LCE raids local bar, frat parties

Crackdown affects ATO,Crackdown affects ATO,Phi Delt, Alpha Chi Rho,Crackdown affects ATO,Phi Delt, Alpha Chi Rho,Phi Kappa Psi and SAE and Jackie LaPlaca The sign on the door of Alpha Tau Omega read "Party cancelled due to the LCE and their agents." Last night, Liquor Enforcement and Control Bureau agents also spot-checked Smokey Joe's, the Penn Rocks for the Homeless concert and more than four other fraternity parties. University Police sources said the crackdown on underage drinking will continue throughout Spring Fling. "As far as I know, the same level of enforcement will be on this weekend," Sgt. Keith Christian said early this morning. Most of the raids took place before 11 p.m. last night, between 37th and 43rd streets, according to Christian. "We would help any police agency" that raids parties, Christian added. Although the LCE did not check ATO, the fraternity's executive board decided to cancel the party around 9:30 p.m., according to ATO Social Chairperson Matt Santaspirt. "We didn't want to risk anything," said Santaspirt, a College junior. "We decided if the LCE came inside, the house would be liable." Alpha Chi Rho also closed down its party at 11:45 p.m., according to the fraternity's social chairperson, Eduardo Briceno. "People are very disappointed by our actions," the Engineering sophomore said. "Spring Fling isn't supposed to be like this, but we had no choice." Despite a spot-check by LCE agents, Phi Delta Theta kept its party open last night. "The LCE agents went in and out of the party and afterwards the line just got longer outside," Engineering junior Kwesi Edwards said at about 12:30 this morning. But according to Phi Delt brother and College sophomore Mike Pollack, there were no problems at the party. LCE agents also broke up a mixer between Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Chi Omega at the SAE house, according to two SAE brothers who wished to remain anonymous. Several students said the LCE crackdown is putting a damper on Spring Fling weekend festivities. "I realize that sometimes underage drinking is a problem, however the LCE is being immature and is ruing everyone's good time," Engineering sophomore Jon Seitz said. Engineering freshman Chris Lindsey agreed. "This fucking sucks," he said. The LCE busts came a day after Director of Police Operations Maureen Rush announced that LCE agents would be patrolling the campus during Spring Fling weekend. "We weren't doing anything wrong and the LCE came in during our mixer with Chi-O," said an SAE brother who requested anonymity. The LCE agents also visited Smokey Joe's, a popular campus bar near the corner of 40th and Locust streets last night. But according to bar manager Joseph Ryan, no one was cited for underage drinking. Phi Kappa Psi President Scott Pearlman, a College senior, said several LCE agents came by his fraternity's house at about 6 p.m. -- reminding brothers of the Pennsylvania laws on alcohol consumption. Sigma Phi Epsilon -- which was also having a party last night -- had not been checked by the LCE at press time, according to College senior and Sig Ep brother Eric Romanow. Santaspirt said the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs warned houses to be careful to obey the rules, but it was not taken seriously.