Two recent decisions by the university administration are shining examples of why, for a three-year period, I stopped coming to Penn State games and practically disavowed myself from Penn State entirely.

Those are the prohibition on tailgating during games and the restrictions on Paternoville.

The latter disturbs me the most. Paternoville sprung up as a spontaneous way for students to show their school spirit. After several years of mediocrity, the football team seemed to be rebounding and the students were once again proud to wear the blue and white. It was a great thing to see. In fact it was so great Joe himself showed up to serve pizza and a plaque was put up to commemorate a new Penn State tradition.

The university and particularly athletic director Tim Curley seem to be willing to put up with traditions at Penn State, as long as they are on the university's own terms.

In short, any sort of school spirit activity is OK with this bunch as long as it is sanctioned, regulated and packaged with a university seal and charged $10 for.

Better yet, just stop it all together. It is just wrong that a great new tradition is effectively stopped due to a few concerns that could be addressed with a few minor changes, and not with these prohibitive steps.

But that is the great thing about these students. The university treats them like dirt. They consistently bungle the student ticketing system, harass them for having parties and cancel Paternoville. But the students still camp out in the cold and wet for a chance to sit front row to cheer on their Nittany Lions.