Fraternities will now be participating in a training program that will teach members how to prevent irresponsible alcohol consumption in social situations.

This is the first year the program, Training for Intervention ProcedureS (TIPS), is being offered to all of the Interfraternity Council's (IFC) 51 fraternities.

In previous years, the program was made available to certain IFC fraternities through their national chapters.

At the first training session Sunday afternoon, members of various fraternities were split into four groups and given a packet of information covering issues such as how to recognize when someone is intoxicated and who is liable for alcohol-related accidents.

"We're not here to tell you not to drink or anything," Kappa Sigma member Mike Samick said to the group. "Just do it at a reasonable rate, take care of people who are drunk and don't serve alcohol to people that are drunk."

The training included discussion, videos, demonstrations and role-playing.

Last week, Larry Moore, a TIPS master trainer, trained five fraternity members along with Kevin Kerr, director of fraternity and sorority life. In turn, the five fraternity members trained about 100 others who showed up Sunday.

"Very simply, the goal here is to give you some tools to have the confidence to intervene in a situation," Moore said to the crowd.

Moore has trained students at more than 700 college campuses in the United States and Canada. He said the basis for the program is to get fraternity members to talk to one another and to decide what procedures can decrease risk at social functions.

"Basically, it's just a warm, fuzzy discussion," he said. "It's not judgmental; it's not preachy. It's just an open discussion."

Moore, of Boalsburg, donated $5,000 to the program to promote safety in his community.

"[I am donating] because I am Penn State," he said. "This is where I live. I don't give it to Iowa, I don't give it to Florida, and I train at all those places."

In addition to Moore's donation, the Office of Student Affairs gave the greek community a $4,000 grant for the program.

Moore said IFC Vice President Brian Bertges wants to have the training frequently throughout the semester.

"Brian's vision is to do this in waves," Moore said. "This is the first shot. His plan was to offer this type of programming four to five times a semester."

Bertges, who decided to have a TIPS program for all IFC chapters at Penn State, said the program would make fraternities more aware of the issues affecting them.

"Binge drinking is one of the number one issues Penn State has," Bertges said. "Considering fraternities are stereotyped as having a lot of binge drinking, any program that will reduce our risk is beneficial to the university."

Matt Harrington, a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, 220 N. Burrowes Road, said he thinks the information will be useful to the fraternities taking advantage of the opportunity to learn.

"I think the fact that they actually sent people here says that they are serious about this," he said. "It will all go to a good cause and be used."

Jason Yanushonis, a member of Phi Gamma Delta, 319 N. Burrowes Road, said awareness is one of the most important aspects of the program.

"I think it's important, especially at Penn State, because there are just so many people," he said. "Obviously people drink up here a lot. It really is important for people to be responsible."