John G, thanks for the local information. I find it interesting to say the Least.

Brandon, it should come by a Chapter by Chapter decission only. While it may work for yours, it may not work for others. Correct?

I know while my Chapter is not totaly dry, there are strict rules set in place and if they are violated, it will be come fully dry.

But as I said in comparing in sports jargon, if a team is much bigger than yours what do you do? You have to compete or have no team at all. I am sure IHQ is well aware of this as they too are Brothers and have gone through everything that each of us have in our College days. They are not stupid or foolish but have to do a balancing act. They try to impart this to all Chapters through our ELCs. Remember also, these things have been voted on by Members of each Chapter at G A's.

Easier management
 

Having been a High Pi a couple of times may I add that I would much rather have activity going on in the open where it can be managed than going on in secret where standards and rules cannot be enforced. Alcohol is far easier to control when leadership knows what is going on, and when and where rather than in secret, hidden places.

I suspect that at Wake Forest alcohol use was forced far underground and kept hidden. Why play that game?

And the rules at Wake Forest took on the appearance of a game. If the four of us had decided to go out and get a pizza, all of us over 21, I could have a beer and they could not. We are all members of Lambda Chi Alpha but their Zeta has the no alcohol policy.

If one of them was flying home to mom for Christmas, he could have a beer on the flight home to Austin. If he were flying off to the Council of Presidents meeting in Austin the next month, he couldn't.

A single guy living in his own apartment could probably have alcohol in his apartment under the rules. Two guys sharing could not.

I'm standing in line at the airport and see a kid with letters. I speak to the agent and cash in some miles, and the kid gets an upgrade to first (I'm fly alot!). He sits down and orders a drink. Flight attendant brings it. I walk back and introduce myself. He sees the polo shirt that I'm wearing from the '05 Leadership Seminar. Two Lambda Chis. He has a drink. BUSTED.

See how silly this could become?

Rules need to be relevant, easy to understand and interpret, and easy to apply, but there is no substitute for good judgment.

If Wake Forest chooses to change their by-laws to permit alcohol possession and use by chapter members then that could serve a god purpose indeed by bringing some of the drinking out into the open where it can be monitored and control in accordance with Fraternity policies and procedures. It will certainly cut down on the potential for some sort of a technical, "gotcha" violation that some university administrators go looking for.


PS: I really have done the first class upgrade thing for a couple of kids! Their eyes get as big as saucers!

Exactly John.

Using your pizza scenario. If I go out with 4 brothers from 4 different chapters, get pizza and order some beer, and I'm the only brother from a totally dry chapter...guess what? If I'm over 21, I'm ordering a beer.

Seems to me that the total ban was probably unenforceable. What happens when people over 21 start violating it in scenarios that John brought forth? It's better to draw a much more reasonable, enforceable line.

And by the way, I think I am the only blue blooded American college student to ever say this. I love pizza. I really love beer. But for some reason I hate pizza and beer together! Weird huh?