Fraternities dry until underage drinking curbed
Dean orders Sigma Chi and Alpha Tau Omega presidents to design new plan to deal with problem
Maria Schmitt and Liz Essley
Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: News
Alpha Tau Omega and Sigma Chi fraternities will be dry until further notice, Dean of Men Aaron Petersen informed fraternity leaders last week.
The two fraternities must develop plans for avoiding underage drinking at parties in order to earn back their alcohol privileges.
Petersen said both fraternities held unregistered parties during Halloween weekend. Underage students drank at least one of those parties.
Petersen found about the problem through a visitation violation in one of the dormitories. He said the student who committed the violation was clearly intoxicated.
"It seemed pretty evident that he had been drinking, either at one of the houses or both," he said.
Petersen said he had been concerned with underage drinking at the fraternities since homecoming, but that the two unregistered parties were the impetus for his disciplinarian action.
"I was concerned with underage drinking because I always am," he said. "If that hadn't happened I still might have done it."
All fraternity parties that involve alcohol must be registered with the dean's office.
Petersen said fraternity members said the Halloween parties were spontaneous, but he concluded based on evidence that they were planned.
"If it looks and smells like a party, guys, it's a party and you should register it," he said.
Alpha Tau Omega President Greg Arpin, a junior, said the party was not planned.
"We had no intention of having a party so we didn't register it," Arpin said.
Petersen sent an e-mail to the two fraternity presidents late last week, asking them to figure out how to manage parties so that underage drinking doesn't occur.
"We're immersed in this problem. The students have to take ownership in that problem and not ignore it," he said. "I know mistakes are going to happen, but they've got to have a good approach."
He said both fraternity presidents responded immediately and agreed to the need for a plan. Petersen added that both fraternities' alumni boards had been pressuring them to do more to prevent underage drinking at parties.
The two fraternities must develop plans for avoiding underage drinking at parties in order to earn back their alcohol privileges.
Petersen said both fraternities held unregistered parties during Halloween weekend. Underage students drank at least one of those parties.
Petersen found about the problem through a visitation violation in one of the dormitories. He said the student who committed the violation was clearly intoxicated.
"It seemed pretty evident that he had been drinking, either at one of the houses or both," he said.
Petersen said he had been concerned with underage drinking at the fraternities since homecoming, but that the two unregistered parties were the impetus for his disciplinarian action.
"I was concerned with underage drinking because I always am," he said. "If that hadn't happened I still might have done it."
All fraternity parties that involve alcohol must be registered with the dean's office.
Petersen said fraternity members said the Halloween parties were spontaneous, but he concluded based on evidence that they were planned.
"If it looks and smells like a party, guys, it's a party and you should register it," he said.
Alpha Tau Omega President Greg Arpin, a junior, said the party was not planned.
"We had no intention of having a party so we didn't register it," Arpin said.
Petersen sent an e-mail to the two fraternity presidents late last week, asking them to figure out how to manage parties so that underage drinking doesn't occur.
"We're immersed in this problem. The students have to take ownership in that problem and not ignore it," he said. "I know mistakes are going to happen, but they've got to have a good approach."
He said both fraternity presidents responded immediately and agreed to the need for a plan. Petersen added that both fraternities' alumni boards had been pressuring them to do more to prevent underage drinking at parties.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 9
Joy Pavelski
posted 11/13/09 @ 12:51 PM EST
Surely there were bystanders at the "dorm incident" that could have given more of a visual to this story than us having to hear only the party line from all the people in charge. (Continued…)
Grouchy Alumnus
posted 11/13/09 @ 1:39 PM EST
And the quest to drive all fun off campus continues. Alcohol education- fine. Checking IDs- fine. Dry probation? Parties go farther out, leading to drunk driving or long walks home that (with all due respect to the mayor's ego) lead to townie fights or sexual assaults. (Continued…)
Grad Student
posted 11/17/09 @ 4:27 PM EST
I am actually with Petersen on this one, but think the only way you stop the boozing is if you have law enforcement involved too. Local law enforcement needs to carry its portion of the burden and enforce the laws off the campus. (Continued…)
Alunums Irritated
posted 11/17/09 @ 10:27 PM EST
Dean Peterson, perhaps all fraternities should create a plan - not just a few of them. Sometimes being proactive is better than being reactive.
Thanks, an Alumni
A Student
posted 11/22/09 @ 11:14 PM EST
Fine, the Collegian needs to report on news such as this. What I don't understand is the blatant call out of the incident with Sigma Chi and the Kappa Key. (Continued…)
An Alumi
posted 11/23/09 @ 11:49 AM EST
DSP is dry and has been for a few years...even now that their grade point average is higher than the all men's average. Do the Delts even have a house anymore? ATO and Sigmachi are just the latest two the college is cracking down on. (Continued…)
meh
posted 11/23/09 @ 2:12 PM EST
Why, Grad Student, do you call for more involvement of law enforcement? The police in Hillsdale are pretty good at respecting the privacy of off-campus homes, including while parties are going on. (Continued…)
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