Maryland IFC officers booted for drinking at GLO conf.

[hoosier]

Mar 5, 2003
Frat execs booted for drinking at convention
By Sarah Beth Clark
Staff writer


Six Greek student representatives, including U. Maryland Interfraternity Council President Matt McHale and at least one underage student, were banished from a weekend leadership awards conference after they were caught with rum and cola in their Pittsburgh Hilton hotel rooms early Friday morning, officials confirmed.

The six representatives were spending a leisurely Thursday evening watching ESPN's Sportscenter and lounging in two joint hotel rooms at the 2003 Northeast Greek Leadership Association Annual Conference. At about 2:30 a.m., McHale was setting his alarm for Friday's 8 a.m. session, he said, when he heard a hall monitor knock on the door.

McHale and four other IFC executive board members - seniors Brian Vincent, Eric Schwager and Stephen Lucas, and junior Brad Polsky - and Delta Sigma Phi fraternity member Andrew Kohout, violated explicit policy for the weekend's event, officials said. The dismissal cost the group more than $1,500 for unrefunded pre-paid costs, which came from fraternity dues.

McHale originally claimed all six students were at least 21. But Polsky later admitted he is under 21, and McHale claimed Polsky was not in the room when they were caught with the alcohol.

Vincent, Order of Omega Honor Society president and Delta Sigma Phi fraternity president, was also unable to accept his Greek Leader of Distinction award in person at a formal banquet Saturday.

McHale said the dismissal came to his surprise and was the result of a misunderstanding. But he attended an educational session Thursday, when the policy was reviewed before other members had arrived, he said. A copy of NGLA's conference code of conduct is also available online. "No alcohol will be permitted at the hotel and participants must refrain from drinking at the hotel," the code states.

McHale said he thought drinking would be permissible because the other members were of legal drinking age and because it would not coincide with conference educational programs.

Greek Life Director Matt Supple said he was disappointed with the group's actions. "I think it tarnished what should have been a great conference for them," he said.

Eleven representatives from the university's Panhellenic Association, which received seven of the eight NGLA awards for which it applied, remained at the conference.

"They made a mistake and they paid the consequences," said PHA President Marjorie Manne, a senior. "But they've done so much for our community. It was sad to see them go."

McHale said he takes responsibility for the dismissal and said group members asked his permission to drink alcohol after driving six hours from College Park in snowy conditions. He said he does not deny the violation, but does not know who bought the alcohol. A large, unopened bottle of rum was brought into the room and each member had "a couple of drinks," but did not finish the bottle, he said.

"At the time, it seemed pretty innocent in nature," McHale said. "One seemingly innocent mistake can tarnish the name of an organization for a year's worth of work. It was definitely a shame the way it worked out."

Seventy-four institutions and about 750 students, staff and volunteers were represented at the conference, which university members attend every year. Though university IFC members were the only students dismissed at this year's conference, Vojta said there have been other violations in the past.

NGLA policy warns that individuals violating conference policy will be asked to leave. NGLA Executive Director Amy Vojta said the conference alcohol policy was made clear, and called the group's dismissal "unfortunate."

"We take our conduct policy very seriously," said Vojta. "We enforce it seriously, too."

Vojta said she did not know how the violations were discovered, but directed inquries to Travis Apgar, conference staff member. Apgar did not return phone calls.

McHale said he is unsure what prompted the hall monitors' inquiry because noise did not exceed classroom level as members watched television.

"It's unfortunate," Vojta said. "It happens just like it happens every weekend. People make a choice."