BYOB policy gives parties different look

Monitors, ID bracelets added There were the usual fraternity parties this weekend, but something was different. Party-goers had to be on guest lists, wear ID bracelets and bring their own beer after the Greek Alumni Council and the undergraduate Greek system collectively passed their own alcohol policy. The policy, originally drafted by the GAC and submitted to the University during the summer, is designed to reduce liability by enforcing the system's longtime BYOB policy. According to Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta, the policy will not be an official University policy because the University wants the Greek system to enforce the rules on its own. But, Moneta added, the University does support the ideas of the policy. "This is still such a potentially overwhelming change for the fraternities that the University would like to go slower than the alumni would like us to," he said last night. "University monitoring [would be] too big a leap in the first year and that could result in more resentment of the University rather than seeing the University as a partner in the process." GAC Chairperson Andrea Dobin said last night that a principal issue in the policy debate was who would supply the monitors – the University or the Greek system. The University's role in the policy was greatly reduced, Dobin said, when it decided not to be the supplier of monitors. "[The University] didn't feel that there was time to put in place adequate monitoring training," said Dobin, an alumna of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. "They don't have the personnel on hand to do that." Instead of using University employees to monitor parties, the policy calls for a group of two undergraduate Greeks and one alumnus to act as monitors. Each chapter is required to supply one monitor for every 50 members in the chapter. "All University approval would do is create delays," Dobin added. At parties this weekend, students were asked for 21 ID at the doors of fraternity houses. Those students producing proof of drinking age were given a fluorescent green bracelet which allowed them to bring in beer and to drink at the party. "You can still come in if you're not 21, but you're not supposed to be able to bring beer in," said Interfraternity Council President Morris Massel. The College senior added that the policy allows for 40 percent of allowed guests to be "uninvited Penn students," effectively keeping all parties "open." Phi Sigma Kappa President Hayden Horowitz says he is pleased that the Greeks will have a chance to govern themselves. "I think it was a little more encouraging that it wouldn't be University employees breathing down the fraternities' necks," the College junior said. "It puts it back in our hands, gives us a say in the monitoring process. Yes, it's going to be difficult if a monitor sees a violation and it's a house that they know... but at the same time if we don't do something right now, the University will step in." Another important addition to the policy is that infractions will be reported to and handled by the Greek Peer Judicial Board. According to Dobin, this is because the Greek system – and not the University – is enforcing the policy. But Moneta said some infractions "could still end up in the University's hands" if they violate current University policies. For example, Moneta said, if a student is found drinking underage, he would be referred to the Judicial Inquiry Office because underage drinking is a violation of the University's general alcohol policy. According to both Moneta and Dobin, complaints against a fraternity for not complying with the policy will be sent to the GPJB, while complaints against individuals will likely be sent to the JIO. Moneta said that if the policy is deemed unenforceable by the Greek system, the policy will likely be sent back to the University. The University would then have to adopt and enforce the policy. "Everyone's hope is that it would never have to go that way, but it's a strong possibility that the alumni would pursue having the University adopt it [if students do not comply]," he said. "It really rests in the students' hands." The Greek system has reacted cautiously to the policy so far, because members are not sure how they will be ultimately affected. "This is a policy that's in our best interest," Massel said. "But that doesn't mean we have to like it." "People's main concern is that they will not be able to enjoy the social life that Greeks now enjoy," said Horowitz. "I hope that the members of the Greek system won't suffer." Dobin said the fraternities need to realize that the policy is finally for real. "I think a lot of fraternities are taking a 'wait and see' approach to see how strictly it will be enforced and whether we were serious about it," she said. "A lot of them were surprised to see us [as monitors at parties.] "When we found people with a beer in their hand and without a bracelet, we asked the social chairs [of the fraternities] to have them put down the beer," she continued. "We're going ahead with it."