Big Fines Po$$ible for Party - SAE at Wisonsin-Madison

[exlurker]

SAE at Wisconsin-Madison is facing the possibility of heavy fines (and an investigation by Sigma Alpha Epsilon HQ) as a result of a large party several weeks ago, according to an Associated Press story:

http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/art...ernity-ON.html

Issues include underage drinking, exceeding the fire code limits on the number of people in the house, and so on.

[DeltAlum]

OK. This is dumb.

[hoosier]

Possible new GC records:

"Those who attended the party drained more than 110 1.7 liter bottles of vodka and rum and 1,650 cans of beer by 10:30 p.m., according to police reports released Friday. Some had been charged $15 to get in and bartenders were serving "anything you wanted," a 19-year-old student told police, according to the reports."

Unless this chapter has something special going, they might as well just mail the charter back to Evanston.

The age for drinking in Wisc. used to be 18 - has that been changed?

[exlurker]

Originally posted by hoosier
The age for drinking in Wisc. used to be 18 - has that been changed?

Yes. The web site of the Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement unit of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue says that the legal drinking age is 21. I'm not sure when it changed in Wisconsin, but it probably happened during the period when all states were revising their laws so that they* wouldn't lose federal highway funds.

*"they" meaning, bottom line, such politically and financially important groups as construction companies and their subcontractors, relevant unions, the trucking industry, the recreation industry in areas wanting improved access, suburban and urban builders, commuters, and on and on.

[hoosier]

The federal Highway program - perhaps the only over-funded federal mandate.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by hoosier
The federal Highway program - perhaps the only over-funded federal mandate.

I'll remember that every time I have my front end realigned because of bumps and pot holes...

Which I just did this morning.

[Tom Earp]

Federal Mandate=Blackmail!

Change drinking age to 21 and the speed limit or no Federal Funding!

So, where did that get the road systems in the USA?

[deadbear80]

My cousin is an SAE at Wisconsin and he told me about all of this back at Thanksgiving when we were all home. He said they had about $150,000 in fines and that they had 600 people at a house that has a maximum capacity of under 100.
Yes, dummies they are! (and he admitted it)

My family and I told my cousin the same stuff---since he isn't house manager he should stay the hell out of this so he doesn't screw himself over. I think if there were that many people in the house, even if he had tried to get some of them out it wouldn't have helped any. I'm just sitting back hoping he doesn't get himself in more trouble than his chapter already seems to be in!

ETA: My cousin is underage and was NOT one of the 'hosts' of the party--that's why we told him to stay the hell out of this mess!

[sugar and spice]

Many of the fraternities at Wisconsin host parties for Halloween. Langdon Street (Greek Row) runs parallel to State Street, the major Halloween destination, so it's pretty convenient for a lot of the partiers. That said, I've never been to a fraternity here who has charged for a party, even at Halloween. . . .

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by hoosier
Possible new GC records:

"Those who attended the party drained more than 110 1.7 liter bottles of vodka and rum and 1,650 cans of beer by 10:30 p.m., according to police reports released Friday. Some had been charged $15 to get in and bartenders were serving "anything you wanted," a 19-year-old student told police, according to the reports."

Unless this chapter has something special going, they might as well just mail the charter back to Evanston.

The age for drinking in Wisc. used to be 18 - has that been changed?

http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/jul05/341729.asp

There is an article in the Milwaukee paper. Was it 18 still when you were at Marquette?

I've never heard of a Madison fraternity charging for parties either - that always seemed relegated to the smaller state schools.

Also, this chapter has several members WORKING in Evanston and has one of the better houses on the row there, in my opinion.

[DeltAlum]

It is strictly against the rules for a Delt Chapter to charge for a party. For that matter, it is strictly against the rules to drink from a "common container" (like a keg).

I think that liability skyrockets when you charge admission.

BTW, Delt allows three options for parties:

A: Dry
B: Third Party Vendor
C: BYO

[exlurker]

Unsurprisingly, Sigma Alpha Epsilon has suspended the Wisconsin-Madison chapter, according to a December 20 news report:

http://www.channel3000.com/news/5589630/detail.html

It sounds as though SAE is continuing to investigate. It also sounds like the chapter's charter might -- I stress might -- be in danger.

[g41965]

I just reviewed a lawsuit against a fraternity, the local and national, numerous and members of the chapter. One member of the chapter had gotten drunk at a fraternity party and he struck and killed a man trying to cross the street in Austin, Texas.
Bad deal for all invollved, this case is why we stress no open parties no common source alcohol.

[frathole]

I'm just glad that these young people will stop terrorizing the world with their antics. I sleep better knowing that freedom and justice have prevailed, and I hope that they all wind up in white collar prison on an unrelated pyramid scheme fraud charge, start a family band, and haze other family bands with their dissonant songs of trancendence.

[exlurker]

Update: Sigma Alpha Epsilon Suspended at Wisconsin - Madison

A recolonization and return to campus may be possible after the five-semester suspension is completed. The student paper has the story:

http://badgerherald.com/news/2006/04...e_line_sae.php