Frat party funds still unresolved

Some fraternities have charged door fees this fall. The University and the IFC never agreed on party funding. Fraternities were supposed to stop charging for parties last semester, but students are reporting that some chapters have still sought door payments this fall -- indicating that the ongoing disputes between the University and the Greek system over funding for social events are still not resolved. Acting in accordance with a Pennsylvania law on the books for several years, University administrators spent most of the spring trying to work out an agreement with fraternity representatives, who say they cannot afford to throw open parties without admission fees. Last weekend, College freshman Bradley Block said some fraternities charged at the door, while others requested donations, though he could not specify which houses asked for money. "We just left the ones that were requesting 'donations' and went to ones that didn't charge," he said. Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski said he was not aware of this complaint, but is disappointed that door fees have once again become an issue. "Some chapters are working together with the University, hoping to move forward," he said. "Other chapters, however, lack the same integrity." The InterFraternity Council has insisted on some way to recoup the costs of throwing an open party. But Reikofski said the University simply cannot provide the money. "The University never committed to funding parties -- it's just not feasible," he said. One proposal under consideration in the spring was a "Greek Card" that, for an up-front cost, would have allowed admission to open fraternity parties beginning this fall, but no agreement was ever reached on that. IFC Vice President of Academics and Community Programming Jason Judd said the IFC met Tuesday, but did not discuss what their formal position on door fees would be this year. Judd said IFC President Matt Baker, an Alpha Chi Rho brother and a College and Engineering senior, explained the University's current policy. "[Baker] is not there to hold their hand, but he suggests that they not [charge money]," said Judd, a College senior and a Tau Epsilon Phi brother. IFC Vice President of 21st Century Planning Aaron Kotok said barring non-Greeks from parties is not an option because one of the Greek system's roles at the University is "helping the social scene." "Parties are not supposed to be exclusive events," said Kotok, a Pi Kappa Phi brother and a College senior. Judd also is against the idea of closing parties to non-Greeks. "Although I would like to throw smaller parties, I don't want to cut off the freshmen," he said. Although the IFC did vote last January to close its chapters' spring parties to non-Greeks unless the University helped find alternate funding, chapters kept their parties open throughout the semester despite the lack of an accord. TEP Social Chairperson Cary Ziegler said his fraternity will have to host fewer open parties this year because of the funding problem. "We're going to have to limit our blowouts this year to two or three, rather than hosting our usual four or five," the Wharton sophomore said. Reikofski said that while the University is trying to keep social events fun for the student body, they must also keep the events in the framework of the law. "The University's responsibilities can only go so far," he added. "Penn students are adults. There is a personal responsibility that goes with that."