IFC aims to boost alcohol awareness

The 5-point plan includes a training initiative and new regulation policies In the wake of three separate incidents of student alcohol poisoning and numerous visits to campus by Liquor Control Enforcement officers, the InterFraternity Council released a major alcohol awareness initiative yesterday. The five-point plan stresses educated awareness, safety certification and partnership with the University. Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski said the five-point plan is "not necessarily a direct relation" to the LCE's presence on campus this year. "This is a result of a growing concern about the underage drinking and intensity of the drinking that goes on here," he added. "[But] I don't know if we'll ever be able to completely eliminate underage drinking." One part of the IFC's plan involves hiring graduate student monitors to "help police IFC social events," Reikofski said. "This is one step in a direction to put a monitor and a control on alcohol on campus," he explained. Reikofski noted that before the monitoring can begin, the University must commit to it, especially by giving liability coverage to the graduate students involved. The IFC plan also establishes a freshman alcohol awareness seminar to be held during Greek Week and the establishment of a five-member alcohol awareness task force to study the role of alcohol within the Greek system. InterFraternity Council President and College senior Josh Gottheimer said the Greek system receives "a lot of heat" for its social programming, but has always been "left alone to handle it." Gottheimer, an Alpha Epsilon Pi brother, said that trend must change. "The Greeks are taking the first step, but we need to work with the University," he said. "This cannot be done alone." Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta praised the IFC's "proactive" response to the issue. "That they are working to find solutions is a real sign of caring on their part," Moneta said. The plan is only the beginning of what should be an ongoing effort, said Assistant Vice Provost for University Life Barbara Cassel, who said Greeks must help to show that "alcohol doesn't have to be a part of social life." The IFC program includes the control of alcohol distribution through the already-established Bring Your Own Beer policy, the prevention of alcohol distribution to minors and assurances that chapter houses provide unsalted snacks and non-alcoholic beverages at events. And all new fraternity members must participate in a mandatory Drug and Alcohol Resource Team workshop during their pledge period. The plan also requires chapter presidents, along with social and risk management chairmen, to complete a national safety certification program called Training and Intervention Procedures for Servers. Reikofski said only four fraternities have not participated in the program previously. "The training gives people a chance to? begin practicing confronting people if they have had too much to drink," Reikofski said. College senior and Theta Xi President Bill Belden said the program can help fraternities "to protect themselves, and to protect the people at their party." The alcohol awareness task force will release a report of its findings in December.