Penn State says wilderness is too risky for outdoors clubs

[brooklynite]

AP News:

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — A near-century-old outdoor recreation club will now refrain from going outside because it is too dangerous out in the wilderness, according to officials at Penn State University.

The Penn State Outing Club, originally founded in 1920, announced last week that the university will no longer allow the club to organize outdoor, student-led trips starting next semester. The hiking, camping and other outdoors-focused activities the student-led club has long engaged in are too risky, the university’s offices of Student Affairs and Risk Management determined.

Richard Waltz, the Outing Club’s current president, said that the decision was made by an office that never consulted them.

The decision was based on a two-month review that didn’t include consultation with student leaders at any of the clubs deemed too risky, according to students.

[Matthew28]

1. wow

So nature is now off limits.

Insanity!

[Snackshack]

2. Sad but...

Understandable.

[dalton99a]

3. All them bears and snakes in the woods

and the grass is unkempt

[X_Digger]

4. Fucking snowflake bullshit. n/t

[Docreed2003]

5. I can kinda understand PSU's position, given the scrutiny they are under

But this seems somewhat extreme. If such an outdoors event has sufficient oversight from faculty, I don't see why they would cancel the event.

[MissB]

6. That would never fly at my kids university

Where one could actually get eaten in the back country. Or get buried in an avalanche. Where if you have a break between classes you can dash out to the nearby ski place for a few runs. They pretty much live outdoors.

Just bizarre.

[Hoyt]

7. Lawsuits are a big risk.

[cbreezen]

8. My son went to Outdoor School here in Oregon.

He was in 6th grade. He went with his school. Yes, even special needs kids participate.

This article is an example of the current state of journalism. Hyperbole, at best.

[exboyfil]

9. I don't understand it

They are adults. It is not like they are high school kids. Unlike scholarship football players, the activity is totally voluntary, and they should be able to assess the risks for themselves.

[GulfCoast66]

11. Not anymore!

Oh, there are lots and lots of great kids in college. But many are still emotionally dependent on their parents like my generation was in High School. Or Junior high

For years I oversaw a college internship program for my company with around 25 kids. Ironically one I went through 25 years earlier. I was amazed how over time the number of parents calling to complain about some aspect of the program increased. And how incensed they became when told I could not discuss anything with them about any employee. Including their adult child.

When I was an intern it would have humiliated us to the point of quitting had one of our parents called our workplace.

Not saying it is good or bad. But it is a big change.

[SoCalDem]

12. One week after HS graduation, two of my girlfriends

left with a one way ticket to somewhere in Europe (I'm old & forgot) Other than the few postcards sent to friends & family, no one saw them for 2 months.. They had Eurail passes and maps & a list of youth hostels..and about $300 between them..

This was summer of '67..

They had a BLAST...showed up in time for college that fall

No cell phones..no ATM cards..

Just traveling by the seat of their pants..

They went to England..France..Italy..Spain..Luxembourg and probably other places too..

They were not robbed..or raped..or assaulted in any way..

on edit..IIRC they did some odd jobs (farm labor) and earned enough to get home..

[Kotya]

22. And that's the generation that is raising this one and making these policy decisions.

I don't get it.

[grantcart]

15. I bet it has to do with their liability insurance

[ProfessorGAC]

21. First Thing I Thought Of Too

Liability and the associated insurance is my bet.

[lame54]

10. I hear their football program is not too safe either

[rusty fender]

20. I was gonna say...

They need to cancel the football program as well as ice hockey, etc., if a student activity is deemed too dangerous

[jalan48]

13. This whole safe space thing is becoming hysterical.

[Thunderbeast]

14. I was a city kid...

but as a High School freshman, went to the Mt. Hood Wilderness with a friend for a week-long backpack trip. No "adult supervision" required. No lawyers standing at the trailhead asking for a notarized release.

If somebody told me that as a college student, I was too fragile to go for a hike, I would have questioned my choice to attend that school.

Life is not risk free.

I guess young people are supposed to sit on their couch watching reality TV while the last wild areas are pillaged by the oil companies and strip miners!

[Orsino]

16. On the plus side, graduates may be a good fit for the current Department of the Interior. n/t

[hexola]

17. Happy Valley is Appalachian mountain area - caution is not unfounded.

When I was kid - I used to think nothing of grabbing my Gazetteer and a walking stick and checking out the various trails on PA State Game lands.

The first time you see a bear - you will think differently.

Center county is also close to areas where you might find some wild boar.

Porcupines. Fishers. Rattlesnakes. Coyotes.

And the maybe even a Nittany Lion!

I wouldn't be out there without a sidearm...or at least a pack of firecrackers!

[peggysue2]

18. Pathetic!

Yup, it is a decision made over liability fears for the school.

Because life can be dangerous!

One of my sons is a wilderness guide. Something like this would make him absolutely gag. Protecting wilderness areas involves being familiar with them, seeing them with your own eyes. What better group than college-age students who are healthy, strong and often passionate? What better way to learn the basics to an outdoor life--short of a family history/interest--than through a group pitched in that direction, offering knowledge and tips on survival and safety?

This decision isn't in the students' interest, those who have a keen curiosity about the wilderness. This is for the bean counters worried about liability claims.

As for being too risky? It's risky to drive a car, too. Or play football. Come on!

[Wounded Bear]

19. Safer out there in the woods than it is at the local Starbucks...