Tapped dry

Police, fraternities take steps to curb excessive drinking

Even if students still seem to be drinking excessively, some people have gotten the message. Recently, two groups in the community undertook very different -- but equally important -- steps toward solving the problem.

The State College Police Department launched Operation Lucky Charm on St. Patrick's Day, which led to the police finding 64 criminal violations. Some violations were given to underage drinkers. Some were give to people for selling individuals more than 192 ounces of alcohol at one time.

The police knew a lot of people would be drinking that night. To keep things under control, they patrolled the streets and bars more than usual.

However, it shouldn't take a special occasion to get police to crack down on excessive drinking and other problems. The police should be doing this more often and making the results public to deter other people from breaking similar laws.

Around the same time the police were giving out citations for alcohol violations, students in the fraternity system were taking steps to decrease drinking in State College as well.

Phi Delta Theta fraternity, 240 N. Burrowes Road, announced that it will go dry beginning in July 2000. More than 180 chapters of the fraternity around the world will also not allow alcoholic beverages in the fraternity houses.

Sigma Nu fraternity, 340 N. Burrowes Road, also announced it will adopt a similar policy.

If University President Graham Spanier wants to reduce excessive drinking, one way would be to help fraternity houses going dry.

Dry fraternities are a valuable thing to have in the Greek system for students who do not drink or do not want to be around people who drink.

But when a fraternity first stops allowing alcohol in its house, the organization may experience problems, such as a drop in membership. The University should be prepared to help the fraternity financially during this transition, if necessary.

Proactive steps -- such as the ones Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Nu fraternities are taking -- are the perfect match for the reactive steps taken by State College police. We challenge others to join them.