Vol. 120, No. 2 Aug. 26-28, 2019 Students weigh in on the 2020 class gift By Connor Donlon THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Every year since 1861, the graduating class has given Penn State a parting gift. From the Berkey Cream- ery cafe to pipe organs to tele- scopes, each class has etched its name into the Penn State his- tory books. According to the Class Gift campaign website, the mission of the campaign James Leavy/Collegian is “to promote a philanthropic Revamped performs at the Arboretum at Penn State during the Penn’s Woods Music Festival on Tuesday, June 11. spirit among the graduating class by providing students an opportunity to start their legacy of giving to the University.” Keeping in tune: Violin duo Prior to 1985, only select student organizations were able to vote for the class gift. Ultimately, a committee was formed to represent all makes community impact student organizations on campus. By Maddie Aiken and the two started learning for the first time, noting they of- Now, senior students THE DAILY COLLEGIAN tricks together. Among these in- ten react in awe and delight. can both propose ideas for cluded the trick where Williams As teachers, Carolyn described and vote upon potential class Playing the violin can be a chal- Minnich threads two violins while the duo as “fun, kind and sweet,” gifts. lenge in itself for many individu- Minnich plays with two bows — a and said her daughter is “lucky” Voting is currently open als. difficult stunt that took several to learn from them. online until Sep. 13. However, for a duo to play two all-nighters to get the hang of. “They find a way of both inspir- Though only a freshman, Matt different rhythms at the same Coordination, Minnich and Wil- ing and propping the kids up in Monaghan expressed the need time — with one person holding liams Minnich agreed, was the the best way,” Kello said. for renovations on campus. two violins, and the other holding most difficult part of the trick to Minnich and Williams Minn- Monaghan (freshman-forensic two bows — takes it to another learn. They would often master ich started playing the violin at science) specifically suggested level. the left side and right side sepa- ages 9 and 4, respectively. Both renovating the south side of For the husband-wife violin duo rately before playing both sides had a natural knack for the vio- campus. "Revamped," this trick is one of together. lin — however, that didn’t mean In the true spirit of the many accomplishments on their Even as they got the hang of there weren’t challenges along football season, William My- musical resumes. the trick, they strived to perfect the way. ers fittingly proposed a Based in Central Pennsylvania, it so it both looked and sounded “[Playing the violin] definitely statue of beloved Penn State Mark Minnich and Sally Williams good. They sometimes perform clicked for me, but inevitably alum. Minnich play a diverse range of the stunt during gigs and high- there’s going to be challenges,” “Maybe a statue of Saquon?” music — blending classical, pop, profile performances. Williams Minnich said. “It would Myers (senior-electrical engi- rock, jazz and folk for a unique In July, the duo played at Arts be like a here and there kind neering) said. sound. The group’s performanc- Fest for the fourth year. Minn- of thing where there would be Other students, though, of- es feature songs varying from ich and Williams Minnich's mu- something for whatever reason fered different ideas as senior Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” sic isn't limited to Pennsylvania, that was really, really hard or su- gifts. to “Beethoven’s Fifth.” however. They've played the vio- per frustrating. You practice a lot, Freshman Scott Shapiro Minnich and Williams Minnich lin across the globe, with one of get mad and cry, and go practice began dating in college at Bowl- their favorite locations being a again.” shared an idea that he believed ing Green State. However, they medieval fortress in Greece. String instruments can be would benefit all students. first met at an All-State Orches- Despite their global reach, tougher to play than others, as Shapiro (freshman-division of tra program in high school. the pair maintains strong ties the musician must be able to undergraduate studies) sug- As Williams Minnich described with the Centre County com- make a “good sound” and play in gested central air conditioning it, many different instruments munity. Currently living in State tune, according to Minnich. Wil- for all buildings and dorms on featured at the program were on College, Minnich and Williams liams Minnich added there is no campus. sale or could be played, including Minnich perform together as Re- margin of error when playing the In solidarity with bird a Stradivarius — one of several vamped and in local