In an Interfraternity Council meeting last week, concerns were raised regarding the University’s policy on alcohol consumption in Greek houses. Though IFC leaders say there is good communication between fraternities and administrators regarding this policy, the relationship has suffered a turbulent past.
In March 1999, 26-year-old alumnus Michael Tobin died after falling down a flight of stairs at the Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) chapter house. Days after the incident, University administrators placed a moratorium on the consumption of alcohol at all on-campus events, including Skimmer — an annual event formerly held on the banks of the Schuylkill River — and Spring Fling. The ban caused students to loudly vilify then-University president Judith Rodin and the administration.
On March 30, 1999, over 1,000 students gathered on College Green to protest the temporary ban. Students across campus claimed they were not adequately consulted about the change and that the new policy would push drinking to unregulated environments.
Other measures of the official response included disbanding the FIJI fraternity — which moved back into its house this year — and assembling an alcohol task force, chaired by then-Provost Robert Barchi. The committee was composed of 14 student leaders and seven faculty members. Its purpose was to review and make changes to Penn’s alcohol policy in order to facilitate a safer campus environment.
In April, the committee presented Rodin with a new policy, which called for more disciplinary and educational measures, increased monitoring at on-campus parties and a range of social programming goals. The new policy went into effect the following fall.
In 2004, the Greek community saw more alcohol-related incidents. Following fall rush, Zeta Beta Tau shut down after two hospitalizations resulting from an unregistered event. In September of the same year, Matthew Paris, then a Pi Kappa Alpha junior, was injured and left in critical condition after falling two stories at a party at the chapter house of Psi Upsilon, also known as Castle.
In response to these incidents, the University put together the Alcohol Rapid Response Team. Composed of students and administrators, the committee once again set out to revise the Alcohol and Drug Policy.
The new policy — still in use today — was published in spring 2005. Though some of its provisions were already part of the existing policy, it prohibits hard alcohol and kegs, requires students to display identification to be served and stipulates that fraternities must use a licensed bartender to serve drinks.
But at last week’s meeting, some articulated concerns that the policy is too strict and fuels binge drinking off campus.
IFC leaders informed brothers last week that a committee has been formed to renegotiate the University’s alcohol policy with administrators.
To this end, according to Dave Dobkin, College senior and the IFC’s vice president of strategic planning, the IFC is currently working to collaborate and garner support from groups like Program for Advanced Standing Students, the Healthy Living Task Force, the Social Planning and Events Committee and the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education.
IFC leaders are also working on surveys that will gauge feelings about the current policy, in both the general undergraduate population and among Greek leaders.
Some Greek leaders are confident that in recent years, the trust between University administrators and student organizations has grown.
According to Wharton senior and IFC President Christian Lunoe, there has been increased collaboration in recent years between the IFC and University officials.
“The IFC has worked very closely with both University administration as well as each chapter’s executive board to very clearly articulate the rules and expectations of fraternities on campus,” he wrote in an e-mail.
“While we cannot control the actions of each and every chapter, it is our goal to provide them with the resources they need (whether it is education or otherwise) to hold approved events on campus,” he wrote.
Another IFC town hall meeting has been scheduled for Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. in College Hall 200. It will be open to the University community.
