Penn State news by
Penn State's student blog

Topics

More

Other Fake Penn State Holidays

HippieWell… just one more fake holiday. Steve already covered the similarity between our State Patty’s Day and the University of Illinois’ Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day. This other Penn State “holiday” has no parallel.

The Collegian ran an article today about Gentle Thursday. This holiday from the 70s was created for more peaceful, less alcohol-related reasons than State Patty’s Day. Tom Benson, a rhetoric professor at Penn State, said:

“Gentle Thursday was a wonderful experience with all sorts of balloons and flags. It was a generalized protest and also a demonstration of the way students in those days cared.” “The idea was to create a gathering that would be a celebration of peacefulness.”

Mayor Bill Walsh recalls:

“It was a reason for students to get together on the HUB lawn and listen to music…I remember one time I was walking down College Ave. and equal parts of dust and marijuana smoke were blowing across the street.”

The holiday was started by a CAS 100 “Counter-Political” class and held on a Thursday in late April (What did the students do that had class on Fridays?). Gentle Thursday was celebrated annually for ten years until the University canceled it in 1981 due to the drugs and alcohol.  State Patty’s Day is totally student-organized and off-campus, so don’t think the University will have any power over it any time soon.

Your ad blocker is on.

Please choose an option below.

Sign up for our e-mail newsletter:
OR
Support quality journalism:
Purchase a Subscription!

About the Author

Eli Glazier

Eli is a junior majoring in International Politics. He enjoys paninis and books.

Follow on Another Platform
113kFollowers
157kFollowers
55.7kFollowers
4,570Subscribers
State College Links
Other posts by Eli

Senior Writes Final Column

Senior columns, with all their melodrama and platitudes, usually leave me eye-rolling and shaking my head with a vigor usually reserved for study abroad blog posts. But, as I graduate a week from today, I figured I should give it a go myself. Rather than discuss the origins of Onward State like Evan,  I’d just like to briefly thank a few individuals who have defined my Penn State experience.

Speakers Released, Collective “Who?” Uttered

Onward Debates: Private State University

[Photo Story] Penn State vs. Northwestern

After a soggy football Saturday, we rounded up our favorite photos from Penn State’s win over Northwestern.

Penn State Relay For Life Raises $41,519.93 Virtually

The event was done virtually this year due to the coronavirus, however many teams still participated in the event remotely.

Where To Eat In State College Late At Night: Your Penn State Drunk Food Guide

From tacos to pizza to egg rolls, State College has it all when it comes to late-night drunk food.

[Photo Story] Penn State vs. Northwestern

After a soggy football Saturday, we rounded up our favorite photos from Penn State’s win over Northwestern.

[Photo Story] Penn State vs. Northwestern

After a soggy football Saturday, we rounded up our favorite photos from Penn State’s win over Northwestern.

No. 11 Penn State Survives, Downs Northwestern 17-7

The Nittany Lions grinded through some ugly weather to advance to 5-0 on the season.

Gameday Coverage: No. 11 Penn State vs. Northwestern

Get ready for some ugly weather in Happy Valley.

 
Send this to a friend