orchestras, violin — the violinist could be a watchers and loungers every- hundred rare 300-year-old violins symphonies and quartets. They millimeter off and the song will be where, Julia Duemler pro- created by Antonio Stradivari — also teach individual and group out of tune. posed a rather simple gift — a valued at $2.5 million. classes through the State College The slightest shift of weight in wood bench that reads “Class of While the Stradivarius was not Suzuki Program to help Centre the fingertip can make all the dif- Both continue to teach stu- 2020.” for sale, it could be played. Wil- County students learn how to ference. dents through the State College Colleen Graham stated she Suzuki Program, where Wil- liams Minnich said she very care- play the violin. According to Williams Minn- wished the class gift was a large liams Minnich also serves as the fully picked up the instrument, Nika Kello, who has been play- ich, he’s never met a student who study hall for campus. director of the program. played it (describing the violin as ing the violin for about nine years, didn’t have struggles playing the “There’s a lot of places In addition, Minnich is the “just glorious”) and carefully set is currently one of Minnich and instrument. to study on campus but I’m it back down. Williams Minnich’s students. Williams Minnich said she de- president of the Penn’s Woods Music Festival in State College, not really sure where they While looking at other violins, “I’ve learned so much from cided she wanted to play the vio- are” Graham (junior-biol- Williams Minnich heard someone both of them,” Kello, 15, said. lin professionally at age 15, while a professional orchestral and chamber music festival held in ogy) said. “Other than the else playing the Stradivarius. “Technically, they’ve helped me Minnich described his decision library there isn’t a big place to “I heard someone playing the grow in my personal musical the summer that began in 1986. as “more of a progression” as he study.” Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto re- technique and skill, and they’ve continued to play as an under- This past year, the duo’s focus Finally, Sean Theocli- ally, really well… but also, they also introduced me to a wide va- graduate student. shifted to parenting their 1-year- tus suggested the idea of were playing extremely vigorous- riety of music — taking the violin Since college, Minnich and Wil- old son, Will. creating a documentary for fu- ly on this violin,” she said, laugh- beyond the regular classical stan- liams Minnich have built their Looking to the future, Min- ing in recollection. “I was super dards and being able to realize careers entirely out of music, nich and Williams Minnich said ture classes. impressed, and also shocked that what else you can do as a musi- considering themselves free- they hope to make more record- Theoclitus (junior-architec- person was not being at all deli- cian.” lance musicians. They perform ings, grow their Patreon com- tural engineering) hopes for the cate with this $2.5 million violin.” Kello has attended numerous together as Revamped, per- munity and continue reaching creation of a documentary sur- She soon came to learn that Revamped shows with her moth- form as soloists in orchestras out to youth in the local commu- rounding the history of Penn person was Minnich. er, Carolyn. Carolyn said the first and symphonies, and perform nity. State. When they began several years time she saw Revamped perform, in the State College-based Al- “Moving forward, we’ll have If you want your voice to be later, they also began playing she was highly impressed with legria String Quartet, of which to figure out how to grow our- heard submit your idea online the violin together. Minnich said them as performers. Williams Minnich is the founding selves and our ensemble,” Min- or by texting “ClassGift2020” to they were looking for an excuse Years later, she continues to member. nich said, “while maintaining a 71777. to hang out with each other, and attend shows and said she has As Revamped, they have also healthy family life.” practicing together was an “ad- noticed growth in the duo’s audi- released two albums — “Bro- To email reporter: [email protected]. equate reason.” ence. She “always gets a kick” out ken Bridges” and “A Revamped To email reporter: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at Playing together felt organic, of seeing others watch Revamped Christmas.” Follow her on Twitter at @madsaiken. @connordonlon26. Man files lawsuit against Penn State professor ameritus By Maddie Aiken state of Pennsylvania. Penn State ally assaulted the second old- The suit says Rockefeller Uni- to occur and to continue unabat- THE DAILY COLLEGIAN did not immediately respond to est brother during a scoliosis versity Hospital offered “free” ed,” the suit reads.