Video shows hundreds of Penn State students cheering and dancing without masks at a campus party as UConn and other colleges across the country try to crack down on out-of-control social events

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New videos have been making the rounds on social media, showing hundreds of Penn State University students taking part in a massive party outside a freshman dormitory on Wednesday night. 

Footage from the event showed huge crowds of people, most of them without masks, dancing, twerking and cheering, despite a Penn State ordinance requiring the wearing of face coverings on campus and limiting gatherings to 10 people.

The president of the university lashed out at the rule-breaking partygoers, warning the school community that if such behavior persists, Penn State will follow the examples of the University of Notre Dame and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and revert back to remote learning.  

Students at Penn State were not the only ones who felt the need to blow off some steam before the start of the fall semester: it's been reported that several students were evicted from the University of Connecticut's on-campus housing after a crowded dorm room party that flouted the school's social distancing restrictions.   

Hundreds of Penn State University students gathered outside the East Halls freshman dormitory for a massive party on Wednesday night. The gathering was in violation of the university's coronavirus restrictions 

Videos showed students, believed to be incoming freshmen, dancing, twerking and cheering

University police later arrived and dispersed the party, causing the students to flee

At Penn State on Wednesday night, large numbers of students came together outside the East Halls freshman dormitory for a celebration that entailed dancing and twerking. 

Before long, videos began circulating on social media showing many of the revelers cavorting on the campus lawn without masks.

One of the recordings was accompanied by a caption that read: 'Live life.' 

Some Twitter users blamed the event squarely on the freshmen, since  upperclassmen are only scheduled to return to campus next weekend. 

'"Live in the moment” my a**,' one irked commenter wrote in a tweet. 'Penn State won’t survive more than a week. This is unbelievable. The fact that people had the nerve to do this, Especially after multiple schools closed, just wrong on so many levels. I hope you had fun at your party.' 

Penn State has an ordinance in place that requires students to wear masks, abide by social distancing rules and limit gatherings to 10 people

The University Park Police Department learned of the party and broke it up at around 9.30pm, sending students fleeing, reported CBS Philly. 

Penn State President Eric Barron released a statement this morning, slamming students' behavior overnight as 'unacceptable.' 

'I ask students flouting the University’s health and safety expectations a simple question: Do you want to be the person responsible for sending everyone home?' Barron wrote. 'This behavior cannot and will not be tolerated. We have said from the beginning health and safety is our priority, and if the University needs to pivot to fully remote instruction we will.'

The school president issued a warning that violations of Penn State's ordinance requiring social distancing and wearing masks could result in expulsion. 

'Ultimately, this is not about sanctioning,' Barron added. It is about protecting individual and community health.' 

The party outside the East Halls dorm complex coincided with the temporary suspension of Phi Kappa Psi, an off-campus fraternity, which had allegedly violated Penn State rules by hosting a social event on Tuesday night that was attended by more than 15 people who were not wearing masks or staying at least six feet apart, reported Philadelphia Inquirer. 

Also on Wednesday, Penn State temporarily suspended Phi Kappa Psi, an off-campus fraternity, for hosting a social with 15 people

Barron said the university will continue to promote its 'Mask Up or Pack Up' campaign and post additional fliers in residence halls reminding students of the rules. 

'We have implemented a multi-layered testing, monitoring, and mitigating approach to allow for a return to on campus learning and work,' wrote the school president. 'I don’t think any one individual wants to be the reason we all have to Pack Up.'

The Coalition of Graduate Employees at PSU pushed back against Barron's narrative, putting the blame on the university administration. 

'Let’s be clear here: Penn State *created* the situation for this to happen by blatantly refusing to listen to the PSU and local community members on students returning to in-person instruction,' CGE tweeted. 'This response is absolutely inadequate. JUST CLOSE.' 

Meanwhile, several UConn students have been evicted from campus over a dormitory room party that was said to have violated the school’s coronavirus rules.

School officials notified the campus community of the disciplinary actions and investigations in a letter Tuesday night. Students began returning to campus last Friday, all were tested for the virus and all were supposed to limit their contact with others during their first 14 days back on campus.

Video of the party was posted on social media.

'Students were not wearing masks, closely assembled, and endangering not only their own health and wellbeing, but that of others at a time when UConn is working to protect our community and resume classes in the context of a deadly global pandemic,' said the letter sent by Eleanor Daugherty, associate vice president and dean of students, and Pamela Schipani, executive director of residential life.

The University of Connecticut has evicted several students from campus housing over a dorm room party that was captured on video (pictured)

UConn has received coronavirus test results for 3,850 on-campus students, five of whom tested positive  

Temporary disciplinary action was taken against an undisclosed number of students and they were removed from student housing pending a school investigation, they said.

Many colleges have changed course and moved all undergraduate classes online as schools struggle to contain outbreaks and students continue to gather in large groups without masks or social distancing.

UConn officials, however, said there is no outbreak at the Storrs campus and the students’ actions were not representative of the entire student body, most of which has been following the coronavirus protocols. About 5,000 students are on campus.

As of Tuesday, UConn has received coronavirus test results for 3,850 on-campus students. Five tested positive and are being isolated. Two commuting students also reported they have tested positive. School officials said 25 students on campus were in medical quarantine due to potential contact with others who tested positive.

The University of North Carolina reported its sixth COVID-19 cluster of cases in five days and has reverted back to remote learning-only model, according to Central Valley Daily.

The school said in a statement that the cluster was tied to a party that was held at off-campus housing in Raleigh on August 6, reported WRAL.

In a similar move, the University of Notre Dame in Indiana temporarily scrapped its plan to resume in-person learning after a party that was held off campus earlier this month sparked a coronavirus outbreak involving at least 155 confirmed cases.