Penn State Bans Day Parties, Frats Hold Them Anyway

2NOTBrokeGirls10 years ago

It’s finally spring. The days are turning warmer, it stays light out a little bit later, and day drinking is becoming more commonplace with each passing week. Weekend days that probably should be spent studying for finals are instead full of drinking games, volleyball, and BBQ. And despite Penn State’s best efforts to make sure these daylong binges don’t happen, the campus fraternities apparently don’t have a single fuck to give.

From The Daily Collegian:

The Interfraternity Council, in cooperation with the Highlands Civic Association and the State College Police Department, decided to halt the outdoor party tradition through the end of the semester due to complaints by local residents.

Interestingly, this ruling came two days before Penn State’s “Blue and White” weekend, with a carnival, fireworks, and of course, the annual Blue and White football game.

So, what happened? Pretty much exactly what you’d expect. According to the paper, the scene on fraternity row didn’t look like anyone was taking the ban seriously: “students clad in Penn State apparel stumbled throughout the streets, while others stood on the lawns of fraternity houses, laughing with friends, red solo cups in hand, as music blared.” Of course, the parties were not registered through IFC, making them unofficial events. IFC President Rick Groves told The Daily Collegian via email, “The Interfraternity Council is aware that a number of fraternities hosted daytime social events. These chapters have been identified and will be sanctioned appropriately.”

What makes the situation interesting is that the ban itself pretty much is impossible to enforce, for a few reasons. Firstly, there are 43 fraternity houses in downtown State College, making it pretty difficult to keep tabs on the events taking place. Secondly, the ban doesn’t mean squat to the State College Police Department — they only get involved if a party is “out of control.”

Even IFC seems to realize what they’ve got on their hands is unenforceable and an overall stupid policy. IFC’s Vice President of External Risk Management Bill Postufka told the paper, “Many members of the community would not like to support large events happening outdoors. However, if these types of functions are going to inevitably and spontaneously occur, it appears that a full moratorium of daylong functions may not be the best long-term solution.”

Party on, Penn State..

[Via The Daily Collegian]