LOOKING TO FLING: Officials to focus on policy enforcement

Penn Police and LCE agents will be out in full force during Spring Fling. In light of yesterday's announcement that the University will crack down on campus alcohol abuse, students can expect police to be actively enforcing the law immediately and for the rest of the semester, University Police Chief Maureen Rush said. And with Spring Fling just three weeks away, Rush said students "should expect? a larger contingent of police" during Fling weekend beginning April 16. "There will be a concerted effort on the part of the police officers," Rush said. "Any individuals seen on the streets whether now or during Spring Fling who are obviously intoxicated will be investigated." Provost Robert Barchi specifically singled out Spring Fling in a letter to the University community yesterday, saying that during the event "we will strongly enforce the University's alcohol policy," and that police and state Liquor Control Enforcement agents "will be present throughout the weekend." Barchi also announced the cancellation of the post-Fling Sansom Street block party. Rush said to expect the LCE -- which busted two sorority parties last weekend just hours before the death of 26-year-old Penn alumnus Michael Tobin after an event at the Phi Gamma Delta house -- to be helping to enforce the changes. Rush said the LCE "has a heightened interest in the University campus due to the death of Michael Tobin," and students should "fully expect [the LCE] to be in and around Penn campus from now through the end of the semester." Both she and Barchi maintained that the University did not direct LCE agents to raid the two downtown sorority parties hosted last weekend by Pi Beta Phi and Chi Omega. Barchi also stressed that "this is not a police presence, it is not any ominous thing holding over people," though he noted that "we will be enforcing the rules across the board." Rush said she has met with the LCE to discuss plans for Fling and will meet with the Philadelphia Police Department tomorrow. Both the LCE and Philadelphia Police have been present at past Flings. Last year, the LCE cited 19 students for underage drinking, down from 25 the previous year and 180 in 1996. Rush estimated that 40 LCE agents will be on campus for Spring Fling weekend, which is around the same number of agents that have made their way to Fling in past years. According to Rush, even University and Philadelphia police officers not assigned to help monitor Spring Fling activities will be "more apt to get involved." Rush would not speculate on the number of citations for underage drinking that police will give out this year, saying that the number would depend not on the University Police or the LCE, but rather on students and their behavior. "We would be ecstatic if we did not have to write a single citation? as would the LCE. Neither the Penn Police nor the LCE are out there patrolling during these events to rack up numbers," Rush said. Junior Class President Lisa Marshall, who is organizing Skimmer on April 10, said the additions to the policy should not have any effect on that event, which is planned as non-alcoholic. "We're trying to give people an alternative to drinking," Marshall said, adding that volleyball, free massages and various bands and performing groups will be part of the event's activities. And Marshall added that if people want to drink at Skimmer, the policy won't "discourage those would be determined" to do so. Philadelphia officials initially denied students' request for an event permit this year partially over concerns regarding underage drinking. Barchi said "we will firmly support enforcement by the Philadelphia Police and other city and state alcohol regulating agencies" during Skimmer, which will be held off-campus on the western bank of the Schuylkill River. Rush said that the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs will have their normal monitors patrolling campus parties and that she fully expects OFSA to alert University Police of parties violating the rules.