Throughout history, one of the most effective ways for a group to convey a message or get a point across has been to assemble in support of their ideas or in protest of conflicting ones. Given that the first amendment, ratified in 1791, protects “the right of the people to peaceably assemble” (if you don’t believe me, feel free to check out the Library of Congress for yourself), large groups of people coming together is a perfectly legal, and often very effective, way to institute change.

In our current political climate, the idea of what is an isn’t, or what should and shouldn’t, be a right held by the people is often debated on a wide array of topics ranging from gun control to healthcare issues. However, this week I overheard a new take on how much control should be had over someone’s individual choices, though with a slightly different end goal than social or legal justice. You see, this time, the person I heard was, as the Beastie Boys so eloquently put it (I sure hope you get the reference but if not follow this link and use it as the soundtrack to the rest of this post), fighting for their right to party:

“How can they tell you that you can’t party? That’s against our first amendment rights: the right to assemble!”

Sure, the first amendment might be in place to protect your right to assemble for things of great magnitude or personal or political importance, but it seems as though we have all forgotten that it’s simultaneously protecting our right to throw down!

Now, I believe this particular instance was in reference to State Patty’s Day, which if you are unfamiliar with I will give you a brief rundown (that I can’t promise will be entirely accurate given I’ve only been in State College for a year myself, but I think you’ll get the idea): basically, a couple years ago it was discovered that Saint Patrick’s Day fell over Spring Break, and in an effort to maximize celebrations, the innovative students of Penn State began drinking, I mean thinking, of a solution to this dilemma. The solution was to celebrate early, and the unofficial holiday quickly gained traction and became a State College staple for years to come. The State College Borough and Penn State University officials aren’t too fond of the holiday and, according to The Daily Collegian even urge bars and local establishments not to create drink specials or deals, but students soldier on through the disapproval and manage to make a weekend of it every year.

Anyway, I’m not sure if this student was at a party that got busted or simply just frustrated with the whole idea of breaking up the good times he planned on having, but he simply would not stand for this clear infringement upon his first amendment rights. Either way, I’m not here to stop people for standing up for what they believe in!

So next time you hear about someone in a bind because of simply exercising their right to assemble, remind them of this interpretation of their freedoms. Who’s to say it won’t hold up in court when they go to fight their noise complaint fine!