The WE ARE Campaign is a student service organization dedicated to broadening the meaning of "WE ARE.. PENN STATE!" by fostering civility, respect, caring, dialog, awareness, and involvement. The campaign works closely alongside the Alumni Association and the Office of Physical Plant (OPP). The campaign is also a member of the Council of Lionhearts.

Since April 2003, we have been fighting for a Penn State worthy of the "WE ARE ... PENN STATE!" cheer. We strive for a positive, friendly, and respectful Happy Valley. We unite students, alumni, faculty, staff, and State College residents in the common goal of making Penn State a better place for all.

Our signature event is the Spring UP Day of Service, which is held in the spring. On the day of Spring UP, student volunteers join OPP and the Alumni Association in sprucing up the Penn State community for Blue & White Weekend. Past Spring UP projects have included planting trees, planting flowers, and mulching. In addition to hosting Spring UP, we participate in several service events around campus. One Friday each semester, we participate in Friday Night Lights Out, a Council of Lionhearts initiative to turn off lights in classrooms on Friday night to save energy over the weekend. We also have an Adopt-A-Highway, which we regularly maintain.

In the fall, we march with Students Taking Action To Encourage Recycling (STATERS) in the homecoming parade, collecting trash and recyclables from the spectators along the route. This event helps OPP and the Homecoming Committee keep the streets of State College looking clean and beautiful. It also helps to encourage recycling and environmental responsibility in the Penn State community. After the parade is over, we host Homecoming Recycle-Your-Float in partnership with OPP. During this event, student volunteers join OPP in dismantling homecoming floats and recycling the raw materials. The pomp is composted. The chicken wire is melted down to form new metal. The screws are reused by OPP. And the good pieces of lumber are sold with all proceeds going to the United Way. If you belong to an organization which is building a homecoming float, please consider sending it to Homecoming Recycle-Your-Float after the parade.

Inspired by our roots, we engage in public service announcements around campus. In 2010, we started the PostSecret Project in which we asked students to express what "WE ARE" meant to them on the back of a postcard. The results were stunning. This year, we plan to release a new poster campaign. This campaign will feature notable alumni, highlighting their accomplishments while they were students, as well as their achievements in their respective professions after they graduated. To raise awareness about important issues on campus, we help run tables at events such as Earth Day and Hunger and Homelessness Week.

We enjoy performing random acts of kindness. Past random acts have included serving hot chocolate to the chilly residents of Paternoville, serving more hot chocolate to the chilly inhabitants of the Forum Building at 8 o'clock in the morning, and providing stress free activities before finals week. If you have a great idea for a new random act of kindess, please do not hesitate to contact us.