B.Y.O.B.

The Interfraternity Council held its first "Bring Your Own Beer" party Thursday night at Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. \nAfter six months of lobbying for the BYOB policy to be implemented on campus, IFC president Justin Sloan was granted permission to hold the first party at a fraternity on campus where alcohol was officially allowed. \nSloan said in the past, alcohol had been banned in fraternities, but that hasn't stopped drinking from occurring in houses. \n"This is solving the drinking problem," Sloan said. "Frats are no longer hiding their beer." \nEach BYOB party has a strict guest list, and only those on the list are admitted. \nSenior Mike Piermont, IFC director of recruitment counselors, said he thought the guest list was crucial. \n"You need to know who is coming in and out of the house and to make sure that only people who are 21 are drinking," he said. \nAccording to the new rules, when guests check into a party, they must bring their own alcohol and check it in to fraternity members upon arrival. They are then issued a ticket to redeem the alcohol later. However, several restrictions apply: Only beer is allowed, no hard liquor, and there is a limit of six 12 ounce cans per person. \nGuests younger than 21 are allowed to attend the BYOB parties but are not given wristbands showing they are allowed to drink alcohol. Instead of beer, for those under 21, the house offered non-alcoholic beverages, such as Coke or Diet Dr. Pepper. Several security officers from Graham Security were present at the Phi Kappa Psi house to check IDs as guests arrived and issued the wristbands for those of drinking age. \nPiermont said he overheard several of his friends say they thought the BYOB party was boring and they would rather have shots of hard liquor. Piermont also acknowledged the party was "lame" but said it would get better when faculty were not invited. \nHowever, Sloan said he was optimistic about the future of BYOB parties. \n"I feel like houses will realize that it is to their advantage to throw these parties instead of trying to hide alcohol," he said. "Everyone is drinking, anyway. At least we are being responsible." \nJunior Brad Blinn, president of Alpha Tau Omega, attended the party and said he was discouraged by the showing, commenting that the policy still needs a lot of work. He said the policy would turn into a problem since underage drinkers might not follow the rules. Despite the problems, though, he said he hopes it will work out.\n"Who knows what will happen (with the policy)?" Blinn said. \nIn order for fraternities to be eligible to hold BYOB parties, they must meet certain criteria, Sloan said. There must be a live-in advisor, sober drivers and security officers. There is also a lot of paperwork that needs to be completed, he said.\nPiermont said a lot of the liability is taken off the hosting fraternity since only the party guests are purchasing the alcohol. \n"It's a safer and better way to hold social functions," he said. \nFraternities throwing BYOB parties are required to have at least three designated sober drivers present. Piermont said these will be younger members of the fraternity who are not yet of drinking age. \nPiermont said a monitoring group called the Party Patrol will show up randomly to BYOB parties to ensure that everyone is drinking safely. The Party Patrol is comprised of IFC members who must go through an application process. Piermont is a member of the Party Patrol. \n"No drinking games or hard liquor are allowed at these parties, and the Party Patrol makes sure everything is safe," he said. \nSloan said this policy provides a safer atmosphere for the drinking that is inevitably occurring on campus since the alcohol is only being provided by the guests. \n"I have already received several calls from fraternity presidents who are interested in the parties," Piermont said. "I think it will be a success"