Policy Moves Tappa Kegga Bru Off Greek Row WSU Bans Booze At Frat Parties But Some Say It Will Move Across Town

Jeremy Knudson expects fraternity life at Washington State University to change when booze is banned from fraternity parties next year.

His Alpha Kappa Lambda brothers will host fewer parties. They’ll get more attention for charity work.

And when they want to drink beer, they’ll drive across town.

“I don’t think it’ll cut back on drinking,” said Knudson, 18, referring to the new rules announced Thursday. “It’ll just focus in on a different part of Pullman.”

The policy, one of the strictest in the nation, is aimed at curbing alcohol abuse that wrecks fraternity houses and landed dozens of students in the hospital last year.

Starting July 1, students - even those 21 and older - can no longer drink alcohol at fraternity parties on campus.

Students of legal drinking age can still drink in their private rooms, but not during parties.

University rules already prohibit underage drinking, but students are expected to enforce that policy themselves. “It was a pretty big loophole,” said Terry Nowak, WSU’s director of residence life.

The new policy should cut down on damage to fraternity houses and make it easier for the university’s 27 fraternities to get affordable insurance, said Nowak.

He also hopes Greeks focus more on academics and less on alcohol.

“It means Thursday, Friday nights they can study in their chapter house without a party going on to disrupt them,” he said.

“There will be some migration out in the community, but just limiting accessibility will have a dampening effect. It’s not going to be right downstairs.”

University officials have gradually been clamping down on student drinking, prompted by alcohol-fueled tragedies, federal regulations and fear of liability lawsuits.

A 1993 national survey placed WSU in the top third of heavy-drinking schools.

Brent Nysoe, interfraternity council president, expects a return to more formal dances, dinners and parties.

Beer bashes are “a culture here at WSU,” he said. “I think this is a start of a change of that culture.”

Kevin Watson, a Alpha Kappa Lambda member, also sees some benefits.

“For our fraternity, we’ll spend a lot less money on social functions,” said Watson, a 22-year-old history major. “The houses will probably be a lot cleaner just by not having a couple of hundred guests at a party anymore.”

But like many other students, he suspects the alcohol abuse to continue elsewhere.

“People are going to drink anyways regardless of it,” he said. “By merely pushing it out of fraternity houses, all you do is have less control of the situation. You’re going to have DUI’s go up.”

Student Affairs Vice Provost Gus Kravas, who started an alcohol abuse task force about six months ago, said students will adapt to the changes.

“I’m excited about what it promises for the Greek system,” he said. “They’ll see that there is life after this regulation.”

, DataTimes