U. officials, IFC deadlock in negotiations over frat party alcohol policy

They are struggling to resolve three issues - a ban on open parties in September, unlimited access for monitors and cover charges at parties. The InterFraternity Council and the University have reached a standstill on several aspects of proposed reforms to the IFC's alcohol policy. At the center of the discussions is an IFC proposal to enlist the help of University graduate students to monitor and enforce the Bring Your Own Beer policy. Ron Jasner, assistant director of Risk Management, said his office must reach agreement with the IFC on three conditions before hiring monitors: the elimination of cover charges at fraternity parties, a ban on open parties during the first month of the academic year and granting monitors unrestricted access to both registered and unregistered parties. Eliminating cover charges at parties is "non-negotiable," Jasner said. This issue has raised the most difficult dispute between the two sides. Charging at the door is a violation of Pennsylvania law, Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski explained. "The University is in a position where we can't approve any groups breaking the law," he said. But Phi Kappa Psi President and Wharton junior David Liu said a no-charging policy is "unacceptable" and would damage Penn's social scene. "Some of the smaller, less affluent houses would really be hit hard by that kind of policy," he said. IFC President and College senior Josh Gottheimer said the IFC may consider a proportional charge system, based on individual parties' non-alcohol costs. For example, a party that served food and hosted a live band could charge more than another party with a DJ and no food. Giving monitors unrestricted access to parties has also drawn IFC contention. While Jasner said this step would minimize the University's potential liability in alcohol-related issues, the IFC has proposed a limited-access system where monitors would have to show identification upon arriving at a party, said Gottheimer, an Alpha Epsilon Pi brother. "We cannot support open access to houses at any time," Gottheimer added. Liu said he doesn't approve of giving the graduate students unimpeded access. "It's going a bit too far if monitors can come in whenever," Liu said. IFC representatives are also discussing with Risk Management officials and other University departments the banning of open parties during the first month of school. "We want to give people time to get adjusted to campus life and to see what non-alcohol alternatives are available," Jasner said. But the ban on open fraternity parties during September received little praise from members of the Greek system. "It won't solve things in the long run," said Pi Kappa Phi President Jerry Levin, a Wharton junior. "Students would just find other places to go out and have fun." Gottheimer said the Greek system has a social responsibility to the campus. "We want people to have a good time, and for people -- of legal age -- to drink and have fun," he said. "But we need the University's help to promote that." But he added that the IFC and the University have to reach a middle ground. "We're trying to come up with a policy that promotes the needs of BYOB and responsible social behavior and keeps the social scene on campus," Gottheimer said. University officials and IFC members said they would like to implement the policy by next semester. But the details about training graduate student monitors and how the system will function will not even be discussed until the preliminary conditions are resolved. Jasner said he recognizes that the University cannot ignore the IFC's "plea for help" with the monitoring of alcohol at fraternity parties. However, the University cannot serve as an "alcohol cop," he added. And Reikofski said the unwillingness of many fraternity members to self-monitor parties has made the University's involvement necessary. "Since many students are not willing to monitor themselves consistently, we're looking to the University's help," he said, adding that administrators are particularly concerned about freshman binge drinking that could occur without a formal monitoring system. Gottheimer explained that fraternity members have little motivation to enforce the BYOB policy, especially since there is no consistent monitoring system in place. But some members of the Greek system said fraternities do enforce the BYOB policy. "They currently enforce it to a degree," Liu said. "Social chairs and presidents are level-headed and won't do anything stupid."