Week Four

As an undergraduate student at Penn State, I can certainly see where the school’s ranking as the #1 Party School came from. As such, I think the report by This American Life does a very thorough job examining the issue from all points of view. It was obviously well researched, with audio clips from many different people affected by it, from students to university officials, from alumni to local residents. All of these groups were interviewed in a professional, direct method that got the information necessary without wasting time, which can be a problem without sounding too leading. Numerous statistics and data analysis were used to illustrate points in a much more numerical way. The manner in which the issue is presented is very easy to understand and follow, as the narrator often inputs their own emotions in such a manner as to not pass judgment, something which is rather difficult in investigative reporting. The reason for immediate investigation is twofold: First, the schools ranking as the #1 party school in the nation, and second, the recent death of freshmen Joe Dado. Specifically, I believe the narrator in this story wants the listener to understand that at big party schools like Penn State, alcohol consumption is too much a part of the social norm and cultural history for anyone to do anything effective about it.

Personally, I enjoyed the report. I might not have spared the time on my own to listen to all of it, but I didn’t have a problem listening to it, just finding the time to do so. Towards the end I found my mind drifting off, and had to go back and re-listen to a few portions because I was day dreaming. Other than that, I found it to be well composed, thoughtful, informative, and clear. I never had a problem comprehending the subject of conversation, or following the report. I did find myself in a relatively unique position as an undergraduate student at Penn State, and possibly that helped me relate to and understand the situation. I knew the location of all the businesses discussed, and have visited several of them myself. I have shaken hands with the president of the university, and have even had a casual lunch with him. I suppose to shorten the work, less time could have been spent on what the university is doing to curb excessive drinking. Personally, I know all of the measures they have taken, as they have all been advertised directly to me. This work supposedly was to discover what living in State College is like, and they did a fantastic job accomplishing that in the first three sections. The fourth is kind of a digression into what is being done to change life in State College, which although ultimately unnecessary, it is very helpful and relevant to the discussion. I respect the hell out of This American Life for that report, as it is exceptionally well done.