LCE busts Theta's downtown party

Agents cited nine people for underage drinking at the events. Unexpected visitors decided to drop in at a downtown Kappa Alpha Theta party last Thursday -- and they didn't come to dance or mingle with any members of the Penn sorority. Agents from the Pennsylvania State Police's Liquor Control Enforcement bureau raided Theta's Center City party at Wichita Steak and Brew near 3rd and Market streets, handing out nine citations for underage drinking, an LCE employee said yesterday. The citations carry either a fine of up to $300 or a day spent in an alcohol education class. In addition, those cited may lose their driver's licenses for up to 90 days. Agents arrived and "blocked the doors and breathalyzed people if you were under 21," said one Theta sister who requested anonymity. She added that several undercover agents had been sitting at the bar for some time before the raid. Panhellenic Council President Janelle Brodsky said the citations were the result of improper identification by the restaurant, and were not the sorority's fault. "Theta did not get busted; the club got busted," said the College and Engineering senior, adding that this LCE raid was no different from others in recent years at events like Spring Fling. Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski said yesterday that he had not heard of the incident, but stressed that the restaurant was also partially to blame. "One of the things we coach [restaurants] on when we make the negotiations [for parties] is that the responsibility of carding, the distribution of alcohol, is shifted to the establishment," Reikofski said. Wichita owner David Cohen, however, said the raid was the result of two problems -- misleading fliers and fake IDs. Cohen explained that the establishment -- formerly known as Jake & Oliver's -- does, in fact, check IDs. But some of the underage drinkers had fake IDs, and the fliers for the party, which he did not see before the event, did not indicate that one had to be 21 to drink, he contended. Instead, he claimed that the fliers only said that you could come to the party if you were 18. "We do tons of Penn parties," Cohen said. "People who book the parties should not put that on the fliers [because] it's against the law." But Theta President Sophie Bosch disputed Cohen's allegation. She provided a flier to The Daily Pennsylvanian that does, in fact, state that one must be "18 to enter, 21 to drink" at the party. Bosch, a College senior, refused to comment further on the incident. Cohen could not be reached for comment on the flier. Sororities do not throw parties on campus because it is illegal under state law to serve alcohol in their houses; if they did, then "we're considered a brothel," Brodsky said. To compensate, sororities hold their parties in clubs where they do not directly control either the carding at the door or the bartending. Brodsky added that sororities do not rent the clubs solely to drink. "The point of the club is not to have alcohol," she said. "It is a social event. For those that have ID that legally allows them to purchase alcohol, fine, great." This is not the first time Penn students have been targeted by the LCE. In April 1996, agents cited 180 students for underage drinking at Spring Fling, and in March 1997, 33 students received citations after a midnight raid at the Palladium. At Fling earlier this year, the LCE issued citations to 19 students.