According to Hedrick, the brothers tossed around the ideas of bike and trike races, but the area seemed too hilly and nothing seemed to click. Sig Chi’s Derby Days was catching the attention of many sororities, and Phi Kappa Psi wanted to do something similarly noticeable. Jim Hedrick, a Phi Psi graduate of 1967, said that during his years at Penn State, the fraternity was searching for a way to inform more students about itself. This was not always the case - in the late ’60s, Penn State fraternities were actually losing members, with many students seeking a more alternative, independent lifestyle. Today, fraternities and sororities seem to be bustling Greek life has become more popular, with their activities and pledge numbers growing each year. Yet one could only imagine, should it still exist, the involvement and dedication of the students, and the sheer amount of money that would have been raised. The Phi Psi 500 was unfortunately short-lived, existing from 1969-92. Imagine: Before the controversy of State Patty’s Day, and even before Arts Fest became a drunken tradition, there existed a Penn State holiday devoted entirely to drinking and fundraising, one that was wholly supported by university officials, charities, and students. After 1992, there is no documentation of the event. However, the late 1980s brought an anxiety about the inclusion of alcohol, and, according to the State College Borough Council, the event was unruly and “out of hand.” The bar tour aspect of the Phi Psi 500 began to be phased out, and by 1992, the event was entirely alcohol free, consisting primarily of a pageant-like procession and entertainment. According to Ray McCormick, chairman of the Phi Psi 500 in 1975, the crowds of people watching were 10 rows deep, and the town gathered around the race in support. Turn out for the great cause was high, and dedicated drinkers lined the streets to watch everyone run by, enthralled by the entertainment and outfit coordination of those involved. The first race took place in the spring of 1969, and began to flourish throughout the ’70s, reaching its peak attendance and popularity in the mid-’80s. Hosted by the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi, the first-ever run included six bars, countless costumes, and ultimately benefited a charitable cause. However, there is one event that lasted more than 25 years and brought together students, faculty, and townies alike in a university-wide bar tour: The Phi Psi 500.Ĭharity, racing, and the pursuit of alcohol - this was the implied constitution of the Phi Psi 500, an annual 1.1-mile race that took place in downtown State College. The decades treated Happy Valley no differently, with the grooviest musical artists rolling through town, and festivals like Gentle Thursday setting up on Old Main lawn, with frisbees and balloons in tow. The 1960s and ’70s were an illustrious time in America, boasting free speech and free spirits, and encapsulating the ultimate essence of chill and relaxation.
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