Sounding what could be the death knell for the student-created holiday, State Patty's fourth year will pass without a single bar in downtown State College opening early or serving green beer.
After a unanimous decision passed by the Tavern Association less than two weeks ago, downtown bars have come together to reject the event Penn State students created three years ago.
No downtown bar will open its doors before its regularly scheduled hours, Downtown Improvement District Director Jody Alessandrine said, and none will be offering holiday specials.
Jennifer Zangrilli, president of the Tavern Association and director of operations at Dante's, Inc., said downtown bars have been previously asked by the State College Police Department to not promote State Patty's Day and were approached again this year.
State College bar owners feel it is important to run their businesses as responsibly as possible, Zangrilli said -- and that includes protecting them from the excessive property damage and costs associated with State Patty's Day.
She did not have to "twist anyone's arm" in the Tavern Association when it came time to make their decision.
"We are members of the community, and something that promotes heavy, excessive drinking, we do not support," Zangrelli said.
One bar owner considered staying closed the entire day to make a statement about the event, Alessandrine said. In a perfect world, this year would be the last for State Patty's Day, he said.
"There are other traditions we can be more proud of and that have a better economic impact," Alessandrine said.
Some members of Penn State student government are glad to see downtown bars making an effort to end the holiday.
"We're moving in the right direction," said Christian Ragland, University Park Undergraduate Association student life and diversity chairman. "This is a good sign from a community and a student standpoint -- we're on the same page in terms of what we want to see in terms of safety."
Ragland (junior-political science) said he spoke with State College Borough Manager Tom Fountaine, who told him some businesses choose not to open their establishments at all on State Patty's Day due to unwanted traffic downtown. That's unfortunate, Alessandrine said.
"People shouldn't have to close their business to make a statement," he said.
