Alcohol ban lifted as task force reports

Greek leaders said that the new rules would have a large effect on the nature of campus parties. Fraternity and sorority leaders stressed yesterday that although the new alcohol policy recommendations will likely change the nature of fraternity parties, they do not amount to an overhaul of the Greek system. "The policy isn't too earth-shattering for Greeks," said InterFraternity Council Executive Vice President Andrew Exum, a member of the provost-appointed task force that developed the recommendations. Still, students will likely see many changes in terms of how fraternities host parties when they return to campus in the fall. "Large parties with cases of beer provided by the chapter are most likely a thing of the past," InterFraternity Council President and task force member Mark Metzl said. The College junior and Tau Epsilon Pi brother added that the measures will increase safety, provided that the University supplies the resources to implement the recommended policy changes. Exum, a College junior and Daily Pennsylvanian columnist, added that the committee used the current Greek Alcohol Education program -- including distribution of the Alcohol 101 CD-ROM to pledges and TIPS training -- as a model for many of its recommendations. If the recommendations are accepted, alcohol policy changes to fall parties will appear in the form of a total ban on hard liquor, an enforced monitoring and BYOB system, a rule barring bartenders from belonging to the organization hosting the party and a 1 a.m. halt on alcohol distribution. The committee also recommended that the BYOB policy -- long a part of the Greek system, but rarely enforced -- be expanded to include all student group social functions with increased enforcement. Panhellenic Council President Becca Iverson, who sat on the task force, said that while the BYOB policy has always been in effect within the Greek system, the policy needs additional enforcement. "There has been some getting around it," said Iverson, a College junior and Chi Omega sister. She noted that the stricter alcohol-distribution policy will change the nature of parties but that responsible bartending and increased monitoring are needed to curb alcohol abuse. Some fraternity presidents said that the new regulations will change the Greek party atmosphere in the immediate future. "Some of the measures of the new policy are punitive," said Kappa Sigma President Paulo Eapen, a College junior. "The denying of a gin and tonic at even a small cocktail party seems drastic and unnecessary." Sigma Alpha Epsilon President Tom Parnell, a College sophomore, speculated that events will at first encourage "less drinking and less attendance" at fraternity parties. But he added that Greek social life will adjust, saying that people over 21 will bring their own beer and underage students will drink before they go to parties. Other presidents said stricter BYOB monitoring will affect alcohol consumption but not the party atmosphere. Pi Kappa Phi President and committee member Steven Fechheimer, a Wharton junior, commented that "there will be less alcohol for the foreseeable future" as students are forced to supply their own liquor.