classes are held there (Calculus, Statistics, etc). Franco is also where the registrar is located. It is a relativly new building. In between Frano and the Thun Library are some construction markers- they are building a new building there that will be for engineers. The building will feature shops to satisfy the needs of instructors- milling machines, lathes, tools, CNC, you name it the facility will probably have it. The Baja buggy will also be moved over there. They are expecting completion by 2011 (does a lot of good for me).

Some of my room unpacked two days ago. The crates on the side hold my books- they are milk crates and they are very handy for holding books. More books on my shelf and the black bin is for modeling supplies. I also have out my Star Wars Mighty Mugg collection and my recently completed Tallgeese III. TV is there for Wii play and TV watching.

Don't screw off- these guys are EVERYWHERE. There are usually cops watching the center of the Village and Woods complexes and the parking lot. You will find cops around campus riding segways, which I doubt one can outrun with relative ease. There is a heavy presence of police here- we are 10 miles outside of Reading, PA (the car theft capital of the country in 2007). The area is relativly safe- the biggest crime in three years was that someone stole a bike- off campus someone was stabbed in a nearby apartment (not a part of Penn State). A far as I know they did catch the guy.

Back of the Woods Complex. The Woods is the newest dorm installation to Penn State Berks and it houses approximatly 900-1,000 students. Berks students really are the spoiled bunch of the Penn State Student system- We have the best digs and furnished lounges to boot. Rooms are connected together via one bathroom, so four people to one bathroom (it works out well). The Woods complex has study rooms, laundry rooms on every floor (except the 4th floor) and a small computer room in the Ivy Lounge. I recommend the 4th floor- you hear no noise above you, however it is a chore to climb four stories- they turn the elevator off and reserve it for those who truly need it.

Once I can edit some more photos (some did not convert to 800 x 600?) I will post more information. I figured this information would be useful for those looking at Penn State Berks.