"When students clump together and move around in herds, there is a kind of peer pressure to be outrageous," Keller said. "They get loud and they get obnoxious when they drink together."
When it comes to alcohol-related incidents, the students' safety becomes the foremost concern, especially considering the instability of the world situation.
The U.S. State Department advises those living abroad to avoid any conditions that would easily identify students as American.
Penn State students are also provided with brochures alerting them to special circumstances of particular areas overseas, including sexual orientation, gender and religious issues.
"Things are not the same in Rome as they are here," Keller said. "We work hard to orient students."
Keller said the university makes sure students understand the responsibilities that come with studying overseas by offering a pre-departure study abroad session and a special orientation course.
Students are also required to sign a conduct standards agreement, in which they agree not to abuse alcohol or engage in any drug activity.
Even as the number of students studying abroad reaches an all-time high, Keller said numbers are not necessarily the root of the problem.
"It is a broadening experience, and how we develop internationally minded students," Keller said. "We always want to welcome more and more students who wish to continue their studies in a foreign country."
Even though it offers an extensive study-abroad program, Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig said the university has had few problems with its students.
"I think every American university has had some problem like this, but our study-abroad program is very successful," Kendig said. "That's not to say we don't run into the occasional problem with a student here or there, just as any other college would."
When infractions do occur, depending on the severity of the offense, the Office of Judicial Affairs will be notified and brought in to assess the situation.
Before students are accepted, all applicants are screened by judicial affairs, said Karen Feldbaum, judicial affairs associate director. If any incidents do arise, depending on its severity, it will be sent to judicial affairs for further review.
"We've been lucky so far and this has not become a major issue yet," Feldbaum said.
Melissa Scheiner (junior-economics) said she plans to go to London this spring and was aware of increasing problems with the behavior of students abroad, but was not concerned.
"It's not something I'm worried about because I know the laws are so lax abroad and so much stricter here," Scheiner said.
"I'll behave the same way I have for two years here at Penn State, but I think for a lot of people it is an opportunity to break free."
Lindsey Alexander (senior-crime, law and justice) spent last semester studying in Australia, and said she was not surprised by these growing concerns.
"You still have to go to class and studying helps ground you," she said. "But it's a definite time to party and take advantage of every day you're there."
