Leaders consider issues at mocktail

Laughter filled the room as a long, colorful string of tissue paper was pulled out of President Graham Spanier's mouth by Panhellenic Council President Meghan Walsh.

Besides performing several magic tricks, Spanier, along with several other community and administrative leaders, conversed with fraternity and sorority presidents about various topics at a "mocktail" event held last night at Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, 508 Locust Lane.

The mocktail event, which means cocktails without alcohol were served, was held to allow fraternity and sorority members to communicate with local leaders, Interfraternity Council President Gordon Savage said.

"Fraternity and sorority presidents are leaders on campus and I want to make sure they get the input that most campus leaders receive," Savage said.

"We wanted to foster closer relationships between Greek leaders and members of the University administration," Spanier said.

Michael Harding, executive vice president of the IFC, said he discussed zoning and student housing issues with State College Mayor Bill Welch during the event.

"I think that he's a representative of the community and he came out to be with the students and hear our opinions," Harding said.

Welch said he came because he was invited to come.

"Students represent 75 percent of my constituents and when I'm invited to something by them, I go," Welch said. "I think younger citizens have the same kinds of questions and interests as older citizens do."

State College Police Department Chief Tom King said he enjoyed himself and that everyone there seemed to be having a good time -- without alcohol.

"(Alcohol policy) is a big issue because much of the crime that we deal with involves alcohol," King said. "This is not inclusive to the Greek system. Alcohol causes people to engage in risky behavior and commit crimes."

Christopher Van Horn, president of Chi Psi fraternity, 406 S. Pugh Street, said he and Spanier talked about less serious issues.

"We talked about racquetball and how good he is and how often he plays," Van Horn said. "He plays with our chapter adviser. I was trying to get an inside game on our chapter adviser."

Spanier told Erin Campbell, president of Chi Omega sorority, 101 South Haller, stories about her sorority, she said.

Jibri Bond, president of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, 215 HUB, said he invited Spanier to be a judge for the 1998 Miss Black Penn State Pageant.

"I'm going to E-mail him tomorrow since he doesn't know his schedule right now," Bond said. "He said he would love to come."

Walsh said the event was a wonderful idea.

"It gives the administration a chance to interact with Greek leaders and hopefully, it will become a tradition where we'll do this every year," Walsh said.

The event was a good idea because it allowed IFC members to socialize in a relaxed manner, said IFC Secretary Brad Nestico.

"We're interacting together and we have an opportunity to discuss issues and talk about each other's chapter," Nestico said. "We're all Greek together."