Print

Over 106,000 people have just witnessed Penn State defeat Big Ten opponent Nebraska. People walking out of Beaver Stadium are talking about potential postseason scenarios, the Blue Band’s halftime show or their plans for the holidays.

However, for a small army of people, the focus is on something different—garbage. In fact, by the end of the next day, that small army will have dedicated nearly 850 man hours to cleaning up the waste that has been left behind in Beaver Stadium’s tailgate lots. For a normal game, that adds up to nearly 20 tons of recyclable content alone. When a team like Michigan comes to town, that number exceeds 25 tons.

The Adler Athletic Complex has been a part of Penn State Altoona’s campus for over 40 years. Started in 1970 and completed in 1977, Adler has become the hub of Altoona’s athletic programs. For athletes, Adler houses 16 intercollegiate athletic teams, coaches, and support staff. For non-athletes, Adler is a workout facility, classroom, and the meeting point for club sports and recreational activities. However, in January of 2016, Adler’s role on campus changed. With local dignitaries and college representatives in tow, ground was broken on a 24.5 million dollar renovation of the aging facility.