There's no Dean Wormer at UC Berkeley

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, May 16, 2005

NO, Dean Wormer didn't put the Delta House on double secret probation, like in John Belushi's "Animal House," but rowdy incidents this spring has prompted UC Berkeley to ban alcohol at fraternity and sorority social events.

It is the the second moratorium in three years.

Rules, including the Greek Social Code, called for parties where alcohol is served to be "registered" with the Inter-Fraternity Council that requires police and fire officials to walk through the premises beforehand, that the frats representatives attend a pre- party planning meeting, that neighbors be alerted, and a security person checks IDs and distributes a maximum of six beers per person.

Registered parties are considered safer and have fewer problems, but several recent incidents raise questions about how strictly the rules are enforced.

UC has a "zero-tolerance policy when it comes to hazing and alcohol abuse," says Karen Kenney, the dean of students. She says the university will revoke the charter of any Greek organizaiton that violates the moratorium.

The Greek Social Code hasn't worked "in the last few weeks, we have seen an alarming increase in problems with alcohol abuse, hazing, fights and badly managed parties at all types of Greek organizations. We need to address those issues to ensure student safety," she says.

Publicized events included a Pi Kappa Phi pledge being shot 30 times with a BB gun, and 75 Oakland officers being called to quell a frat party on a Blue and Gold ferry that had degenerated into a brawl. And, a 20-year-old student was seriously injured when she was struck by a vehicle driven by an 18-year-old member of the water polo team, who was suspected of being drunk.

UC has 70 fraternities and sororities with more than 2,500 members, but many students who don't belong. Beer and wine have been permitted for students who are legal age, but not hard liquor.

The university is forming a summer "work group" of students and adminstrators to draft a new plan that strengthens alcohol-related policies and enforcement measures. Improvements need to be made, but should also apply to other non-Greek organizations and events on campus.

Stronger policies, stricter enforcement and a commitment to abide by the rules are needed. But banning alcohol is not feasible, since many students are of legal age. Prohibition didn't work in the 1920s, and certainly won't work on a college campus.