Stay Classy, Penn State

Let’s go back to November 19. It was my first day back in good ole Philadelphia for Thanksgiving break, the afternoon of the Ohio State football game. I decided to meet up with a few friends at Chickie’s and Pete’s to watch the game. I was the first to arrive, so I planted myself next to the biggest TV at the bar. Before I even sat down, a lady in her early forties curiously asked, “Are you a Penn State student?” I proudly responded, “Yes I am, I’m a junior there now.” Her next words to me were, “You know you go to school with a bunch of pedophiles, right?” Now I would never hurt a woman, but if there was ever a time when I was close, it was then. I just shook my head and laughed to myself in disbelief. After I moved a few seats down for her own personal protection, she left me with this grand statement, “I hope your school goes down, along with that dumb statue.”

Fast forward three weeks. This weekend, I traveled to Pittsburgh with fellow Onward Stater Kevin Horne to visit a good friend and cover the Penn State-Duquesne basketball game. I wore a Penn State hoodie as I went ice skating with a few friends on Friday night. Some adults heckled me saying, “Watch out, Sandusky is gonna get ya.”

The next night, Kevin and I went to the basketball game at the CONSOL Center. Everything was relatively normal: Billy Oliver was air-balling threes and Pat Chambers was trying mentor his young club on the road in a very audible fashion. The status quo lasted until the final ten minutes of the second half. The Duquesne student section, which was located in close proximity to about 50 Nittany Nation members who drove up from Penn State earlier that afternoon, started chanting “Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!” But this was okay, because their player Jerry Jones was at the free throw line. Soon after, they began to yell, “Hit the showers!” There was a tremendous double-meaning there that I’m sure the Duquesne student section was well aware of (They could’ve easily used “Start the buses.”) However, their next move made their malicious intentions crystal clear.

When Nittany Nation chanted “We Are!” some Duquesne students returned with “rapists!” Don’t believe me? Here’s proof.

The purpose of this post isn’t to ridicule the rude lady at the bar or criticize the Duquesne student section, it’s to make you all aware that we (students, faculty, alum) will be scrutinized by outsiders for the foreseeable future. Does it suck? Yea, it really does. Like it or not, this scandal is a part of our lives now. I suggest you learn to live with it. That being said, when these comments do come flying your way, understand that the person doesn’t understand the pain and hurt that you feel. Don’t get argumentative or confrontational. We’re better than that.

Anything I do reflects you, and anything you do reflects me. I speak for you. You speak for me. Never forget that.

Also read Duquesne senior Keegan Worley’s response, explaining what their student section actually meant by their chanting.

YO

Should of punched the old woman in the face
Yinzers

Typical classless Pissburghers the Duquense students
Dudester

Good article but I want to talk about Billy Oliver. How is he on the team? Just goes to show what having a 6′ 8” frame can do for you cuz if he was 6′ he might be lucky enough to play d3 with that skill set he has
Daisy

Duqusne has no room to make light of alleged pedophilia considering it’s a Catholic school (it should not be made light of any way but they sound very hypocritical). Anyways, I was looking at Penn State memoribilia at a local store (I’m only 2 hours out of State College but everyone once in a while you run into a moronic Pitt fan) and I swear this guy went out of his way to hit me with a shopping cart. He had plenty of room to get through or he could have daid excuse me like most normal people but he made a sound of disgust and bumped into and kept going. Instead of getting me I just said excuse me to deaf ears. Just remember that someday these people will be judged as harshly as they judge others and that’s a good thing to keep in mind no matter thr circumstances. These people will never understand what it is like to be a part of something bigger than yourself and for that I actually pity them.
NaiRahman

I posted this on the reply page, but I figured I’d post the same message here as it is related. My reply to Keegan’s article”

Look, while I am inclined to agree that if you have had this ritual for a long time then it could have been MEANT as harmless words and just habit, the point is that when a clearly touchy subject or occurance is happening in the world, you watch what you say REGARDLESS of habit or tradition or ritual. For example, would you think it would be appropriate to go to Columbine High School when they were dealing iwth the huge tragedy of a school shooting, and look at an opposing member from the opposite team and say “We’re gonna kill you,” even if you meant it in terms of score? No, it would just be inappropriate, and the chants that Duquesne students where spouting were also inappropriate for the time and situation. I understand your defense in saying that those words were not meant to be insulting – but when you realized they were, how about just saying “wow, we really didnt think of it that way and we are truly sorry for the way we came across.” Own your mistakes – Penn State does. We in NO WAY support Jerry Sandusky or what happened at PSU in regards to this scandal. All we want is for our school and students as a whole not to be slandered due to the incredibly inappropriate actions of one individual….
Daisy

Sorry for all the typos. Writing on an iPad is not conducive to proper grammar and spelling.
jennifer

people are disgusting, ignorant, hypocrites.
Maze

Shut up and your whining. Sick of people that went to Penn State trying to put it on a f%%$# pedastool. Bye the way I’m from Pittsburgh and Alum of Penn State. Who cares just laugh it off and quit letting personally offend you. Trust me nothing I do reflects on you and nothing you do reflects on me. I garuntee my life will never be affected by your actions.
Maze

Shut up and quit your whining. Sick of people that went to Penn State trying to put it on a f%%$# pedastool. It’s a state university with a thousands of branch campuses. Bye the way I’m from Pittsburgh and an Alum of Penn State (main.) Who cares just laugh it off and quit letting it personally offend you. Realize some terrible things “allegedly” went down there (From Paterno to Sanduski.)

