Penn State and the State College Borough have been named a recipient of the inaugural International Town Gown Association (ITGA) ImpACT Awards: Putting Practice into Action for their collaborative efforts in diminishing the negative effects of State Patty’s Day on the local community.
The awards are given to stakeholders involved in projects and initiatives that exemplify best practices in the fields of town-gown relations, ranging from quality of life initiatives to shared services and economic development.
"This award recognizes the persistent incremental progress that has come from a true collaboration between the borough and the University aimed at a significant community concern,” said Damon Sims, vice president for Student Affairs. “It’s the best example I know of a meaningful town-gown partnership among us that includes nearly every constituency imaginable, from students and University faculty and staff, to borough leaders, law enforcement and permanent residents. The key to any success we've achieved has been the shared ambition of both students and State College residents, all of whom have been deeply committed to securing and sustaining a community for all of us that is safe, civil and vibrant.”
As part of the award, ITGA will be giving a $500 check to The Partnership: Campus and Community United Against Dangerous Drinking, a collaboration between Penn State and State College to educate and support various sectors of the Centre Region as they work to reduce the high-risk behavior that can accompany the consumption of alcohol.
State Patty’s Day was started through social media in 2007, a year in which St. Patrick’s Day occurred during Penn State’s spring break, and the annual event brought an increase in emergency room visits and crime, making downtown State College inhospitable and damaging the reputation of the student body.
The State Patty’s Day Task Force — composed of student leaders, community leaders, borough officials, University officials and downtown merchants — was organized to help reduce the impact of the event on the local community.
The task force has mounted substantial efforts in the past few years to minimize the harms of State Patty's Day, including the creation of State Day of Service, a student-led volunteer project; an Interfraternity Council (IFC) ban on parties; and a stipend paid to downtown establishments agreeing to forgo the serving and selling of alcohol. This year, the group helped to plan an alternative weekend event called Thaw Festival that featured music, film, comedy, a 5K run and volunteer opportunities.
“IFC leadership as well as the work from other student leaders and the overall community who came together has been instrumental in mitigating the negative impacts of this day,” said Borough Manager Tom Fountaine. “The hospitality association and other businesses were all key parts in making State Patty’s Day an overall safer day, too. Through a community-wide response, we’ve been able to introduce a new event that brings residents and students together for positive change.”
Sims and Fountaine, both leaders of The Partnership: Campus and Community United Against Dangerous Drinking and the State Patty’s Day Task Force, will accept the award on behalf of the University and borough at the June ITGA meeting in Washington, D.C.
Penn State and the borough were selected for the award based on information gathered from the ITGA annual survey, along with the input of committee members from ITGA and Brailsford & Dunlavey, a program management firm based out of Washington, D.C. Two other groups — the Oregon Regional Accelerator & Innovation Network (RAIN) and representatives from Norwood, Ohio, and Xavier University — will also be recognized.