ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 25, 1997 TAG: 9703250099
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LEXINGTON
SOURCE: MATT CHITTUM AND MARK CLOTHIER THE ROANOKE TIMES
Sigma Nu and Phi Delta Theta became the first Greek-letter fraternities in the nation to ban alcohol consumption in their 210 chapter houses.
For nearly 130 years, the Sigma Nu fraternity's mission has been to create leaders by "developing the mind, heart and character" of its members - instead of their taste for Jim Beam and Jell-O shooters.
That's what Brad Beacham and David Glassman, associate executive directors of the fraternity, spent Thursday and Friday trying to explain to reporters from all over the country who called the frat's national headquarters here.
Word had gotten out that Sigma Nu and another fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, became the first Greek-letter fraternities in the nation to ban alcohol consumption in their 210 chapter houses effective by the year 2,000. The Farmhouse fraternity has prohibited alcohol in its houses since the 1970s.
Calls came in from newspapers from California to Maine, and quite a few radio stations.
"Lots and lots of Ks," said Glassman, referring to the first call letter of radio stations west of the Mississippi.
The response was not unanticipated, though. Sigma Nu is fully aware that a dry fraternity house is terribly inconsistent with the stereotypical John Belushi-"Animal House" notion many people have of fraternity life.
"That movie has probably done more to damage fraternities than any other single factor," Beacham said.
Not that the stereotype is always inaccurate. It was a recognition by Sigma Nu and Phi Delta Theta that drinking and partying in fraternity houses was out of hand that prompted the new alcohol policy, Beacham said.
A Harvard School of Public Health study showed that 85 percent of fraternity members in America considered themselves binge drinkers, or likely to have five or six drinks whenever they drink, Beacham said. That information, coupled with the fact that only about 25 percent of fraternity members are old enough to drink legally, told the frats they had a problem.
Sigma Nu already had banned kegs of beer in their houses in 1985. The ban on alcohol in houses was the logical next step.
"In essence, what we're saying is we're not going to allow a Sigma Nu house where the law is allowed to be violated," Beacham said. "The law of the land does not stop at the fraternity house doors."
Sigma Nu also wanted to improve that "Animal House" image of fraternities.
Glassman balked at the idea that the image attracted undesirable members. Rather, "we were missing out on students that would be good fraternity members."
The alcohol-free house policy won't drive away potential members, Glassman said; it will attract more of the kind of young men the fraternity wants - those focused on leadership and a life of service.
The move also reduces the fraternities' potential liability by encouraging parties in hotels with alcohol vendors who are responsible for deciding who drinks and who doesn't.
Beacham said the change wasn't news to members of Sigma Nu, but that's not what the brothers just down the hill at the Washington and Lee chapter were saying Monday afternoon.
"Last week was the first we heard of it," said Roy Burns, a sophomore from Louisiana.
Chapter president Matt Davis of Dallas called it "a little drastic."
"I don't know one brother in this house that agrees with this policy," said junior Robert Siem.
The W&L members said forcing drinking out of the house means parties will move to the countryside, meaning people will be more likely to drink and drive.
Image, Burns said, is not a problem. "People that know me and know this house know we're a good group of guys," he said.
At Virginia Tech, the only Sigma Nu brothers who will be affected are currently freshmen.
Junior Kris Featheringham has done the math, though, and realizes that when he comes back to visit with old classmates around the frat house, it'll be a fairly dry affair.
"I'm not saying we'd be getting really inebriated," he said. "But it'd be nice to sit down and shoot the breeze and have a beer with your buddies in the house. And we won't be able to do that.
"As it stands, it'll be us and Phi Delta Theta who'll be without alcohol, and that's really going to hurt our recruiting," he said. "I'm not saying alcohol is our rush tool at all, but it will have an effect."
Adam Boitnott, Tech's Interfraternity Council president, said he thought the policy would create a niche.
"On a campus as vast as Virginia Tech's, there's bound to be students who will find this a positive," he said.
Each chapter will develop its own plan of action for the change. Three have said they will implement the policy right away, but not the one that sits in the shadow of the national office in Lexington.
"I can assure you this chapter won't initiate it early," Burns said.
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: JANEL RHODA THE ROANOKE TIMES. 1. Sigma Nu Viceby CNBPresident Kris Featheringham (left) and President Turner Knapp talk
about the ban, which will go into effect in three years. The Tech
campus chapter house on Progress Street is in the background. color.
2. W&L Sigma Nu Robert Seim, 20, says the ban isn't
popular. 3. (headshot) Beacham.