Penn may ban alcohol at all Greek events

As fraternities and sororities across the nation work to clean up their image, the University has begun deliberating whether to make all Greek events go dry at the start of the next academic year. The policy being discussed -- which will ban alcohol at all fraternity and sorority events held on or off campus -- will be voted on by May 1, according to Vice Provost of University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum. A 12-member committee of students, administrators and faculty is currently researching the feasibility and potential impact of the policy. Officials noted that the potential ban is designed to curb injuries and deaths that have occurred nationwide as a result of alcohol abuse. "A long-term alcohol ban has been something that we have been mulling for a while," Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski said. "With alcohol incidents at the University continuing despite increased programs and education, it seems to be the right time to start formal discussions." Reikofski, a member of the committee, added that since many fraternities seem to be making a conscious effort to emphasize the traditional ideals of fraternity life, such as community service, leadership and brotherhood, the alcohol ban "might be the next logical step." Penn's head bartender, Stephanie Ives, echoed Reikofski's sentiments. "We've tried to make drinking at Penn a safer, more comfortable experience," she explained. "But I'm not convinced that's working, and this may be what the University needs." But students affiliated with the Greek system said they are not in support of forcing all houses to go dry. "I think this policy is a bad idea," said InterFraternity Council president Mark Zimring, who also sits on the committee investigating the matter. "Students need an outlet for the stresses that accompany college life." "The University is not just hurting its students," the College junior continued passionately. "They're hurting the community at large. Just think, so much money could be raised by combining fundraising efforts and drinking." Zimring, a Delta Kappa Epsilon brother, suggested that drink-offs, akin to popular dance-off contests, should be held where fraternity brothers get sponsors to donate money to charity for each beer the brother consumes. In protest of the potential policy, the InterFraternity Council has declared the remainder of this week "Beer Week." "We're going to be drinking all the time," IFC Executive Vice President Lee Gerson said. "This is a fundamental violation of our first amendment rights and we have to show the University that we won't take this kind of treatment sober." "The main goal of Beer Week is to drink beer," Zimring explained. "It's to show the Penn community what us Greeks are all about -- community service." Tomorrow night, a coffee house at Alpha Epsilon Pi will kick off Beer Week. The event, sponsored by the IFC, will feature performances by intoxicated fraternity members. "We're going to sing and dance and drink," Zimring said. "I think the University will get the message -- we plan to have it come across loud and clear." However, the Beer Week coffeehouse was postponed indefinitely until the University repairs significant problems with the floor of the AEPi house.

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