Drunk people do stupid things.

As one of the police, fire and courts reporters last semester for The Daily Collegian, I saw firsthand everyday that when students wander the streets drunk and alone the consequences are sometimes hilarious, but can be often very serious.

The infamous "mummy-on-fire" incident was a night of Halloween fun gone terribly wrong.

One creative student decided to wrap himself in toilet paper for the spooky mummy effect -- a cheap and convincing costume. But after a few drinks, he went outside to smoke a cigarette and with one slip of the hand, his costume went up in flames and he suffered serious burns on his arm.

Another incident happened right inside the doors of the State College Police Department.

Early one morning a student wandered into the lobby, very drunk and disoriented, with one thing in mind: getting to a bathroom. But sadly, the station's bathroom doors are locked at 3 a.m., and she never made it.

State College police officers found the semi-conscious and partially dressed student the next morning with some embarrassing stains on her clothes and a mess on the floor.

She was charged with minor's liquor law violation, public drunkenness, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief, and the officers had to wait for sanitation workers to clean up the area before they could investigate the incident.

This antic even got Penn State recognition on the popular Web site collegehumor.com.

But drunken Saturday night escapades don't always end in a laugh or an uncomfortable hangover.

Serious incidents, such as sexual assaults, broken bones and criminal charges happen all the time and can leave students rethinking their solo ventures out onto the streets of State College.

After my experiences reporting such activities, I've noticed a trend -- people are much more likely to find themselves in sticky situations when they are on their own.

While alcohol does contribute to these incidents, walking aimlessly and impaired through the streets without a sidekick, often leads to trouble. I don't blame alcohol for this; I'd rather blame students who walk the streets without their friends.

There is wisdom in the old "safety in numbers" adage because most likely if someone wants to bungee jump off a balcony or sled down the library steps, someone else might have some reservations.

Chances are that out of a group, at least one person will realize that when wrapped in toilet paper, smoking a cigarette may not be a bright idea.