Campus Life

Annual LION Walk will welcome students to downtown community Aug. 23

Former Penn State Police Chief Tyrone Parham, right, and Penn State Executive Vice President and Provost Nick Jones, left, introduced themselves to students during the 2015 LION Walk. LION Walk is an opportunity to welcome students living off campus to the State College community and provide information about building positive relationships between students and community. Credit: Cameron Hart / Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State and State College Borough officials will take to the streets Tuesday (Aug. 23) for the ninth annual LION (Living in One Neighborhood) Walk.

The walk has become a traditional way for University and State College officials to begin the new school year by getting to know each other and residents in the borough, while strengthening the sense of community their town-and-gown partnership has built.

Penn State Executive Vice President and Provost Nick Jones and the Nittany Lion will join one of several groups of students, University officials, State College law enforcement officials, and other members of the borough community to walk through neighborhoods where there is a mix of student and non-student residents knocking on doors to welcome new and existing residents, say “hello,” offer assistance, and answer questions. The groups also will hand out packets of useful information that includes tips on how to stay safe, handy references on local laws and ordinances, and directions on how to find community resources both on and off campus.

The neighborhood engagement event — sponsored by the Office of Community Engagement, which is jointly funded by Penn State Student Affairs and State College — will start at 6 p.m. on South Allen Street in front of the State College Municipal Building.

Last Updated April 19, 2017