For IFC, a year of change under Massel's leadership

Image, they say, is everything. And the image of the Interfraternity Council was important to Morris Massel during his tenure as IFC president. Throughout his tenure, the Alpha Chi Rho senior worked hard to try to dispel the "animal house" stereotype that has been associated with fraternities. More often than not, Massel believes, he was successful. "The biggest thing I've felt I accomplished is making a better name for the IFC in the eyes of the administration and leaders of the campus," Massel said recently. One of the first accomplishments of Massel's board was to get the entire IFC pledge class to attend Students Together Against Acquaintance Rape workshops. Educational programs were also incorporated into this fall's rush period. As a result, all rushees heard speeches about alcohol abuse and date rape throughout rush rather than only at the bid signing ceremony. The IFC was sharply criticized last year when a number of rushees whistled and hooted at Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Tricia Phaup at bid signing. This year, the ceremony was free of disruptions. But more than any other issue, the establishment of a new alcohol policy is what brought the most attention to the IFC during Massel's tenure. The IFC, in conjunction with the Greek Alumni Council, wrote a new alcohol policy for fraternities and sororities. When the policy was implemented this fall, it required fraternity parties to adhere to a strict bring-your-own-beer policy. Massel said although fraternities would clearly prefer no restrictions on what they can and cannot serve at parties, the new alcohol policy has forced fraternities to "throw smarter parties." "I wanted fraternities to throw parties where they're not just pouring beer out of kegs and handing drinks to everyone walking in the door," he said. Massel admits some fraternities probably have not lived up to the terms of the alcohol policy, but he maintains that "even if you are bending the rules, you have to think about the rules you are bending and the consequences of doing it." The Greek Peer Judicial Board now handles hearings for all fraternities accused of violating the alcohol policy. Before, the hearings were conducted by the Vice Provost for University Life or the Judicial Inquiry Officer. Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said yesterday that Massel has been a "tremendously influential leader." Moneta said the IFC has been able to effectively manage the alcohol policy on its own – mainly because of Massel's leadership. "With the alcohol policy, for example, one of the reasons it is self-governing has to do with Morris' ability to show the Greek system is taking growing responsibility [for its actions]," Moneta said. But images don't change overnight. The IFC still had its share of mishaps during the past year. Last January, a naked man was seen tied to the front gate of Sigma Alpha Epsilon's house. Although the man was not an SAE pledge, the incident did not help to improve the image of the IFC. And when the alcohol policy was first being proposed, fraternities on Locust Walk protested by hanging signs reading, "Why pay the bucks? The social life sucks!" To some, the action made it seem the IFC was blaming the University for the policy, when it was actually the alumni and fraternity advisors who wrote the policy. Massel admits the signs on the Walk were not the wisest way to react to the alcohol policy, but he said the fraternities "had their reasons" for reacting the way they did. Overall, Massel leaves behind a fraternity system that is probably stronger than the one he took over, despite the loss of Acacia and Theta Xi this past year. Bids were slightly up this year and the IFC added a new fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, to the system this fall. Massel said he has "no regrets" about how the last year turned out, and he offered a pointer for his successor, Phi Sigma Kappa junior Hayden Horowitz. "You have to deal with change when change occurs," he said.