Tailgating is without a doubt one of the best parts of any home football game weekend. It’s a time to come together with your friends and join in the merriment of stuffing your faces full of hot dogs, chips, and beer. Some might even say it’s a time to sit back and crack open a cold one with the boys.

But what do you do if you don’t know of any tailgates for this weekend’s game? As sad as it sounds, one of the unfortunate truths about being a freshman is the lack of resources for such events. However, like with any Penn Stater, the thought of forgoing the opportunity for a tailgating weekend is an impossibility. That’s why we’re proposing an alternative plan of action for any unlucky soul lost without a place to go before the game — host the tailgate in your dorm.

Whether you’re a freshman struggling to find a place to go or you’re too scared to leave the warmth of your own room, hosting a tailgate in your dorm might be the best option for you. Here’s a step-by-step list on how to host the perfect dorm tailgate.

Step One: Hold It in an East Dorm

You might be asking yourself, “Why should I hold the tailgate in East? Aren’t they the shittiest dorms in all of Penn State?” Well, yes and no. Yes, East Halls are quite possibly the worst dorms Penn State has to offer, but as such, they thus also come with a couple perks.

For one, there’s a lesser possibility of an RA finding out about the tailgate. East is always a party, so the one happening in yours probably won’t draw too much attention.On this point, though, its also important to note that you pick a friend’s dorm who also has a “cool” RA. In other words, someone whose RA won’t rat on you for the blaring music and noise that will likely be radiating from your room.

Moreover, you don’t have to worry about anything getting ruined because everything in East is already ruined. The dorms are several decades old so there are stains and messes galore. East Halls are also only about a block away from Beaver Stadium. It’s a fact most freshmen take for granted, but not having to hike a 30-minute walk up Shortlidge will make all of the difference when you’re drunk and only have a mind for chicken baskets.

Step 2: Make a Pit Stop at Market East

All I’m saying is that no tailgate is complete without plenty of snacks. I suggest you find that one friend who still has about 500 dollars left of meal points and send them to Market East. There’s no better tailgating food than chips and dip, in my opinion, so thankfully Market East has plenty to offer on that front. You can even splurge a bit and pick up some bagel bites or mozzarella sticks. Of course, make sure you pick up plenty of soda too for all of those chasers and mixed drinks.

Step 3: Find the Right Pre-Game Playlist

Trust me — music can genuinely make or break a tailgate. There should be the right mix of hype songs, throwbacks, and current bops. We might be a little biased, but we think our tailgating playlist is the perfect one for such an occasion. Of course, ultimately, the music is up to your discretion so long as it gets you pumped for the game.

Step 4: Figure Out the Best Games to Play

Tailgates always become a bit better when there are drinking games involved. Even though dorm rooms are a bit crowded, there are still some great games you can play. The one nice thing about East dorm desks is the fact that they’re set up directly across from each other. There might not be a connecting board between them, but by setting up cups on either side of the desk, you can still get a nice beer pong game going.

You can also use the desks as either ends of a table for a flip-cup tournament. Make sure each team has a desk and play diagonally from each other instead of across. You might even want to consider playing some card games like Kings or Pyramid. Either way though, make sure you have some ideas in the back of your head for your guests to participate in throughout the tailgate.

Step 5: Enjoy the Tailgate

If you’ve followed all of the above steps, you should have yourself set up for the perfect dorm tailgate. The only thing left to consider now is what to wear and when to leave for the game. Hopefully our Nittany Lions will pull through with a win to complete your perfect gameday.