Bottle battle

Patrons buy, drink cases of beer;
some profits assist local agencies

While the rest of State College slumbered on a chilly damp Saturday morning, Rathskeller All American, 108 S. Pugh St., was the scene for the 17th annual case race.

From 9 a.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday, people drank cases of Rolling Rock pony bottles to benefit The AIDS Project, 315 S. Allen St., and a local adoption agency.

"It's a chance to have a good time, for people to get together, have fun and to do something for charity," said Thomas Bragl, a patron at the Rathskeller who participated in the case race.

- Abe Velasquez, an University alumnus

The event was conceived Nov. 9, 1983 when former owner John Patrick O'Connell threw a 50th anniversary party for the Rathskeller, according to the Rathskeller World Wide Web site. On that date, 903 cases were sold, beginning the tradition of the case race.

The amount of cases sold and money raised this year was not made available by Rathskeller owner Duke Gastiger.

During past years, people had camped outside the Rathskeller in the March weather to take part in the tradition.

During the case race, Rathskeller provides food, such as pretzels and pizzas, for the event to ensure that no one will get sick. Employees look out for people who have drank too much and urge them to leave.

"If students want to (attend the case race) for a cause, I don't see a problem," said Matt Taylor (junior-horticulture).

While some may see this as students and residents having fun and doing some good for community charities, there has been controversy brewing around the day.

Last year, University President Graham Spanier criticized the event for encouraging binge drinking. Spanier wrote to Gastiger asking him to call off the case race.

"Generally I do not look at binge drinking as a good thing; however, it happens," said Michelle Lombardo (senior-English). "If Graham Spanier feels binge drinking should be eliminated, there should be something done about the binge drinking at tailgating parties during football season."

According the to Web site, advance tickets were sold for the event, beginning March 16. The tickets allowed a person a 5½-hour time period to be in the bar. After each time period, the Rathskeller emptied and cleaned the bar for new drinkers, according to the Web site.

Rathskeller changed the normal format of the case race using tickets and time periods due to recent community concerns of the event.

"I would never advocate binge drinking, but it takes place," said John Heck, a former University student who was visiting Lombardo for the weekend. "But it is benefiting a cause, and that's a good thing."

While proceeds from the case race will go to charities, some people point out the health risks involved in drinking.

"I think there's better ways to raise money for a worthy cause," said Abe Velasquez, an University alumnus who was also visiting for the weekend. "It's an unhealthy thing for a good cause -- it's a paradox."