AEPi @ Indiana: "perhaps alcohol and college don't mix"

[hoosier]

Bloomington, Sept. 6 - A party over the weekend at Alpha Epsilon Pi has resulted in an investigation by the school and Indiana University Police for underage drinking.

IU Police Lt. Jerry Minger says, "many of these students feel in a college atmosphere they can consume alcohol whether they're 21 or not."

Police stopped several underage students for drinking who said they'd been served at a party at the fraternity. When police questioned the 20-year-old president they smelled alcohol on his breath and served him a citation for illegal consumption.

Senior Michael Hoffenberg says, "I think what the campus is doing to the Greek system is a travesty."

While some fraternity members feel they're targets, police say what happened over the weekend is all too common.

According to IU police records, in 2002 police arrested a total of 814 students for violating liquor laws. That number dropped to 614 in 2003.

Already this year; from August 25, when students began moving in, to September 6; police arrested 118 students for illegal possession of alcohol.

Hoffenberg admits that in general underage drinking does happen on campus, "absolutely."

But investigators admit the problem isn't necessarily worse, the technology is better.

Minger says portable Breathalyzer tests allow officers to accurately gauge the blood alcohol level of students. "Of course, if you're under 21, anything it reads will show alcohol consumption," giving investigators more breathing room in the courtroom. "It's a lot greater task to argue with the judge."

It's unclear whether the frat house will suffer any consequences, but police hope students learn at least one lesson, perhaps alcohol and college don't mix.

An IU spokesperson says the school's Student Ethics Committee will determine if Alpha Epsilon Phi will face disciplinary action.