Yale Limits Sig Ep Parties, Will Contact Other Fraternities
 

Yale is likely to crack down somewhat on alcohol distribution at fraternity parties, according to the October 18 Yale Daily News. Yale is in discussions with Sig Ep and will be having discussions with the other Yale fraternities and their national offices. Excerpts from the story are below. The entire article, with some student reaction quotes, is at:

http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=30382

Ongoing discussions between the Yale administration and Sigma Phi Epsilon regarding the fraternity's alcohol distribution at parties may result in stricter enforcement of alcohol policies for all campus fraternities.

Sig Ep officers are currently meeting with both the Yale College Dean's Office and national representatives from the fraternity to address charges that the Yale chapter violated University regulations and state laws concerning the distribution of alcohol, Sig Ep President David Berv '06 said. The fraternity will not be allowed to hold any social events in which alcohol is served on a large scale until the chapter's leadership proves that the organization will adhere to regulations, said Yale College Dean Edgar Letriz, who oversees fraternities' activities on-campus.

"Once they have undergone … training and they understand the implications of those kind of activities, then there may be some kind of situation that would allow for this type of event in the future, but certainly under very different circumstances," Letriz said.

Regional Sig Ep director Jesse Horstmann will likely institute an alcohol awareness program for the Yale chapter, said Scott Thompson, the national director of communications for the fraternity. . . .


Berv said Sig Ep will comply with the University's request and national fraternity officials to ensure that the chapter adheres to regulations, but he declined to comment further . . . .

Letriz said his attention was drawn to the issue after reading a Sept. 23 article about drinking games published in the scene section of the Yale Daily News. The article mentioned underage drinking at Sig Ep.

Letriz said he also plans to approach all other fraternities at Yale, as well as their national affiliates, in order to prevent similar problems in the future.

"The Yale College Dean's Office will be in communication with every chapter's national [leadership] in the very near future and I will coordinate a meeting with Dean Trachtenberg in order to discuss the presence of the chapters on the campus, their registration with the Dean's Office, the nationals' expectations of their behavior as well as those of the College itself," Letriz said. . . .

Comment: I assume the (inter)national HQs of the chapters at Yale have already been made aware of the possible upcoming "discussions." The Yale College administration probably feels it has to act in order to limit or reduce any liability. Just a wild guess, but a reasonably serious alochol-related injury, or heaven forbid, a death, would be a PR problem and a $$$ issue for the university.