Danial's Alternative Summer

Well well, spring semester has ended & three months of summer beckons! So, besides going back home (for most of my peers), going backpacking and concerts (me) I have decided to compile a list of crazy, Jackass-approved things to do to fill my boredom when in State College. Because eventually I'll run out of money traveling, right?

1. DIY Summer Sauna - close all doors, windows and any means of ventilation in your bedroom and set your heater to its maximum temperature. Let it steam for 10 minutes and enter this "homemade sauna" with your friends. Last man standing wins!
2. Molotov Poop - Fill a paper or a plastic bag with poop (any source will do ut I heard human feces has the best flammability) and light the bag on fire. Throw it to any object you desire & be proud that your waste might grab the attention of the fire brigade.
3. Semen Shoes - When you feel the need to discharge your "little you's", do it in a friend's shoes! But make sure your friend wears the shoe/s before it dries or you have to do it again.
4. TV Is Bad For You - so, buy some hammers, perhaps even a saw, and trash the television out of the living hell. If you're not done with it, you can throw it off the sixth floor of your apartment building. Still not satisfied? You can always couple it with the Molotov Poop and see the idiot box melt in flames.
5. Fecal Fridge - Oh, don't we just love poop? Something learned from watching too many episodes of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (told ya TV was bad) is poop IS fun. So, why not pass motion into a tupperware and store it in your friend's fridge? By that way, everyone can enjoy the fun (and poop)!
6. Winter In Summer - In line with being crazy, why not wear full winter clothing during mid-July when the sun is ablaze and wearing less clothes is better? Do it with your friends as a competition to see who can survive winter....in summer!
7. America Runs On Dunkin' - Taking advantage that Dunkin' Donuts is one of the few food joints that operates 24 hours, try hanging out there for a day! You know, chatting with your friends, using the store's internet bandwidth, consuming ridiculous amounts of caffeine & taking naps. If possible, try bunking in for more than a day & see when will the manager kicks you out.
   
8. Treasure Hunting - Shiver me timbers! End of Spring semester is when the seniors move out to the real world & when we get to sieve through their unwanted trash that are like a chest of gold to us. As of now, I've gotten a coffee table and looking for a disco ball and a rattlesnake for my new apartment.
   

Since it's just the beginning of a very long holiday, this list will be updated from time to time. Stay tuned!

The Enigma of Allen Park: A Difference in Socialization

Disclaimer: This article expresses the opinion of the author and does not represent anyone or any group whatsoever; this is a theoretical explanation of group dynamics and should not be misunderstood as means of personally attacking any parties. Any ideas and comments, either supportive or dismissive, are highly encouraged BUT sensitive and offensive posts will be banned.

It has been brought to my knowledge that the residents of Allen Park are seen as a “unique” bunch whereby a number of us prefer not to mix with the rest of the Malaysian community at State College during group activities or gatherings which was expected of us and this has caused some to question our behavior.

I would like to offer a theory based on the concept of socialization i.e. the process whereby a culture teaches its members about its beliefs, customs, habits and language (Kenrick, Neuberg & Cialdini, 2007). In this context, it refers to how our sophomore/junior batch was socialized in comparison to the current freshmen batch and this feature is telling since both batches came from the same learning institution in Malaysia.

The prominent factor that distinguishes the socialization of these two batches is the time spent learning in Malaysia: due to the nature of the program, the people of Allen Park had an extra year of college than the freshmen. This extra year gave everyone from the same batch time to know their peers and form bonds of friendship with each other; most of the residents here are in the same major not to mention were classmates and even roommates!

This familiarity has led us to increase our circle of friends and to trust members of our own group to provide social support, diminishing the need to seek help from people from their out-group. Besides that, our batch came in a large number and all lived in the same apartment complex far from campus (approx. 1.2 km to downtown) which contributes to us more willing to invest and share our material and emotional resources among each other.

In contrast, the freshmen had one year of study in Malaysia and based on my experience, this time frame was not enough for me to know all my batch mates. So, upon arriving to this university, they are more open and receptive to make new friends among Malaysians other than the local and international community in the area.

In conclusion, as time passes by, more and more residents of Allen Park have established a relationship with other Malaysians at Penn State while those who remain to be exclusive should be respected for their decision since they feel that they can be independent and survive on their own. Well, there would not be “Allen Park” anymore since many of us choose to go our own way and will be scattered around State College come next fall.