Team prepares for IUP St. Patrick's revelry
Social media was awash Friday with posts from partiers anticipating IUPatty's, a yearly student-planned St. Patrick's celebration at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Mixed in with photos of green beer and requests for party locations were warnings from landlords about guest responsibility and advice from students to party “safely.”
In 2014, the town was jammed with hundreds of college-aged revelers fueled by alcohol. A crowd of more than 400 packed South Seventh Street, where partiers taunted police and got into brawls that were videotaped and later posted online. Officials said many of those who caused problems were not university students.
Last year's event was calmer, with no significant injuries or property damage, according to borough police.
Since then, the Indiana Area Community Team, which includes state, borough and campus police, municipal officials, landlords, first responders and students, has met in advance of the celebration as a preemptive strike.
IUP spokeswoman Michelle Fryling is serving as police public information officer throughout the weekend.
“We expect good, legal, responsible behavior,” she said Friday afternoon.
That extends to asking faculty not to “curtail normal course work” despite the well-known “high celebratory weekend,” Fryling said.
“Landlords have done a yeoman's job. They are out in force, telling tenants not to host large parties,” she said, noting that many apartment rental agreements limit occupancy, which helps with enforcement.
Police used horse patrols and helicopters Thursday night, she said.
Overnight Thursday into Friday, campus police reported four arrests of IUP students for incidents including driving under the influence, underage drinking, public drunkenness and possession, Fryling said. Two incidents involved non-students.
Borough police reported 12 criminal incidents and the arrests of three IUP students, one for drugs, one for open container/underage drinking, and one for possession of drug paraphernalia, underage drinking and public drunkenness.
State police arrests included two thefts, one public drunkenness and one drug possession.
The university has planned weekend events to encourage students to party alcohol-free.
At a day of service on Saturday, students will assist children with an Easter egg hunt at a senior center, Fryling said.
A T-shirt competition helped raise money for university organizations. Those who wear the T-shirts, which post positive messages, can get discounts from some downtown merchants. “This is the first year for that,” she said.
Fryling declined to detail specific enforcement plans throughout the ongoing weekend celebration.
“We will have an increased police presence, obviously, downtown and on campus,” she said. “It's hard to know. We are expecting good behavior and positive behavior. We certainly have prepared. First responders are working together.”
Mary Pickels is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-836-5401 or mpickels@tribweb.com.
