More details emerged this week as the preliminary hearings for Beta Theta Pi members continued. Alleged excessive drinking, underground hazing culture and group think converged to result in unimaginable horrors for Timothy Piazza and a wake-up call for our commu-nity. The CDT's editorial board recently sat down with Penn State President Eric Barron, Vice President for Student Affairs Damon Sims, Vice President for Strategic Communications Lawrence Lokman and State College police Community Relations Officer Adam Salyards to discuss the problem of excessive drinking and what can be done to prevent another tragedy. The information they shared with the board was staggering. Excessive alcohol consumption is widely seen as one of the most troubling issues affecting students because it spills over into so many aspects of their lives. It is clear from our meeting that there is not an easy answer when it comes to curbing this problem.

Express News, by Pedro Reyes

In July 1997, the University of Texas at San Antonio established its downtown campus to further deliver on its commitment to public service and community engagement. Just as the main campus has attracted students with a passion for educational excellence, the downtown campus has become a destination for student success. As the university commemorates the 20th anniversary of its downtown campus, it is also looking ahead to what the next 20 years will bring and how this campus will continue to support San Antonio. A university task force is reviewing current programs and the mission of the campus to ensure it continues to respond to community priorities. In addition, a Downtown Advisory Committee has been estab-lished, consisting of community members, to provide university leaders with recommendations on the growth and future of the campus. 

The Brandon Sun, by Ian Froese

The non-profit organization behind the University of Winnipeg's multi-year transformation from a traditional ivory tower into a sprawling campus of housing, aca-demic buildings and fitness amenities will bring its expertise to Brandon. Brandon University announced Friday it has hired the UW Community Renewal Corp. and its related organization, UWCRC 2.0, to lead the public consultation process for its own transformation of nearly 70,000 square feet of downtown real estate. The organization will use community advice to inform its conceptual plan for what the seven parcels of land will become. "Our university was a building, two buildings in a way, and we basically built a campus," UWCRC managing director Sherman Kreiner said. Impressed, officials at Brandon University will use insights of UWCRC for their own unique approach to downtown redevelopment. 

FourStatesHomePage.com, by Erin Sullivan

A local university transforms historic buildings into a space for modern entrepreneurs. The university strat-egic initiatives unit is PSU's next step toward economic innovation on a local level. "Regardless of the zip code they're born in, they'll have an opportunity that they could be the next innovator and we just don't want them to leave our area. We want them to be able to do that right here," explained PSU Chief Strategy Officer Shawn Naccarato. In partnership with the city, students will work on the "Block 22" project, which began construction in downtown Pittsburg. PSU hopes the business incubation space will push not only students, but the surrounding commu-nities toward a cultural shift. Student partnerships with industry profession-als provides not only experience, but future work opportunities. Over 100 student apartments on Block 22 will open for leasing next August 2018. 

The Topeka Capital-Journal, by Savanna Maue

Excitement is building as the "Great American Solar Eclipse" nears, an event that completely blocks the sun from view in 14 states from Oregon to South Carolina on August 21. Where totality last the longest, the sun will be obscured for about two minutes and 36 seconds. In Kansas, the path of totality will cross Hiawatha, Atchison, Leavernworth and on the very edge, Kansas City. According to physics professor Chris Sorenson of Kansas State Univer-sity, the closest Kansas has come to an eclipse was an annular eclipse about 20 years ago. The difference being that during an annular, the moon is farther away from the earth. In December, he realized the eclipse coincides with the first day of college for many Kansas students, and discussed can-celling classes that day so students could attend this once-in-a-lifetime experience. The administration decided to not cancel classes, but students will not be penalized in any way of missing the first day to view the eclipse. 

The University Star, by Shayan Faradineh

During a three-day journey to Mexico City, Texas State President Denise Trauth met with government officials, leaders of businesses and heads of academic institutions to strengthen the relationship between the university and the country. "Having relationships with various entities, whether they be academic, political or financial, serves the institution as much today as it will in the future," Trauth said. "They are our neighbors and one of our country's largest trade partners. We should be taking advantage of the resources and opportunities we can offer each other." Trauth was accompanied by other Texas State officials such as James Taylor, alumnus and development foundation chair. "Mexico is a growing economy, and Texas State is a growing Institution," Taylor said. "The growth generates a need for workers. Talking to these Mexican companies is going to set students up for jobs." 

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