Also trust me on this…. Nothing I do reflects on you and nothing you do reflects on me. I guarantee my life will never be affected by your actions. Grow a pair!
blueballsmcgee

btw its not much of a nittany “nation” when the whole nation thinks you are a bunch a frat boy tools that have 50 people show up in an in state sporting event.
Disgusted

I’m almost speechless. I cannot believe that you are actually comparing the terrorized, traumatized, victimized Columbine students to Penn State students, who are COMPLETELY personally untouched by the crimes of Jerry Sandusky except as it affects their university and its reputation. If your object was to help Penn State’s “cause,” you instead just did it a tremendous disservice by trying to place yourself in the role of victim of the magnitude of Columbine.
Ryan

What?
Student

Everyone has different ways of dealing with things. You’re lucky enough to be able to separate yourself from all this, but some people can’t help but take things personally. Justified or not, a lot of Penn State students and alums are pained by this. Don’t try to belittle their feelings or criticize them for expressing them.
Student

I can’t really speak for this person, but I didn’t interpret it as comparing what happened at Penn State to Columbine, it was just an analogy. A little misguided, sure, but not warranting such a reaction.
Sam Cooper

Where can I purchase this pedastool you speak of?
Chase

If you are actually a Penn State alumnus (doubtful, considering your username is “Maze”), I am ashamed to share a degree with you. Not because of your ignorant and moronic comments, but because of your inability to understand basic grammar and spelling.
ELB

NaiRahman, Actually your analogy is a good one. I am from Pittsburgh, graduated from Penn State and I live in Littleton Colorado, Columbine HS is 3 miles west of me. Both situations have given me a sick feeling and a sense of loss on some level. You are right, in both situations sensitivity is heightened because of an awareness we did not have before.
Maze

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And Chase is much better? 1st semester at Penn State, Altoona. Transferred to main. Lived in my fraternity, yes I was a frat boy in reference to blueballsmcgee’s stereotypical concerns.

Lived in the legend after Fraternity.
Senior Year Lived in West College.
Like to eat at the Penn State Sub Shop.
Drank beers at Stoney’s (closed now,) Café 210, Darkhorse, phyrst, Zeno’s and others.
Like to do my studying in the stacks.
Had fun at some concerts on the Hub lawn. Was also there for the shootings on the Hub lawn.
Enjoyed many Arts Fests including the Art Fest riots.

BA, ART. Got my Graduate degree from Colorado University in Political Science.

I guess it’s time to let that shame sweep over you like a flood, cause I share a degree with you. I know it hurts. Tuck yourself in. Have a good cry. Tomorrow’s a better day.

As for my grimmir and speelign, I graduated from PSU with a 3.5 and had 4.0 in all my Gen Ed English. I’ll admit neither grammar nor spelling is great, but it’s our school that let it slide.

Love you Chase.

Stay golden Pony Boy.
Maze

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And Chase is much better? 1st semester at Penn State, Altoona. Transferred to main. Lived in my fraternity, yes I was a frat boy in reference to blueballsmcgee’s stereotypical concerns.

Lived in The Legend after Fraternity.
Senior year lived in West College.
Ate at Penn State Sub Shop. Acme Pizza late night (closed.)
Drank beers at Stoney’s (closed now,) Café 210, Darkhorse, phyrst, Zeno’s and others.
Like to do my studying in the stacks.
Had fun at some concerts on the Hub lawn. Was also there for the shootings on the Hub lawn.
Enjoyed many Arts Fests including the Art Fest riots.

BA, ART. Got my Graduate degree from Colorado University in Political Science.

I guess it’s time to let that shame sweep over you like a flood, cause I share a degree with you. I know it hurts. Tuck yourself in. Have a good cry. Tomorrow’s a better day.

As for my grimmir and speelign, I graduated from PSU with a 3.5 and had 4.0 in all my Gen Ed English. I’ll admit neither grammar nor spelling is great, but it’s our school that let it slide.

Love you Chase.

Stay golden Pony Boy.
Maze

And Chase is much better? 1st semester at Penn State, Altoona. Transferred to main. Lived in my fraternity, yes I was a frat boy in reference to blueballsmcgee’s stereotypical concerns.

Lived in The Legend after Fraternity.
Senior year lived in West College.
Ate at Penn State Sub Shop. Acme Pizza late night (closed.)
Drank beers at Stoney’s (closed now,) Café 210, Darkhorse, phyrst, Zeno’s and others.
Like to do my studying in the stacks.
Had fun at some concerts on the Hub lawn. Was also there for the shootings on the Hub lawn.
Enjoyed many Arts Fests including the Art Fest riots.

BA, ART. Got my Graduate degree from Colorado University in Political Science.

I guess it’s time to let that shame sweep over you like a flood, cause I share a degree with you. I know it hurts. Tuck yourself in. Have a good cry. Tomorrow’s a better day.

As for my grimmir and speelign, I graduated from PSU with a 3.5 and had 4.0 in all my Gen Ed English. I’ll admit neither grammar nor spelling is great, but it’s our school that let it slide.

Love you Chase.

Stay golden Pony Boy.