 "Photo: MCT Campus")
 "Photo: MCT Campus")
New regulations for the Greek community at San Diego State were put into effect in late May to modify the ban on hard alcohol that was implemented last year.
The hard alcohol moratorium was set up on Nov. 9, 2005, and prohibited consumption of hard alcohol at Greek-related events as a way to decrease alcohol abuse.
However, Coordinator for the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life Doug Case and Dean of Students Darlene Willis asked for recommendations from various Greek governing councils, chapter advisers, fraternity and sorority officers, alumni and University Police on if and how current policies could be modified. With the feedback received, they developed new policies that advocate a safe social environment for Greeks but still allow those who are 21 years or older to maintain their drinking privileges.
The recommendations were compiled into an in-depth proposal, which was approved by Vice President for Student Affairs James R. Kitchen in May.
Under the new regulations, rather than banning hard alcohol, it's now allowed to be consumed in limited circumstances. However, it's still prohibited at Greek-related events and parties.
"It's a compromise," Case said. "We didn't accept everybody's recommendations: We kind of took everything together and looked at what made more sense - a blend of everyone's feedback."
Case said he is confident that if the recommendations are all adhered to, they won't encounter the same types alcohol-related problems as they have in the past.
Before the hard alcohol ban, he said almost every drinking issue involved people younger than 21. Of these cases, most of the incidents involved non-Greek members, with a very high percentage of the cases involving people who had taken shots of alcohol.
Case said the proposed solutions to such problems would prevent people from randomly drinking shots, as many incidents involved people providing hard alcohol in numerous areas throughout parties.
The proposed solutions included fraternity presidents recommending that Greeks who are 21 years or older be allowed to consume alcohol when a social event was not in progress and that members only be allowed to consume hard alcohol in the common areas - the front rooms, the chapter rooms, the courtyards, the backyards, everything except for the bedrooms.
Another recommendation by fraternity presidents was that bottles of hard alcohol should only be kept in the rooms of residents of the legal drinking age, not in the common areas.
Tightening security at registered parties was another recommendation.
Furthermore, to make sure the rules are adhered to, alumni of the Interfraternity Council have agreed to help select a security guard company that would provide security at registered parties, rather than fraternities hiring their own security guards, according to the recommendation plan.
"It seemed obvious that the security guards weren't doing what they were hired to do," Case said, "and part of it was because they were only accountable for the fraternity that hired them."
Lambda Chi Alpha President Kevin Black said proper security would help provide an extra line of defense toward keeping themselves out of trouble and keeping guests safe.
"Personally, we're very pleased with having security guards over because they help us regulate," said Black, who is a marketing senior. "Sometimes, someone will get in and you ask them to leave. Then they won't want to leave, and since you don't really have the authority to physically remove them from your house, the security they employ does."
The new regulations also require the IFC and United Sorority and Fraternity Council to establish people to be party monitors to self-police themselves and keep an eye on others during fraternity parties held at Greek facilities.
The party monitors will be comprised of a group of two to three student committee members appointed by their councils to visit registered parties and check for violation of policies, according to recommendations.
"Their intent is to try to prevent problems at parties," Case said.
The sanctions for violating the updated hard alcohol and social-event management policies will include holding an entire chapter accountable for one member's violation of the policies, which Case said he hopes will keep problems from occurring.
In addition to SDSU regulations, a recent modification to the Student Conduct Code, a policy of the California State University system, will be going into effect this semester and gives each university the jurisdiction for off-campus conduct, Case said.
"Now, if any student violates alcohol within a three-block radius of the campus and it's specific boundaries," he said, "the university will assume jurisdiction, and that's in addition to being cited for minor in possession (for example) and having to go through the court process."
As Case had mentioned, some of the new policies were implemented over students' objections.
Alpha Epsilon Pi President Matt Weiner doesn't agree with the school becoming involved in off-campus incidents.
"I think it's bad enough," said Weiner, who is also an anthropology senior. "Obviously people shouldn't be making these mistakes in the first place but they're going to have to deal with it from the local law enforcement. I don't think the school needs to get involved if it's something that doesn't happen on its campus.
"If it does happen on campus, I think the school has the right to do something about it, but not within the surrounding area."
Case also said that the city of San Diego re-wrote the social host ordinates, which "clarify that minors are not allowed to consume alcohol on private property or public property," while the state law only deals with public property.
He said it leaves more responsibility to the host of the party, in the case of the Greek community, the fraternity president or the highest-ranking officer who is present.
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