We Are... A Party School!

As a student at Penn State University, I am proud of my school’s historical background of excellence. More recently though, Penn State has been tagged with another reputation, which is the top party school. At first, I was never too ashamed of this reputation. At some points, I found myself proud of it. To think, Penn State can be the top party school in the country and still get more students into career fields than any other college. This was impressive to me. But after listening to the podcast, I felt ashamed by some of my fellow students.

            As a brother of a fraternity here at Penn State, I realize that partying is big here. I don’t feel that it is the only thing here. There are many other worthwhile activities and organizations that students can be a part of that have no focus on partying. I think “The American Life” presents Penn State in a very bad light. Some of the information is valid, but I feel it is very over-exaggerated. Although the opinion in the podcast was backed up with facts, it lacked a complete view of the school.  I do not agree with the perspective of Penn State described in the podcast. Having said that, I was very interested in some of the examples used, and it has caused me to reconsider what it really means to go to a party school.

            Many appeals were used to exemplify the idea that Penn State is a major party school. For example, the use of logos is pervasive and blatant. Numerous facts and figures are referred to, such as the percentage of students who binge drink and the incidences of alcohol related assault, rape, etc.  These figures back up the view of Penn State as a drinking haven. Also, pathos is employed in an attempt to vilify the school for allowing such behavior to occur. Finally, through the accounts of students dying or being severely injured from drinking, the podcast appeals to the listeners’ sense of ethos.

            The most shocking and upsetting thing I learned from the podcast was that the average blood alcohol content for alcohol-related visits to Mount Nittany Medical Center is 0.252%.  I am stunned by this figure because it is extremely high. The fact that this is just an average and some people exceed this frightens me. The fact of the matter is, there is drinking at every college, and I feel it can be okay if done responsibly. There is no denying that Penn State will never get rid of drinking altogether. It has become synonymous with drinking. The podcast showed how important football and drinking is to the alumni. Despite the horrific stories of kids passing out in random houses, public urination, and examples of violence I am still proud of my school for what it is. And that is a party school that provides an excellent education.  

The Art of Swagger

To me, art has no limitations. It is limitless. The possibilities are innumerable. To think that scenic art is a new phenomenon where someone just snaps any picture and it is labeled as “art” just shows me that anything can ACTUALLY be art, and anyone can be an artist. Today, art schools are no longer being utilized by the common artist. Some forms of art cannot be taught by a prestigious artistic academy. Any person can just take a picture of anything with a Kodak disposable camera from the ‘90s and it is art. Art is being revolutionized each day by new things that are being admired by the public. Thinking further I was blinded by a new phenomenon in art; a form of art that is going to change the way people are viewed forever.

            Fashion has forever been respected as art. Today, you cannot open a magazine or newspaper or log online without being presented with fashion. Fashion is all around us. But a new sense of fashion is sweeping the younger generation. Swagger can be a number of things. But to me, swagger is the newest form of art. Swagger is to move with confidence, sophistication, and to be cool. Swagger is to conduct your self in a way that would automatically earn respect. Specifically, I want to focus on the way people dress that puts on swagger. For instance, when you are at a party, people know when you arrive and where you are at all times just because of your swagger. In public, you turn heads by your swag. Swagger is being used all over whether it is in sports, in music, and in your everyday lives.

            This weekend, I was glued to my TV watching the various college basketball games that were on.  One team in particular caught my eye, and that was Baylor University. Baylor has never had a dominant basketball program since the 1950s, but something has changed in the small school in Texas. Top recruits are coming to play at Baylor, and they are winning. In the 17 years prior to 2008, Baylor has had one postseason visit to March Madness. But since 2008, Baylor has made it to the dance every year since. I believe that this is due to the newfound swagger that they have in their uniforms. This weekend, Baylor wore two uniforms back-to-back days that were so hideous that it was controversial. Baylor came out dressed in lime green the first day, and a dark green with camouflage the second. I believe that high school players are being attracted to Baylor by their swagger. Baylor is not the first school to implement this swagger in uniforms; they are just the first school to perfect it. Rhetorically, I think that the uniforms evoke pathos, ethos, and logos, which is overlooked by most. 

            Ethos is shown in swagger by making a statement. Like all fashion, the art of swagger says “This is who I am, and I am trendy and fashionable.” In Baylor’s case, they use their uniforms to utilize ethos. They show a brand of cockiness on and off the court. Going along with ethos found in Baylor, their swagger evokes logos by saying, “You should attend Baylor and play basketball here because we are trendy and we are hip.”  Finally, the uniforms evoke pathos just by the bright colors. It invokes to the fans and the nation. Baylor University is using a new form of art to put their school on the map. Baylor may be a mediocre basketball program, but I know that I will be rooting them on throughout March Madness not as a fan of the players, but as a fan of the art of swagger that they are revolutionizing.  

 http://www.sportslogos.net/blog/tag/baylor-bears/