The Phi Psi 500 may not raise as much money as it did last year because of the State College Borough Council and Phi Kappa Psi fraternity's three-year plan to remove alcohol from the race comes, say some Greek organization members.

Two years ago, the event raised $22,000 and last year raised $7,500. Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, 403 Locust Lane, hopes to make at least $10,000 from this year's event, said Matt Swartley, Phi Psi's philanthropy chairman.

Last year's low turnout was probably due to the partial removal of alcohol, but the race will be successful because its focus has been changed, said Rob Gormley, Phi Psi's president.

The event will no longer include bars but will be turned into a "Mardi Gras sort of parade," Gormley said.

Participants will be able to expand on the "anything goes" theme of the previous Phi Psi 500 by performing skits while onlookers eat at the food court in the Brewery parking lot, 233 E. Beaver Ave, said Kim McClain, co-chairwoman of the event.

Swartley said he is planning to schedule a band to perform after the skits but has not yet decided what band.

The borough council and Phi Kappa Psi fraternity agreed on the plan to phase out alcohol because of problems that arose due to public drunkenness in previous years, said Peter Marshall, borough manager.

Property damage and public urination have occurred at past events, said Gary A. Wiser, council president.

"There are more than enough problems caused by alcohol consumption in this town already," Marshall said.

During the first year of the plan all bars on the event's path served low-alcohol beer. The next year one of the bars served non-alcoholic beer, and the other five bars served low-alcohol beer. In 1989 three of the bars served non-alcoholic beer and three served low-alcohol beer.

Phi Psi has worked well with the council in removing alcohol from the event, Wiser said.

He added he believes the fraternity should be commended for making "positive changes" in the event.

Scheduled for March 31, this year's event, also sponsored by Chi Omega sorority, 101 South Haller, benefits the local Association for Retarded Citizens, Gormley said.

The removal of alcohol probably will reduce the amount of money raised by the event even though fraternity members are changing the event so it will be enjoyable without alcohol, said Bob Mochan, executive director of the Association for Retarded Citizens.

Opinions differ among members of the Greek community as to how the removal of alcohol will affect the event.

This year's event will probably not be as successful because no alcohol will be available during the race, said Ryle David, a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, 228 E. Fairmount Ave.

Also, the removal of alcohol might take the fun out the event for some people, said Rob Elias, a member of the Alpha Chi Rho fraternity, 329 E. Prospect Ave.

But Jim Stelter of the Tau Phi Delta fraternity, 427 E. Fairmont Ave., believes the event will not decrease in registration or in money made because it is a University tradition.

The changes in the race are good because philanthropies should encourage responsible drinking, said Scott Stephan, Interfraternity Council president.

Fraternities are becoming more and more responsible about how they plan events, Elias said.

This year all participants must write down what their costumes are going to be and any offensive costumes will be screened by four judges, Swartley said. The judges will include representatives from the Phi Psi fraternity, the Chi Omega sorority, the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council.

Two years ago, five members of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, 322 Fraternity Row, dressed as members of the "He-Man Women Haters Club," which caused many women to write to IFC in protest.

IFC did not punish the Alpha Gamma Rho members because the fraternity did not sponsor the idea. However, after the incident the Phi Psi fraternity began actively screening costumes that were either "offensive" or in "poor taste."

In 1983 the Phi Psi 500 donated about $25,000 to the Association for Retarded Citizens, and the money was used to start the job training program, said Bob Mochan, executive director of the association.