Mold is on the menu at some frats

Imagine walking into a bar and sticking your hand into an ice cold vat of custard. That's exactly what's happening as fraternities across campus deal with a part of a new alcohol policy which mandates that "non-salty snacks" be served at all parties. In a form of mild protest, the fraternities have begun to offer snacks which fit the most liberal definition of "non-salty" – a term which opens the broadest of culinary horizons. That's right. Gone are salty pretzels and Cool Ranch Doritos. Insert canned beets and moldy bread. It's the law. "I heard some houses bought five loaves of bread for the entire year," Interfraternity Council President Morris Massel said. "There may be rules against salt, but not mold." If anything, the whole "salty-snack issue" has elicited creative and novel approaches from a fraternity system encroached by some of the most extensive regulations in its history. They have agreed to follow the rules, but they're not agreeing passively. "At the last party we had rye cakes and frozen raspberries," Sigma Alpha Epsilon President and Wharton junior John Zdrodowski. Zdrodowski said the rye cakes – which are similar to the ever-tasty rice cake – were a special hit among partygoers. "People liked them the best," Zdrodowski said. "They loved to throw them." Other fraternities adopted more of a liquid strategy to the "no-salt" directive. Alpha Epsilon Pi has offered a trio of treats including pudding, custard and Jell-o. "The international students really got into the custard," AEPi member Jon Brolin said. He had no explanation as to why, however. St. Anthony's Hall has started to use cereal as its snack of choice, and president Josh Gould said the house will choose a cereal for each party's theme. For example, Froot Loops might be served at a tropical bash. Gould said, however, that a BYOB policy should apply to food, as well. "If people have to bring their own beer, they should have to bring their own food, too," Gould said. Massel said he did not know why the "non-salty snack" rule was included in the latest agreement. He suggested, however, that fraternities might want to bring their often debauch bashes to a more upscale market. "I don't see why steak without salt wouldn't fit the rule," Massel said. But, he added, the cocktail favorite "pigs-in-a-blanket" would probably be a bit more cost-efficient.