Social life at the University is a little quieter this semester. Still unable to solve the ongoing dispute between the InterFraternity Council and the administration over door fees at parties, many fraternity chapters say they are throwing fewer open parties, replacing them with smaller, invitation-only social events. "The era of open parties is spiraling downward as we speak," IFC President and Alpha Chi Rho brother Matt Baker said. Across the IFC, fraternities are recognizing that without door fees, their budgets won't accommodate many big events. Sigma Alpha Mu President and College senior Mike Kraver said that although his fraternity prefers open parties, "as long as we can't charge, we have to start thinking about other options." Since last fall, IFC members and administrators have been discussing various methods of alleviating the funding problem. One suggestion is to close all parties to non-Greeks. Baker said that while the IFC is unlikely to pass such a policy, he "wouldn't rule it out." "I don't see this happening anytime soon, but it is something I foresee happening in the future," the College and Engineering senior said. Without open fraternity parties, Baker said Penn's social scene would "be much more in line with the other Ivies, which, relative to other schools, is pretty poor." Even now, he added, the University's door fee policy, along with the threat of raids by the Pennsylvania State Police's Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement and liability issues, are "squeezing the life out of the social scene." Baker said, though, that media attention on underage drinking -- which followed the alcohol-related deaths of students at Louisiana State University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology -- has had little effect on many chapters' decisions to throw fewer parties. But Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Assistant Director Tom Carroll said several recent alcohol-related hospitalizations and assaults have caused "an increase in concern" within the Greek community. As a result, he believes chapters will avoid holding many large events because of liability risks and "a potential for lack of control." In the long run, a smaller number of open events would give rushes fewer opportunities for exposure to the Greek scene, Baker noted. But he said he doesn't expect an impact on IFC rush statistics. "People don't rush just to throw parties," he said. "There are so many other reasons to rush." In the hope of avoiding any further decrease in IFC activities, the Undergraduate Assembly's Greek Life committee continues to work with administrators to try to resolve the funding problem. They have been unable to agree on proposals to fund parties through a raise in the General Fee or through a "Greek Card" that students would need to purchase to attend fraternity parties. According to the committee's chairperson, Delta Kappa Epsilon brother Mike Steib, the issue "is something the administration does not want to deal with." Steib also sits on the IFC executive board. Baker said he "has [his] doubts" about whether his organization will successfully obtain funds from the University, and in planning future IFC events and policies, they assume the problem won't be solved soon. "I have severe reservations about holding my breath and waiting for funding," he said. Even if the University agrees to provide the IFC with funds, Baker said he doesn't expect the amount to cover the administrative costs of parties. "If we do get funding, I don't think it will be close to what we need," he said. "The University severely underestimates the amount of money fraternities spend on parties." Steib estimated that the IFC needs more than $100,000 to cover the costs of bouncers, bands, disc jockeys, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks at open parties throughout the year.
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