Stark white table cloths and red napkins folded into fans decorated the usually bare tables, and tuxedo-clad men served water to Penn State President Graham Spanier.
The only indication that the transformed dining hall was actually a fraternity was the foosball tables pushed against the wall.
Triangle fraternity, 226 E. Beaver Ave., invited Spanier to be the keynote speaker at its annual student/faculty dinner held last night for the first time in a decade.
"To have President Spanier speak here makes us look outstanding," said fraternity president Matt Barto (senior-computer science). "It validates that we're doing a positive thing for the community."
Spanier spoke about topics ranging from Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon and the Greek community in the media to the process of hiring a new Vice President of Student Affairs.
"On any given day at Penn State, someone does something really stupid," Spanier said, adding that candidates for the position should be able to solve those problems.
Spanier also commended the fraternity for its recruitment, its opposition to hazing and for following IFC rules.
"You set a fine example for others," Spanier said. "No parties on Wednesday or Thursday nights...no standing upside down on beer kegs."
State College Mayor Bill Welch, who spoke at the dinner last year, was also in attendance.
"I think [this event] says something about Triangle's relations with the community," said Welch. "As I tease them, I don't see their name in the police reports...This is a productive thing for a fraternity to be doing rather than seeing how many Jell-O shooters they can do at 4 am."
During a question and answer portion of his speech, Spanier gave his opinion on student issues in the media.
"[The Centre Daily Times] will never say, 'CDT reader arrested for DUI', but they will say, 'Penn State student arrested for DUI,'" Spanier said.
He then criticized the national media coverage of the students who dressed up as Virginia Tech shooting victims.
"Not only do they put the story on CNN, they go and interview the moron and make him a star," Spanier said.
Spanier also spoke about Penn State's campus security and the letters he has received arguing that school shootings should justify students carrying concealed weapons on campus. As the audience laughed, Spanier joked, "And remember, I have to answer all of these letters."
About 55 people attended the event, including faculty, alumni and current members, Barto said. "We're privileged to have him in the house. He does a lot of these dinners but to have him here is an honor," he added.
