Frats levy illegal door fees over weekend

The IFC reported that several houses, violating a state law, are still charging to enter parties. Several fraternity chapters continued to charge door fees at their parties this weekend, violating both Pennsylvania law and University policy banning admissions fees at Greek social events. InterFraternity Council President and Alpha Chi Rho brother Matt Baker said graduate student monitors reported a few Greek chapters to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs yesterday for violating the policy, but said he was unsure as to which chapters were implicated. Phi Kappa Psi's Saturday night party was among the events cited for charging door fees. Fraternity members tried to charge a number of students -- including a Daily Pennsylvanian reporter -- to enter the party, though some left instead of paying. "I was ready to go into the party, but they were charging, so I just left," Engineering sophomore Chad Ripper said, adding that fraternity members asked him for a $5 admission fee. Phi Psi President Bradley Coburn denied the fraternity charged door fees, and said he plans to file a complaint against the graduate monitors. "They're supposed to present themselves at the gate," the Wharton junior said. "Two of them did identify themselves, but one did not." Coburn added that the monitor did not actually witness the fraternity charging at the door, and is basing the accusation on a second-hand report from a freshman. "It's [the monitor's] word against mine," he said. The University and the IFC adopted the Graduate Student Monitor system last semester to ensure that fraternity parties follow University and IFC policies barring underage drinking. The graduate students replaced a previous system in which alumni monitored each party. The monitors are supposed to visit each fraternity house several times throughout the evening, watch for charging and check that brothers are issuing bracelets, checking identification and serving non-alcoholic drinks and non-salty snacks. Baker, a College and Engineering senior, said chapters who were cited by the monitors will be investigated by the IFC's Judicial Inquiry Board, which will meet later this week. Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski said he could not confirm whether or not any chapters had charged door fees because he did not get a chance to look at the monitors' reports yesterday. IFC Judicial Manager Mike Steib also said he was not yet aware of the reports, adding that the judicial inquiry process will take "about two weeks." Steib, a Delta Kappa Epsilon brother, said the board will take disciplinary action ranging from probation to monetary fines against any chapter guilty of violating University or IFC policies. Reikofski added that "assuming that the Judicial Board does a good job, we will go with any sanctions they decide to impose." Many fraternities have insisted that they cannot afford to throw parties without charging door fees or receiving funding from outside sources. The University and the IFC have yet to agree on a way to fund parties. Several possible options -- including an Undergraduate Assembly resolution to provide $20,000 for party funding -- failed last year.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.