This is a short essay I wrote for a summer program that asked me to describe a book, course, teacher, or event that prompted you to change your mind about a major issue, with a brief indication of why.
Last year, a parent of a child who had died after losing the battle to pediatric cancer spoke to the Penn State community. For forty years now, Penn State has raised money for The Four Diamonds Fund and hosts a forty-six hour no sitting no sleeping dance marathon (THON). When this dad was speaking, he thanked all of the Penn State students for being great role models for his daughter, for working so hard at THON to give these children the best weekends of their lives. I remember thinking after hearing this dad talk, something along the lines of "We're role models this weekend, just don't look at us next weekend." The following weekend, thousands of Penn State students from across the commonwealth would trek to University Park for a made up drinking holiday, State Patty's Day. Students would proceed to get excessively drunk, destroy the campus and the reputation of the school. We went from students who were engaged in the best activities--raising money to help kids with cancer-- to the worst, high risk drinking, in only seven days. We went from students who cared only about others to ones who could barely take care of ourselves. The events of State Patty's Day made the work of THON mean so much less to me. Our tireless effort for THON was diminished by one weekend of foolishness. It made the good work seem fake and superficial.
This perception changed for me this year. After the events that occurred on campus during the past four months, from the release of the grand jury presentment, and the firing of President Spanier to the death of Coach Paterno, I think students are beginning to see how one mistake can forever destroy a reputation. Actions have been taken this year to limit the amount of drinking on State Patty's Day by cutting the number of permitted parties and overnight guests. While the "holiday" still exists, I think these actions show change in the right direction. It shows me that Penn State students care about how they are perceived outside of Happy Valley. Every event that happens on campus reflects us as a student body. It is our job to make sure that we are represented in a way that reflects our values. "It is not our responsibility to complete the task, but neither are we free to desist from the work" (Pirke Avot 2:16) We have a job to represent Penn State, and while we are not expected to revamp the image of the school, we are not allowed to sit idly by and let our thoughtless actions tarnish that reputation. By taking action to reduce the number of students who participate in high-risk and underage drinking on State Patty's Day, we are taking a stand to change the way Penn State is perceived as a party school. One day, I hope Penn State will be known only for its superior academic and research facilities, its exemplary student leadership fantastic school spirit, not its parties.
Last year, a parent of a child who had died after losing the battle to pediatric cancer spoke to the Penn State community. For forty years now, Penn State has raised money for The Four Diamonds Fund and hosts a forty-six hour no sitting no sleeping dance marathon (THON). When this dad was speaking, he thanked all of the Penn State students for being great role models for his daughter, for working so hard at THON to give these children the best weekends of their lives. I remember thinking after hearing this dad talk, something along the lines of "We're role models this weekend, just don't look at us next weekend." The following weekend, thousands of Penn State students from across the commonwealth would trek to University Park for a made up drinking holiday, State Patty's Day. Students would proceed to get excessively drunk, destroy the campus and the reputation of the school. We went from students who were engaged in the best activities--raising money to help kids with cancer-- to the worst, high risk drinking, in only seven days. We went from students who cared only about others to ones who could barely take care of ourselves. The events of State Patty's Day made the work of THON mean so much less to me. Our tireless effort for THON was diminished by one weekend of foolishness. It made the good work seem fake and superficial.
This perception changed for me this year. After the events that occurred on campus during the past four months, from the release of the grand jury presentment, and the firing of President Spanier to the death of Coach Paterno, I think students are beginning to see how one mistake can forever destroy a reputation. Actions have been taken this year to limit the amount of drinking on State Patty's Day by cutting the number of permitted parties and overnight guests. While the "holiday" still exists, I think these actions show change in the right direction. It shows me that Penn State students care about how they are perceived outside of Happy Valley. Every event that happens on campus reflects us as a student body. It is our job to make sure that we are represented in a way that reflects our values. "It is not our responsibility to complete the task, but neither are we free to desist from the work" (Pirke Avot 2:16) We have a job to represent Penn State, and while we are not expected to revamp the image of the school, we are not allowed to sit idly by and let our thoughtless actions tarnish that reputation. By taking action to reduce the number of students who participate in high-risk and underage drinking on State Patty's Day, we are taking a stand to change the way Penn State is perceived as a party school. One day, I hope Penn State will be known only for its superior academic and research facilities, its exemplary student leadership fantastic school spirit, not its parties.
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