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By Jamie Karras
"Frat Row" is about to see a few changes to a common way of life. When walking along a short stretch of 800 East Street directly opposite of Utah State University, travelers will no longer see A-frames advertising weekend parties at fraternity houses. Members of the Greek Council and their advisers have initiated a freeze on open parties. Throughout the years fraternities at USU have been allowed to invite the student body to their parties, but because of increasing problems in the first two weeks of the school year a recommendation was put out on the table: No open parties. This means that the general public will not be invited. Guest lists will be made and strictly abided by, said Tiffany Evans, director of the Student Involvement and Leadership Center. In most cases fraternity members will be allowed one or two guests each depending on individual house guidelines, said Jon Morrill, president of Sigma Nu. "We had been kicking [the idea] around a little on our own," said Michael Ricci, judicial vice president of the Inter-Frat Council and vice president of Sigma Chi. But he says it was Evans who got them to take action. "This is a positive step in the right direction," said Evans. "The students have been very pro-active and mature about understanding the big picture." Since 1995 police have responded to "Frat Row" numerous times -- not necessarily because of problems brought on by fraternity members, but rather mostly because of the public. In 1997 a move was made toward fixing that problem when a task force was organized to discuss substance-free housing. Since then the number of problems drastically went down, said Evans. The common areas of the fraternity houses are substance-free areas; however, if a renter is 21 he is allowed alcohol in his room. Fraternity insurance policies stipulate that if a public event is held, no alcohol is allowed on the property, said Evans. "[Fraternities] can't control the abuse and misuse of alcohol by the general student body," said Evans. A person drinking beforehand and then coming to the location causes as much of a problem as on-site drinking. "It's hard to be accountable for other's actions," Ricci said. Previously fraternities had to register their parties with the Department of Student Activities, notify the Logan Police Department of the party and provide a contact number, as well as station the president or vice president of the fraternity at the door as a greeter. Even with these stipulations problems still arose, said Evans. "This is something [the fraternities] want to do because they realize the cost-to-benefit ratio is just not there," said Evans. Having open parties is a huge liability. Damages to the house, angry neighbors and a bad reputation are a few. Fraternities don't want the student body to think that they are putting an ax to an otherwise social walk of life. They still hope to maintain a good reputation in that respect, said Ricci. There still are more options to explore, but until then, Ricci said parties will be closed events. "There are probably a few who don't like the idea but for now, the way things are going, it's the best idea," said Morrill.
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