The few times I've hung out at Penn State I had a good time. That is a nice part of PA. The school is big enough to have something for everyone, so I bet you find your niche. I'm in a more rural part of the state. We have a "you leave us alone and we'll leave you alone" attitude toward state gov. Read the interactions between wolf and spexxvet to get an idea of the political atmosphere.
Welcome! You've got a friend in Pennsylvania!