State Paddy's Service Style by Chelsie Rimel

Patty’s Day has been a Penn State controversy since its establishment back in 2007. Since then, State College has seen its fair share of bad behavior on behalf of the students every end of February. This year State Patty’s Day is slated to occur on February 23rd (which is actually my birthday). I encourage all of you brothers to get involved in the State Day of Service on this day. As a freshman last year, I heard a lot about State Patty’s Day, but as the days drew closer, I realized that I did not want to participate in such festivities. Instead I volunteered and walked around State College promoting a positive student influence in the community. I was very happy with my decision to serve. I met some great people from different orgs and around the community and a couple of hours aren’t a bad thing either! The vast number of volunteer events and flexible hour schedule makes volunteering, even for a few hours, extremely easy. For most students, including myself, State College is a home away from home. Why trash the community when you can give back? As student leaders, I feel that it is our duty to put the negative State Patty’s Day activities behind us and turn the “holiday” into a day dedicated to service and the betterment of the community. We are all a reflection of Alpha Phi Omega and Penn State. If we remember this statement, we can make better decisions on State Patty’s Day and every day.