The founder of State Patty's Day has spoken out against the holiday he created three years ago, saying he can no longer be a part of something he calls an "absolute disaster."
"There was a lot of good in it," Joe Veltre said of the original day, which stood in for Saint Patrick's Day in 2007 when the holiday fell over spring break.
However, the holiday he created transformed "from a bunch of kids having fun to debauchery, and something really disgraceful," Veltre said.
Now, Veltre (senior-biochemistry and molecular biology) has decided to cut all ties with the holiday.
"My participation in State Patty's Day is done," he said. "It's up to the student body."
Veltre said he agrees with the decision by some downtown bars to not promote the holiday, as well as efforts by Penn State and the State College borough to see it end this year.
There is a drinking problem at Penn State, he said, and until progress is made, he would like to see State Patty's Day go.
"It's become a burden -- personally, I'd love to come back in 20 years to see it still exist, but as a different entity," he said.
Though he is done with the holiday, Veltre said he does believe in the leadership at Penn State to change the image of State Patty's Day into something people can see in a positive light.
