Journal 4

In the broadcast “#1 Party” school, the reporters do clearly define the issue in a way that will make sense to the listener. Starting out with the sounds of one night in downtown State College was a great way of showing the listener the issue that the report covered. One reason that this issue needed to be investigated immediately was that Penn State had just been named the #1 party school by Princeton review. The reporters used the prologue to show the listeners why this was a pressing issue. Later in the report, many of the biggest problems associated with underage drinking on Penn State’s campus were discussed. The reporters talked about deaths that resulted from drinking, many of the crimes that students commit while out drinking, and the fact that the school has not done enough to combat underage drinking. One group who is greatly affected by this issue is those who are living in State College. The report covers in great depth the things that those who live close to campus have to deal with during the night hours on weekends and some weekdays. I have very mixed feelings about this issue. On one side I think it is unfair for people to have to deal with a lot of the things that happen to them and their houses as a result of living near the campus, but on the other hand I think they had to know what they were getting themselves into by moving into that area. It would be just foolish to think that you could move in right near a college campus and not have to deal with a lot of problems from the students. Anyone who wants to find out about the party scene at a school simply has to do a little research, and before you buy a home you should definitely do a lot of research about the area.

One person who is quoted is one of the reporter’s friend, Sarah, who lives in downtown State College. Her quotations and stories are used to show the many ways that people living in the area are affected by the drinking and partying. They also quote a delivery boy named Alex Moore who represents the problems for him trying to do his job that are created by the partying. Students, police officers, school officials, and local business owners are all quoted to help show how each group is affected by and involved in the drinking scene at Penn State. The reporters draw the conclusion that partying at Penn State is a problem because of the dangers associated with it and the effect that it has on others in the area.

I like a lot of the ideas discussed in this report. The reporters do a good job of covering the issue and talking to all of the people affected by and involved in it. I would have liked the report to address the fact that people living and working in the area chose that location with the knowledge that they would be near a college campus. I really liked that the report addressed what the school is doing to combat underage drinking and partying at Penn State. Quoting Graham Spanier worked very well. I also really liked that they were able to get interviews with students who had been drinking and were out causing problems. Having a colleague who lived in State College made a lot of the most important contributions to this piece possible.