NEWS ANALYSIS: U., IFC spquare off over party door fees

Greek leaders and Penn officials have quarreled in attempts to find legal methods of funding fraternity events next year. Although the InterFraternity Council and University administrators collaborated on a new monitoring system for fraternity events, they have been unable to resolve problems raised by newfound University pressure to enforce a years-old state law banning fraternities from charging admission to their parties. Under the new system, administrators are able to enforce a Pennsylvania law -- on the books for several years -- banning fraternities from charging admission to open house events. Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski explained that University administrators had long suspected that the IFC was funding its social events illegally. But under the previous alumni monitoring system, the officials were unable to obtain sufficient evidence to reprimand the fraternities, while Greek leaders complained that the monitors often produced incomplete and inconsistent records. Reikofski said administrators were unable to enforce sanctions against the fraternities until they were able to determine the validity of the complaints. In order to improve the monitoring system, the IFC requested that graduate student observers replace the alumni this year. But increased pressure to enforce the law prohibiting door charges accompanied the new monitoring system. Barred from their traditional method of funding parties, fraternity brothers hope some method of funding will be agreed upon to cover the administrative costs for next year's events. Reikofski said the IFC is "looking at a number of possibilities" -- including sandwich sales on Locust Walk, offering a GreekCard giving students access to fraternity parties and selling long-distance phone cards. But with less than three months of school remaining until summer vacation, a solution to the dispute has yet to be agreed upon. A recent Undergraduate Assembly resolution to give the Greeks $20,000 in matching funds failed, despite support from six of the IFC's seven UA members. After several months of negotiations, Greek leaders and administrators still don't see eye to eye on methods of funding IFC open house events. While many administrators seem to favor the GreekCard, Greek leaders are hesitant about having to resort to that option. "I hate the GreekCard," IFC President Matt Baker said. "It is an absolute last resort." Although fraternity chapter presidents were reluctant to exclude non-Greeks from parties this spring, Baker said he would be willing to go that route if funds are not raised by the fall. "We are not afraid to close our doors in order to guarantee the continuation of our own fun," Baker said, adding that it is not the IFC's responsibility to provide a social outlet for 10,000 undergraduates -- only 30 percent of whom are Greek. Baker pointed out that closing parties to non-Greeks would reduce the fraternities' liability risks, noting that the IFC was blamed after three freshmen were sent to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania after attending fraternity parties last fall. "The only thing that has ever gotten [to] us is heat from OFSA because some kid went to the hospital because he came to one of our parties with one thing on his mind -- to get loaded," Baker said. The College and Engineering junior said he will continue to negotiate with Associate Vice Provost of University Life Larry Moneta to reach agreement on funding. But the IFC is not willing to jeopardize the future of the Greek system in order to allow its chapters to distribute open invitations each weekend -- especially when exclusiveness poses no threat to the happiness of current members and pledges. "The Greeks will always party and have a good time, with or without non-Greeks," Baker said. "Membership has its privileges."