Want to drink at SAE? BYOB

If you are over 21 and want to drink alcohol at SAE's next party, don't go to the house empty-handed. In a bold display of independence, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity announced this week that its house will strictly adhere to the Bring Your Own Beer policy, according to SAE president Will McAlexander. SAE will not provide any alcohol to party-goers, he said. McAlexander, an Engineering junior, said that his fraternity is not defying the Interfraternity Council in any way, but it simply "could not wait" to invoke the policy. "My house feels that it is where it wants to be and we can't wait around," he said. "We fully support the IFC, but as a house we chose to do this on our own because [by serving alcohol] we're in violation of a lot of laws and rules." McAlexander said that SAE has debated the alcohol issue for a long time, and that, with three brothers on the IFC executive board, the fraternity has been very influential in trying to get a new policy passed. He added that implementing the policy will reduce the fraternity's risk of being sued should an incident involving alcohol occur in the house. "We've been busting our balls to make this house and this campus BYOB," he said. "Having these free beer-flowing parties . . . puts people at risk. It's dangerous for the party-goers, and it's dangerous for us." SAE's policy, though not yet finalized, is a combination of the alcohol management policy recently proposed by the Greek Alumni Council and other policies which were furnished by the fraternity's national organization. According to McAlexander, the fraternity will not be able to purchase alcohol with chapter funds, and will not serve alcohol in the house to people under the age of 21, including to brothers who are minors. IFC President Morris Massel said last night that he supports SAE's decision and that he respects the fraternity for making the move on its own. "I think that what SAE is doing is wonderful [and] I think it's very encouraging that the membership made this decision," said Massel, a College junior and Alpha Chi Rho brother. "Obviously it's an issue that all the chapters are going to have to deal with very soon, and SAE is taking a very positive and encouraging step towards dealing with BYOB." Massel added that he applauds SAE's efforts at taking a leadership role in this issue. "It shows a lot of character in the house that they're willing to do this even though no one else is ready to," he said. "I've always thought that it's better for groups to make decisions on their own rather than having decisions imposed on them." McAlexander said that SAE will hold its first BYOB party Thursday night to test out its new system. "If the University wants to come and enjoy themselves at the house, then we'll open the doors, but you have to follow the law [which is] Bring Your Own Beer," he said. "And if you're 21 you can drink it." Massel said that he will be attending Thursday's party to "personally" support SAE. Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Tricia Phaup did not return phone calls placed to her office yesterday.