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Calls to cancel Penn State’s annual Patrick’s Day drinking marathon

Jerry Sandusky/Joe Paterno fallout makes officials fear more bad publicity

JAMES O'SHEA,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Monday, February 20, 2012, 7:18 AM

Updated Monday, February 20, 2012, 11:15 AM

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Penn State gears up for "State Patty's Day" - t-shirts using the Heineken logo (a Dutch beer)

Photo by Google Images

Some are abusive. They require a tremendous amount of nursing care. Many are incontinent, sometimes very vocal...That’s an issue for emergency medical physicians, figuring out who is just drunk and who is critically injured,” Ziff said. “That’s difficult. Both patients come in unresponsive, but one is unresponsive because they are drunk. The other because they are bleeding in the head after a fall.”

Katelyn Mullen says Penn State’s national disgrace over the Sandusky episode makes more bad press potentially very damaging.

“This year, I think with the events that have transpired, students are looking more into their future seeing the Penn State reputation and how we are working so hard to rebuild that reputation and have it be a positive one,” Mullen said. “I think a lot of students see State Patty’s Day as hindering the reputation we aspire to.”

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Redrowan | Feb 21, 2012, 09:06 PM EST

While my sentiments on this are the same as most, as to those who embarrass themselves with the red hair, the oversized hats and plastic shillaleghs and the obvious overindulgence in alcohol and profanity. I also take offense at this website. This past weekend the students of Penn State raised $10.68 million dollars for pediatric cancer. They did this by canning, sponsored donations, and a dance marathon. It's easy to pick on an institution when it's down but be even handed or is that asking too much? The press gave this event absolutely no coverage and it is something they have been doing for years. The same thing happened when the Seals got Bin Laden, there was an open display of pride and patriotism displayed that has not been seen in the U.S. for a long time. You want to report the bad stuff, Sandusky, Joe Paterno's inaction go ahead , but when some good is being done in the world that should be given notice too. Red

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MarybethC.P. | Feb 21, 2012, 01:00 PM EST

Alcohol- The Gateway Drug! Does the university officially sponsor STATE Patty's Day? It would seem not, since the students are actually on Spring Break. On the other hand, if the U's Student Health Dept. is treating students who have drunk too much on this occasion, it's in Penn State's interest to get rid of this recent "tradition". STATE Patty's Day is already insulting and degrading to all with Irish roots, and the university is ignorant to allow perpetuation of such an inane activity, ostensibly to celebrate St. Patrick and Irish traditions.

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jamieLM | Feb 21, 2012, 10:31 AM EST

@AMWilson, excellent post. I'm with you 100% and the other posters have made good points, too.

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AMWilson | Feb 21, 2012, 01:43 AM EST

As a native of central Pennsylvania who grew up with the legend of JoePa and Penn State football, AND as a knowledgeable descendant of several Irish emigrant families who literally gave their lives in the steel mills, the coal fields, and especially the railroads of Pennsylvania, I find this "tradition" to be both obnoxious and embarrassing, particularly to Irish-Americans and Central Pennsylvanians. I'm with borefield: 3/17 should be about Irish history and Irish culture, not this disgusting stereotype of "the Irish as the drunks of Europe" being used as an excuse to put on a plastic green hat and get sh*tfaced. If I'm going to drink, it'll be because I'd like to enjoy a drink, and not because I think it's somehow a badge of my "Irishness".

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Willie Green | Feb 20, 2012, 02:32 PM EST

There really isn't much that the University can do to stop it. The United States experiment with alcohol Probibition (1920~33) was a dismal failure. Granted, Pennsylvania's drinking laws are more stringent than many other states. But Students over 21 years of age are legal adults. So despite efforts to restrict on-campus use or penalties for supplying alcohol to minors, it becomes almost impossible to enforce among 40 thousand students when many live off-campus in apartments, fraternities and are legally old enough to purchase and consume alchohol. So I suppose that the "good news" is that this event, although popular, still only represents a minor portion of the student population. As with anything else, it's really just "a few" who spoil the fun and reputations of everybody else.

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Murph46 | Feb 20, 2012, 12:31 PM EST

A Toast To Political Correctness They let Larry Sanduky punder little boys for years. So now it's a frikin crime to have a few beers!

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borefield | Feb 20, 2012, 12:11 PM EST

Why St. Patrick's Day has to be celebrated in this disgraceful & pathetic way is so sad. I grew up in Ireland in the 50's and this was not how we celebrated. Penn State should use this time to set an example this year and stop the drinking, get tough on the irresponsible after behavior. Stick with it, booze found on students, anyone planning a party with alcohol involved , fined. Unless the University sets the standards it will just continue. Sure, there will be annoyance on the part of some students, they will get over it. There is so many other ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, through their wonderful music, poetry, ancient and modern history, folklore, I could go on and on. Engage the students in activities of this nature. I will be watching.

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