Ruijia Zhang
Dr. Jessica O’Hara
English 015
12 April 2015
Recommendation report on deliberation of State Patty’s Day
Abstract:
As a student of Penn State, I disagree on the idea that the State Patty’s Day should be stopped entirely. I believe when an issue has a problem, the best way is to solve the problem by carrying it into practical execution rather than just preventing this from happening entirely. While the basic concern is how to decrease the damage and negative effect the State Patty’s Day brings to the students, the school and the town, we might hold some alternative activities that involve families and children. This will not only help the local economy because of the rush of visitors to the town, students’ behaviour will also get controlled because of the existence of kids and parents.
Recommendation:
I recommend school to hold a parade or a concert that involves families’ participation on State Patty’s Day so that students behave themselves in front of kids and families. I also suggest that we can make State Patty’s Day a family-centered holiday rather than students-centered to both improve the family relationship and reduce damage at the same time.
Nature of problem:
Sometimes the nature of an issue is just its problem. State Patty’s Day originated on March 2, 2007, as a way for students to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at a point when Penn State’s academic calendar had the school on spring break when the real holiday fell. Students in Penn State or even those from nearby universities wear the green, meet friends and fill the streets, bars and restaurants for Penn State’s unofficial, and at times, unwanted, early Saint Patrick’s Day celebration. Here comes the problem: students crowd in downtown at bars that open early just for this holiday. Alcohol being an important part of this holiday, State Patty’s Day becomes one of the most crime-ridden days in Happy Valley. Due to the reckless drinking habits of college students, other negatives have surfaced. There are higher rates of vandalism and alcohol-related incidents on these weekends.
For a long time, the university has been seeking ways to improve State Patty’s Day’s reputation. The university even thought of stop state Patty’s Day entirely. But according to the deliberation in class, it seems impossible to stop State Patty’s Day because each Penn State student is truly proud of this student-led holiday. If it is abolished, students might establish a similar holiday just with different names so that the same activities can be carried out. This means, it is impossible to stop students from being boisterous, but we can appease them. While in the deliberation, there is an approach I would recommend, which is finding alternative activities. And I specifically recommend school to hold a concert or a parade to attract students’ eyeballs so as to hold them from other alcoholic activities.
Firstly, inviting families to State Patty’s Day will definitely shape students’ behavior especially those related to the alcohol. What partly composes students’ activities on State Patty’s Day is waiting in front of gates of the bars, going out of a bar and then getting into another one. People drink and get drunk, which is the lurking danger behind the large number of students arrested because of criminal behaviors. According to a 2007 Daily Collegian article, on the first State Patty’s Day, Penn State police reported that seven people seven people were taken to the hospital for dangerous drinking and State College Police received about 140 calls that day. Though compared to the 250 average arrested students, 7 people and 140 calls is not large data, alcohol is still an important issue that the university should take actions on. Children behave better when they are in front of their parents and their siblings than they are staying alone or staying with their friends. When family get together, drinking is not necessary and is not the only thing could be done on this holiday so that alcohol-related incidents will happen in a lower rate.
Secondly, holding a parade or a concert will also stimulate the local economy. According to an Onward State article, in the past several years, the university paid the bars to shut down. Though some small local business like bars get some money from the university, the money earned cannot be compared with those earned due to students’ long lines waiting for getting in and having drinks. If there is a parade or concert that attracts many families, the bars will not only open on State Patty’s Day, they will also receive more people coming as families and as Penn State students’ friends. Since who is attracted by parade is not limited to families of Penn State students, many visitors from nearby town or nearby university will also come and spend money. The rout for the parade will definitely be downtown, the College Ave. So Penn State can get some place downtown to sell featured Penn State snacks such as the creamery and cookies with Penn State patterns on them. This can also spread Penn state’s popularity, which help improve Penn State’s reputation. Holding a parade is like enlarging the scale of State Patty’s Day in general, which is an effective way for greater number of people getting involved.
Lastly, as an international student, I believe the culture matters on State Patty’s Day, and the culture is also a great element that can be taken advantage of. Taking my personal experience as an example, my Chinese friends receive little information about State Patty’s Day. Some of them even don’t know what this holiday is and what it is for. I have once interviewed my roommate, Kehui, who told me that if there are any Chinese elements on this holiday, she would be more willing to get involved. She also said she was naturally interested in this holiday but had no idea how to participate except for going to bars and wearing green. On State Patty’s Day this year, which is the only year I have experienced, I had no Chinese friends attending, joining in any parties. I don’t think it is the individual preference especially when a large group of people chooses not to do. This stands for a kind of culture. If we hold an alternative activity like parade in which all Penn State students are interested in getting involved especially the international students, State Patty’s Day will not only become a holiday with mixed culture, it also helps American students learn more about other cultures of different countries. This parade can be like homecoming, but it can also be simpler so as to not take place of the homecoming. Showing ways of entertainments in different countries is also a great idea since State Patty’s Day is originally an entertaining holiday led by students.
Conclusion…..