FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Title
Penn State, State College take steps to reduce impact of State Patty’s Day
Description
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State and State College Borough are again working together to mitigate the dangerous drinking and other impacts associated with the?Feb. 26?student-created drinking event known as State Patty’s Day.
Borough and University police and state law enforcement agencies will work together to maintain a robust law enforcement presence throughout the weekend.?
The patrols, which will include uniformed and plain-clothes officers, will be?focused on liquor law enforcement in residence halls on campus and rental properties and neighborhoods at the edge of campus.
In a ?Feb. 22? memo to?members of the State College Tavern Owners Association, State College Borough Manager Tom?Fountaine?and?Penn State Vice President for Student Affairs Damon Sims call?on?establishment owners to?help “impede the negative excesses that State Patty’s Day encourages.”
“For many years, this annual occurrence has produced more problematic behavior in our community than any other event, despite the many good efforts of student, University, and Borough leaders to mitigate against the resulting harm,” said Sims. “I remain optimistic that better sense will prevail and that we will continue to see the excesses State Patty’s Day engenders fade away.”
State College Police Chief John Gardner, Penn State Police Chief Jason Zajac, and Penn State?Assistant?Vice President for Student Affairs Danny Shaha sent a?letter to State College residents?on Feb. 22 asking that they refrain from having guests at their apartments and homes this weekend.?
The letter also asks residents to continue taking precautions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and reminds State College tenants that they can be arrested if individuals under age 21 are consuming alcohol at their apartments?or houses.?
“The Borough of State College continues to work in ensuring our community is safe and livable, however, actions like dangerous drinking and social gatherings during a pandemic only puts our community at risk,” said Fountaine. “Everyone in this community has a role to play in keeping our community safe and stopping the spread of the pandemic. We ask that you respect and care for your neighbors and do not participate in this dangerous event. One weekend is not worth putting yourself or others in danger.”
In addition to the?increased law enforcement?patrols, the following safety measures have been put in place to curtail dangerous activities on Feb. 26:
- Greek organizations will not host social events, consistent with the expectations for these groups enforced throughout the pandemic.
- The University’s residence halls are not allowed to have guests.
- Many property?managers will have extra staff on hand to patrol their properties and quickly report illegal activities to the police.
Any?Penn State student charged with violations during the weekend, on or off-campus, will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct for appropriate disciplinary action. However, students are reminded that local guidelines, including?Penn State’s Responsible Action Protocol and Pennsylvania’s Medical Amnesty Law, protect students from prosecution for consumption or possession of alcohol when they seek help for a peer who is passed out, unconscious or unresponsive as the result of over-consumption.
All individuals are to wear face masks or coverings in all businesses open to the public in the State College Borough as well as within any buildings on Penn State’s campus. More information on current requirements for Penn State can be found at? virusinfo.psu.edu. Local information about State College’s COVID-19 ordinance can be found at?www.statecollegepa.us/coronavirus.
