Greeks Say Alcohol Ban Dries Up Trust in University

University officials announced a ban on alcohol at all Greek events Monday, leaving fraternity and sorority leaders expressing disappointment and looking for ways to work with the university to lift the prohibition.

The decision comes on the heels of a series of hazing incidents and alcohol-related accidents associated with the Greek system, university officials said.

"We are in a position where we have to get a handle on this. We have to take steps to ensure student safety," said UC Berkeley spokesperson Janet Gilmore.

The moratorium applies to Greek events both on and off campus.

Dean of Students Karen Kenney said the ban will be lifted when procedures are put in place to ensure student safety. Kenny said that it would be easier to lift the ban on off-campus events where alcohol is served by a third party.

"What we're limiting right now is the ability of Greek organizations to have alcohol present at Greek activities, until we have policy procedures in place that will help to ensure that people are using alcohol safely," she said.

Greek leaders said the university's decision surprised them because they had just revised the Greek social code.

"The Greek system wants to be independent and self-governing, but we haven't had a chance to let the newest strategies we've come up with into effect," Interfraternity Council President Sam Endicott said on Sunday.

But Gilmore said with the growing intensity and number of problems, the university could not wait to negotiate with Greeks.

"There have been discussions going on with the Greek leadership, but the seriousness of incidents was such that we had to take action," Gilmore said.

Many in the Greek community say that the moratorium is not an appropriate response, and will not produce good effects across the system.

"Panhellenic continues to be concerned that a moratorium will not solve any of the problems that we are seeing in the Greek community," said Panhellenic President Christina Zhao. "(It) is concerned for the safety of community members, particularly our women, if drinking continues in a covert manner."

Endicott said the moratorium will not eliminate alcohol from fraternities, but instead encourage more cover-ups.

"It's going to force social activities to go underground. That's going to cause more risk management problems, and cause more problems in general in the Greek community," he said.

Gilmore said an alcohol ban the university imposed in April 2002 after similar problems made significant changes in Greek culture. The ban lasted much of the fall semester.

Greek leaders said the announcment of the moratorium is putting pressure on an already strained relationship between the Greek community and the university.

"It's done a lot to harm trust. We already didn't trust the university because of the moratorium three years ago," said Phi Delta Theta President Bret Manley. "A lot of people feel the university doesn't want the Greek system around."

Some Greek societies said they are worried about recruitment next fall with the ban.

Brian Bechelli, who will attend UC Berkeley in the fall, said that a ban on alcohol lessens the Greek system's appeal.

"If there's no alcohol involved in the frat system, there's no draw to it," Bechelli said. "Even though there's more appeal to (fraternities) than drinking, it's basically the backbone, from a high school student's perspective."

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