IFC door fees remain a charged issue

IFC leaders and U. officials are still looking for a way to offset the costs of parties. Although members of the InterFraternity Council and the University administration are engaged in ongoing negotiations about the future of fraternity parties, no decisions have yet been finalized. As part of ongoing efforts to find an alternative to the current policy of charging at the door of fraternity parties, an ad hoc committee representing the IFC met with University officials yesterday. The administration's call for free fraternity parties comes in response to a Pennsylvania law making it illegal for the houses to charge admission to their social events. But IFC leaders said the policy change could bring a severe financial impact for houses that depend on door fees to offset the costs of throwing parties. IFC President Josh Gottheimer said the total costs could reach $90,000. Last semester, preliminary plans were drawn up for students to purchase a "GreekCard" each September in order to gain entry to fraternity events. Revenue from the sale of the cards would help defray the costs for a set number of social functions at each fraternity's house during the year. But the GreekCard wouldn't bring in any money until September at least, and after a series of meetings, IFC members still lack a plan for balancing their books this spring without charging at the door, said Gottheimer, a College senior and an Alpha Epsilon Pi brother. "We, as an IFC, will try to scrap together some money," he said, but he added that he doubts whether the fraternities could amass enough money to pay for all of the IFC's spring parties -- even with University assistance. Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said that although yesterday's meeting did not produce a final solution to the question, it was an important part of a continuing series. One of the goals of the meeting was to introduce IFC President-elect Matt Baker, a College junior in Alpha Chi Rho, to the negotiation process. Moneta said the meeting provided the committee and administrators an opportunity to look past their current problems to what the future of the Greek system entails -- including plans to allocate money generated from the GreekCards to community service and cultural programs. Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski said both parties came away from the meeting with a better understanding of the other's position than they had in the fall. And Gottheimer added that while it is important for the University and the IFC to come to a workable solution, he does not want to rush the process. "We want to do this right," Gottheimer said. "We don't want to move too fast." The committee will continue to meet with administrators until the IFC chapter presidents and the administration reach an agreement on how fraternity parties are to be financed and the details of graduate student monitoring.