Penn State’s image has dramatically changed in the last three months.
Before negative headlines regarding the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal engulfed the university since November, many would say Penn State’s most troubling issue was its drinking culture.
No worries, debauchery is making its comeback.
In two weeks, thousands of Penn State and non-Penn State students will pack bars and off-campus residences to partake in a day-long drink fest, State Patty’s Day, a student-created drinking holiday set for Feb. 25. It is one of the biggest crime weekends the town sees, and it has been that way since its inception in 2007. With it inevitably comes thousands in public service costs, eye-opening crime statistics and the chagrin of downtown business owners and non-student residents.
But this year is different.
National criticism has swept the university for its handling of the Sandusky scandal, leading to questions about whether State Patty’s Day should be de-emphasized by students. For some, the tarnished reputation of Penn State appears to have little effect on the attitude surrounding the event.
“I don’t think that the drinking that goes on on State Patty’s is much different than any other weekend,” said Andrew Lanteri, a 20-year-old sophomore from Fairfield County, Conn. “And the fact it has its own holiday name and kids are having fun and the media is doing coverage on it — that’s the only reason Penn State would ever get a black eye again in that sense.
“If the media didn’t blow it up to be such a big thing kids would just be here having fun and nothing would be wrong.”
State College Police made 234 criminal arrests over the unsanctioned drinking-holiday weekend a year ago and fielded 480 calls. Included in those numbers were 14 DUI arrests, 14 alcohol overdoses requiring treatment at Mount Nittany Medical Center and 34 disorderly people.
Tracy Bell, the store coordinator at The Family Clothesline since 2007, said the Sandusky scandal and the firing and passing of former football coach Joe Paterno have hushed students about State Patty’s Day, and instead shifted their focus to THON, held Feb. 17-19.
She said sales for green T-shirts have been down compared to previous years — the event is in its sixth year.
“In the years past, we’ve seen more of an anticipation, more excitement about State Patty’s Day,” Bell said. “This year we haven’t really seen that.”
Bell is pro-State Patty’s but would like it to be more of a winter Arts Fest. She suggested Irish bands, dancers and food vendors be brought in and have non-alcoholic family events for the community to enjoy.
“It’s something we’re not going to deter,” Bell said. “The kids have got will power and they have got a force behind them. They’re going to do something no matter what we say, what we do. Instead of trying to fight them, why not embrace them and encourage them to do non-alcoholic events?”
“The students they just wanna live it up,” said Justin Sumpman, a 19-year-old sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering. “You know, you hear these stories of State Patty’s Day and tailgating at the football games, and students come here to get a good education, but they also wanna come to try that experience to see the traditions and that kind of stuff.”
Damon Sims, Penn State’s vice president for student affairs wrote in an email that he believes less students will participate in State Patty’s Day because the events of the past three months have altered the public perception of Penn State students.
‘The events of the past three months have, fairly or unfairly, altered the public perception of the Penn State student experience,’ Sims wrote. ‘The riot in November, for instance, is fixed in too many minds as evidence that our students care mostly about football and beer. The image of 10,000 students at the candlelight vigil, or of students participating in the Blue Out, or of the students of THON has for the moment been eclipsed by a shallower perversion of reality.
‘Our students understand that this is so. They are dismayed by it, as they should be, but they also are determined to correct the misperception. And it is for that reason that I am persuaded that many more students will turn away this year from the activities associated with State Patty’s Day. They know that to do otherwise invites further criticism, and they’ve experienced all the criticism needed for one year. It’s time to reclaim the good name of the Penn State student experience.’
A Facebook group titled, “Official Facebook Page: State Patty’s Day 2012” has more than 10,000 users registered as attending, meaning another large influx of students is expected to descend on the downtown.
State Patty’s Day 2011 cost the borough thousands in public services, according to a municipality analysis, from $18,700 in added police costs to $15,441 for trash collection and other extra public-works needs.
“Kids should be responsible enough and to realize what happened [since Nov. 5 when charges were brought against Sandusky] and to realize they represent our school every single day,’ Lanteri said. ‘Everyone should treat it as another weekend.”
