In the midst of protest from community officials, police and Penn State professors, one bar has also decided to speak out against State Patty's Day weekend.
The Lion's Den, 118 S. Garner St., will not be opening its doors today in an effort to stand against the controversial student-created holiday, general manager Chris Rosengrant said.
Rosengrant, who made the decision after much debate, said it's time to make a point to students about responsible drinking, rather than just talk about it. And that means keeping his doors shut on a sales day equal to a Penn State football game, he said.
"At some point you have to step up and do something," Rosengrant said. "We're trying to reach out to people and make them think twice before they do something stupid."
Along with the Den, Rosengrant said The Shandygaff, 212 E. College Ave., will also be closed today. The Shandygaff was not yet opened as of 3 p.m.
Rosengrant said the decision was finalized after speaking with community leaders such as State College Police Chief Tom King, Borough Manager Tom Fountaine and Pennsylvania State Senator Jake Corman. And while he understood the meaning behind State Patty's when it began, the damage it's creating makes ending it a necessity.
"Hopefully the message is going to get across," he said. "We're not going to know until we try something."
