Large Party On Penn State Campus Draws Criticism

STATE COLLEGE, PA — Penn State officials are cracking down after numerous reports of students gathering in large numbers and violating on-campus coronavirus safety protocols.

On Wednesday night, students were seen congregating "in large numbers" on the University Park campus, officials said. Many were not wearing masks or following physical distancing rules, said Penn State President Eric Barron, who addressed the matter in a letter Thursday.

Barron said university officials intervened "and the crowds dispersed." He said Wednesday night's behavior "is unacceptable." Videos of the gathering shared online show large groups of students dancing and partying.

Penn State also put a fraternity on interim suspension Thursday morning for a potential violation of COVID-19 rules regarding social gatherings.

Barron said the behavior will not be tolerated. Safety is Penn State's top priority, he said, adding "if the University needs to pivot to fully remote instruction we will."

Barron said "a multi-layered testing, monitoring, and mitigating approach" has been put in place to allow for a return to on-campus learning. "I don’t think any one individual wants to be the reason we all have to pack up," Barron said.

Barron concluded by saying, in general, he has been impressed by the number of students and families he has seen wearing masks and physically distancing. "But make no mistake, it only takes a few to ruin it for the many, as we have seen at other universities across the country."