Not April Fools: Penn State bans century old outdoor club from..... going outdoors as the wilderness is too dangerous

former nittany #8 wrote:

I agree with the University policy. This is Penn State , not some community college on Oregon.

With the lax/nonexistent academic standards, Penn State should be doing all it can to ensure that students have healthy ways to occupy their copious free time. The reason that alcohol is such a problem at schools like this is that the curriculum is so unchallenging that kids just have nothing to do all day other than drink. Nearly any distraction from this should be considered a reduction in liability.

One of the attractive things about Penn State is that it is near to some of the largest wilderness areas in the East Coast. An outdoors club at Penn State is a real plus. My brother in law - ironically a Penn grad - helped build a house in the wilderness of North Central Pennsylvania. I feel privileged every time I visit, (no cell phones formiles), and can only imagine the challenge of combination and fun with an outdoors club at PSU. And as to whether schools should support a hobby, this activity makes a lot more sense than a fraternity, which given the expense and opportunity costs of college today, seem like a poor choice.

rojo wrote:

How do you spell Snowflake? Penn State.

All outdoor activities aren't banned however. The more expensive official Penn State outdoor activities will continue to be offered even though an official "said Outing Club activities were rated high risk because they take place in remote environments with poor cell service and distance from emergency services."

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2018/04/18/Penn-state-university-ends-Outing-Club-trips/stories/201804180168?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebookhttp://www.lehighvalleylive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/04/penn_state_bans_outdoors_club.html

How far we have fallen. Vile.

and

No.

They shouldn't even worry about lawsuits. The reason why the schools are so expensive is they have layers of bureaucrats making $150k per year over analyzing things like this and adding more paperwork.

Let's say that every single year there is a million dollar lawsuit against the University because some kid skins his knee (trust me there won't be a lawsuit of that magnitude) on the outdoor trip. So what. There are 46,000 students at Penn State so that is $20 per kid. It's nothing.

People forget universities are supposed to be about EDUCATION. Wouldn't it be great to teach people how to survive in the wildrerness? Instead, they are teaching them they need to be near a cell phone which is actually bad for your health?

So . . . your cute little back of the envelope calculation based on zero facts and 100% speculation should be taken seriously as compared to the folks who actually have the information, have considered various alternatives and decided upon an appropriate course of action?!? Okayyyyyy . . .

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BTW - I completely agree that the whole notion of banning "risky" outdoor activities is BS. But your note about this sort of thing being "why universities cost $60k per year" was dumber than dumb. WAY dumber.

they need something to do wrote:

former nittany #8 wrote:

I agree with the University policy. This is Penn State , not some community college on Oregon.

With the lax/nonexistent academic standards, Penn State should be doing all it can to ensure that students have healthy ways to occupy their copious free time. The reason that alcohol is such a problem at schools like this is that the curriculum is so unchallenging that kids just have nothing to do all day other than drink. Nearly any distraction from this should be considered a reduction in liability.

Student's should concentrate on mastering the Curriculum. This is what University is designed for. Finding hobbies you enjoy in life are on the part of the individuals. This is called growing up.

Ura Typical Idiot wrote:

... -- Paterno himself wished he had done more, he acted in accordance with the law

You're defending the guy for covering up rape by saying he did not knowingly break the law.

I guess in your amoral world, sticking within the rules of the law is all that matters, but for some of us, morality is a higher duty.

rojo wrote:

[quote]What the What? wrote:

[quote]rojo wrote:

Let's say that every single year there is a million dollar lawsuit against the University because some kid skins his knee (trust me there won't be a lawsuit of that magnitude) on the outdoor trip. So what. There are 46,000 students at Penn State so that is $20 per kid. It's nothing.

So Rojo will send me $20 every year? It's nothing afterall.

As a student I would appreciate the efforts of these bureaucrats keeping costs down where they can.

I honestly don’t see a problem here

And now Penn State welcomes back a frat that was suspended for hazing and alcohol violations immediately after deciding that Outing Club is too dangerous...

http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/education/penn-state/article209870544.html

rojo wrote:

For the record, I'm not calling the kids snowflakes. I'm calling the administration that.

Yes, I get it. You don't want to get sued but come on. People wonder why universities cost 60k per year now. This is an example of why.

How is this an example of why tuition is going up?

It cost the university nothing to enact the ban, while saving them on insurance and potentially expensive lawsuits.

Also, by eliminating the student-run competition, they were able to triple the price of their own university-run outing, so that the rest of the student body no longer has to subsidize the costs.

I think it's a horrible decision but it doesn't support your argument.

The new club sports director is from Ohio State. Our previous director did a ton to protect clubs from the administratative shitnado.