Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity members Eric Musser and Dan Davies traveled to Washington, D.C., this past week to lobby for a bill that would make donations used for sprinklers in collegiate housing tax deductible.

The lobbying trip was part of the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) and North-American Panhellenic Conference (NPC)'s annual convention. Davies (sophomore-journalism) and Musser (sophomore-economics) returned to State College yesterday.

The bill, the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act (H.R. 643/S.638), concerns upgrading collegiate housing and installing sprinkler systems. The bill states, "adding fire-protection automatic sprinkler systems can save students' lives," and cites tragic fraternity house fires several universitys. But, the bill says, organizations cannot afford the safety upgrades.

Musser said passing the act is necessary for his fraternity. Musser is the president of Alpha Sigma Phi, 328 E. Fairmount Ave.

Davies, a member-at-large of Alpha Sigma Phi, said State College Borough Council recently passed an ordinance requiring all collegiate housing must have fire sprinklers by Sept. 1, 2008.

Musser estimates that about 40 percent of fraternities at Penn State have sprinkler systems installed.

Davies said he and the others became aware of related statistics, including that only 8 percent of greek housing nationwide has sprinkler systems.

But, Musser said, the price is too much of a burden for some. He estimated the price to install a system is between $35,000 and $50,000.

"If we can make it tax deductible, there's more of a chance our alumni will donate -- it's making it easier," Davies said.

Davies and Musser left for D.C. on Saturday where they met more than 80 student representatives from fraternities and sororities across the country, Davies said.

Students were trained for two days about how to pitch an idea as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill.

They learned about the bill that would help all not-for-profit organizations -- not just the greeks, Davies said.

On Tuesday, they met with 10 members of Congress.

Musser said that meeting with Congressman John Peterson, R-Pa., was "the most exciting part of the day." Peterson agreed to co-sponsor the bill on the spot.

Davies said Peterson, who graduated from Penn State, has his office covered with Penn State posters, pennants and pictures of him and Joe Paterno.

The bill was introduced in 2003, and it almost passed in 2005, Davies said.

"The goal was to bring awareness. We need to find a non-partisan vehicle for it to pass," he said.