It’s State Patty’s Day weekend. How Penn State, State College police are responding
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- Police plan substantial, multi‑agency patrols Friday through Sunday to curb offenses.
- Off‑campus arrests will be forwarded to Penn State’s student accountability office.
- Officials urge residents to limit guests and warn of $750 minimum noise fines.
Penn State and State College have again announced a “substantial police presence” through the weekend for State Patty’s Day, a student-created drinking holiday that police say typically results in more crime, more criminal arrests and more alcohol overdoses.
In a joint letter, both university and borough police explained — as they do every year — that surrounding police departments are expected to help “assertively patrol for violations” from Friday through Sunday. And any Penn State students with off-campus criminal violations will have their information forwarded to the university’s Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
“In addition, the State College Police Department will be working closely with your rental property managers and their staff,” said the letter signed by the police chiefs of both State College and Penn State. “Many rental property owners or managers will have extra staff patrolling the hallways. Disorderly conduct and other unlawful activities in apartments or houses will be reported ... and strictly enforced.”
State Patty’s has occupied a space among Penn State’s most infamous traditions for nearly two decades. The annual event started in 2007 when the traditional St. Patrick’s Day celebration fell during students’ spring break. Even in future years, when the traditional Irish holiday fell outside spring break, students never stopped celebrating State Patty’s — which now takes place during the weekend after Thon and before spring break.
Although still a concern, the impact of the student holiday has declined considerably since its heyday. In 2011, more than 300 arrests were made during the three-day event. Last year, based on a preliminary report, the number of arrests was reduced to 47, including five DUIs, according to borough spokesperson Kayla Lafferty.
Penn State typically issues a news release to alert the community in the days leading up to State Patty’s Day but eschewed that practice this year. When asked if that was a result of the holiday becoming less of a concern, a university spokesperson intimated it was instead part of a strategy.
“Our approach has been to focus on direct outreach and coordinated community messaging as this helps us reach our students more directly, rather than drawing additional attention to the gathering, which, to be clear, is not a Penn State event,” spokesperson Wyatt DuBois said in an email. “Guidance has already been shared with students, landlords and local businesses through those established channels.”
According to borough and university police, many of State Patty’s criminal offenses come from out-of-town visitors eager to celebrate. As a result, the joint letter asked residents to limit guests this weekend — and also reiterated that the minimum fine for a noise violation is $750 (plus court costs).
State Patty’s Day, or more accurately State Patty’s Weekend, will end Sunday. Penn State’s spring break officially runs from March 8-14, and the actual St. Patrick’s Day is scheduled for March 17.
