Pennsylvania State University’s nearly century-old “Outing Club” is no longer allowed to go outside… after the administration decided it’s too dangerous.
The Outing Club, which was founded 98 years ago and is one of the oldest organizations on campus, had previously run many student-led outdoor trips, involving hiking, canoeing, kayaking, trail building, and camping.
But after a two-month review, the Penn State Office of Student Affairs and Risk Management decided that those things were too dangerous for students to enjoy.
“This is a result of an assessment of risk management by the university that determined that the types of activities in which PSOC engages are above the university’s threshold of acceptable risk for recognized student organizations,” Penn State said in a statement.
In response to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Lisa Powers, spokeswoman for Penn State, elaborated, claiming that, because the events often took place in areas without cell phone coverage – as mankind has existed for thousands of years – the activities posed too high a risk.
“Student safety in any activity is our primary focus,” she added. However, she stressed that, while the Outing Club would no longer be able to host events, student leaders and the university were still having “ongoing” meetings about the club’s future.
Christina Platt, the incoming president of the Outing Club, didn’t blame Penn State for shutting down the club’s activities – but, instead, society’s preoccupation with safety no matter the cost.
“Our increasingly litigious society is making it far more difficult for people to get outside without the fear of lawsuits for any misstep,” she said. “I can hardly blame Penn State for protecting itself against further litigation after a number of high-profile scandals in the past decade.”
AAN Staff
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