It's too risky for Outing Club to go on student-led trips, Penn State decides

http://www.pennlive.com/ ^ | 4/19/18 | Barbara Miller

[BBell]

After logging enough miles to hike around the world more than four times, Penn State has decided it's too risky for the campus Outing Club to go on student-led outings.

A risk assessment by the university led to the decision, says a statement on the Outing Club's web page.

The club's outings were deemed to be "above the University's threshold of acceptable risk for recognized student organizations," said the statement.

This spring, campus recreation, a division of student affairs, decided to evaluate its 79 student-led programs, said Lisa Powers, Penn State spokeswoman. It found 20 clubs had "elements of risk," and three had high-risk activities: the outing, caving and scuba clubs.

In these groups, many outdoor activities were taking place in high-risk environments such as unsupervised or lightly-patrolled areas with unreliable or no cell phone service. Proximity to emergency services also is a consideration, Powers said.

Starting next semester, the club says it will no longer be organizing and running outdoor student-led trips.

But Powers said it is not true that the club can no longer go on trips.

"Although these clubs are being re-organized as to their specific student-led activities, the outdoor activities for all interested students will continue under the professional guidance of the Campus Recreation staff," Powers said.

"We are having ongoing discussions with all of the clubs about how they may transition to a more safe model. Trips and excursions will continue to be carried out by our Outdoor Adventures program within Student Affairs," she said.

She said the Outdoor Adventures program requires training and emergency preparedness for student leaders, and spends more than 120 hours per student on training the trip leaders.

The Outing Club's officers said they are working with the university to "find the appropriate structure within the University to continue to foster this ever-growing outdoor community."

"I think it's fair to say that Penn State is interested in allowing reasonable risks in the activities of our recognized student organizations, and we continuously balance activities with risk tolerance for all University-affiliated activities," Powers said.

According to the history of the club on its web site, the group helped develop several trails in central Pennsylvania including the Mid-State Trail system, and also worked on trails in the Adirondacks. It led to formation of several other outdoor clubs at Penn State, including the university's ski club and ski patrol.

Members have logged enough miles to hike around the world more than 4 times, paddled enough leagues to cross the Great Lakes twice, and climbed higher than every major peak in the Southern Hemisphere, says the club.

The club will continue holding scheduled activities this semester, and is asking students to supply feedback on the decision, as well as stories of club activities over the years.

The Post-Gazette reports the risk review, which included all student groups involved in recreation, took two months. Also reportedly told to end trips were the Nittany Grotto Caving Club and the Nittany Divers SCUBA Club.

Commenters on the issue on Reddit question why rugby, floor hockey and even football aren't being shut down as well.

"This makes my blood boil...This is an appalling decision made by the university and people need to know who is directly responsible," said one commenter.

"Football is way more dangerous. I mean you can hike and camp if you're old and feeble, no one wants to get hit by a 240 lb. linebacker at 20 mph," said another.

"This is absurd. I had a great time with PSOC and never once felt unsafe. Penn State should focus its efforts on the rampant sexual assault, rape, drinking, drug use, academic cheating, hazing, shutting down of free speech, and other retarded s... going on in its campuses. Not a bunch of outdoors enthusiasts looking to enjoy the outdoors," said another comment."

[whodathunkit]

Here’s a Penn State outing we’d like to see. What happened to Ray Gricar

That's what I thought of too! Probably worried that some hiker will come across his bones and then the real story will come out.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

Gay outings ending in the burning of a pile of faggots has been queered by the LGBT movement.