The Greek community is stepping up to increase safety at this year's Spring Fling.
The University administration has asked Greek leaders to help implement a Fling version of Team Sober -- a group of student alcohol monitors who work to ensure the safety of their peers by being visibly sober in the Quadrangle.
During Spring Fling weekend, which often sees an elevated number of alcohol-related medical emergencies and instances of vandalism, the 140-member team will work to monitor the behavior of students. It will attempt to prevent violations of the University alcohol policy, including everything from visible alcohol containers to underage drinking. If a student needs medical attention, Team Sober will contact the proper authorities.
"It's come to light that Fling over the past few years has become continually more high-risk," former InterFraternity Council president Conor O'Callaghan said. "Team Sober [will help] to mitigate that and keep Fling in the Quad for years to come."
Panehellenic Council President and College junior Hayley Gross agreed. "There's no need for policing, but presence is a great deterrent," she said, referring to the fact that the administration initially wanted the group to have more of an enforcement role during the weekend.
"Initially, it took some time for students and administrators to get on the same page in terms of the responsibilities of Team Sober," said O'Callaghan, an Engineering and Wharton senior and Daily Pennsylvanian columnist.
Team Sober is no stranger to the Penn social scene. Present at the past two "Greek Weekend" block parties, members were identified as student enforcers of safe drinking practices by their bright shirts.
Gross said that incorporating Team Sober into Fling is "a great way for the University to exhibit its support for the Greek system and to ask the students to step up."
This will be the first year Team Sober will be present at Fling. Unlike the Team Sober of Greek Week, this group will consist of campus leaders from a wide array of student groups, including the Undergraduate Assembly and the Social Planning and Events Committee.
Team Sober "will not work unless we have an accurate representation of the entire student body," said current InterFraternity Council President Spencer Scharff.
The two-day Spring Fling will be divided into six two-hour shifts. Twenty members of Team Sober will cover the first two shifts each day, while the third shift will have 30.
Members are only required to remain sober while they are on duty. However, "the point is being a responsible person," Scharff said.
Undergraduate Assembly Chairman Jason Levine mentioned the "peer-to-peer" nature of Team Sober.
"It's up to students to change the [drinking] culture at Penn," the College senior said. Students are "more receptive [to other students] ... containing high-risk behavior."
