Some frats fear impact of rumors about LCE

and THOMAS HUANG Fraternity members said yesterday they were concerned that rumored investigations by Liquor Control Enforcement officials during this past week might endanger the future of the InterFraternity Council's current BYOB policy. Several Sigma Alpha Epsilon members said yesterday that they suspected that LCE agents were present at a party thrown at the house Tuesday night. And Zeta Beta Tau fraternity members had to quell a rumor Friday night of an LCE investigation at a party at the house. "The IFC is going to have to decide what stance it will take on BYOB, because the stakes are getting too high," SAE president Jon Michaels said yesterday. At approximately 1:30 a.m. last Wednesday morning, Michaels said, two men were observed outside of the SAE house in an unmarked car, one with a radio and the other with a notepad. Fifteen minutes later, an SAE brother noticed two other men inside the house on the dance floor area. According to Michaels, one appeared to be taking dictation from the other. The party closed at 2 a.m. The appearance of the investigators within the party, Michaels said, was particularly disconcerting because fraternity members checked everyone's PennCard at the door. "What this means is that these guys have Penn IDs," Michaels said. Michaels said the fraternity has spoken with University officials who said the University does not give University identification to LCE officials. The most recent LCE raid on a campus fraternity was last spring, when the LCE raided a party at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Officers issued citations for underage drinking and arrested one of the brothers. Now, an air of concern seems to be gripping SAE members and the Greek system in general. "It's a big concern that the State Police and the LCE may start cracking down on fraternity parties on campus," said former SAE president and Wharton senior Brett Barth. Barth is also a member of the Fraternity-Sorority Advisory Board and the Greek Peer Judicial Board. "Presidents from other fraternities came over that night because they heard we got busted," said Michaels. "This weekend I heard that two or three other fraternities cancelled their parties because of what happened to us." Later in the week, unfounded rumors of an LCE investigation circulated at Zeta Beta Tau's Friday night party. According to ZBT president and College senior Phil Kholos, a false rumor spread throughout the party that the LCE had agents on the scene. The possibility did not concern Kholos very much, however, he said. "As far as our particular house goes, I feel certain that we were following everything the way it should be and the way the rules dictate," Kohlos said. "Therefore, I am confident that if the LCE ever came on the premises, we wouldn't have a problem." (CUT LINE) Please see LCE, page 5 LCE, from page 1