PENN STATE UNIVERSITY BANS OUTDOOR CLUB FROM GOING OUTDOORS

Penn State University will no longer allow the Penn State Outing Club, originally founded in 1920, to organize outdoor, student-led trips. The hiking, camping and other outdoors-focused activities the student-led club has long engaged in are too risky, says the offices of Student Affairs and Risk Management. Bottom line: they’re afraid of lawsuits if someone gets hurt outdoors. Two other outdoor recreation clubs – the spelunking Nittany Grotto Caving Club and the Nittany Divers SCUBA Club – also have been directed to end trip offerings.
* Why not just sign a 30-page release form before taking that life-threatening stroll in the woods?
* I’m sure there are some lovely virtual reality camping and caving programs the students today will like.
* It’s too risky to go outdoors? Sounds like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts know something Penn State University doesn’t.
* They’re also considering forbidding the Chess Club to play chess, ’cause sometimes it gives you a headache.
* What they needed to end a few years ago was the Football Locker Room Shower Club.