Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015 | Volume 210 | Number 108 | 40 cents | iowastatedaily.com | An independent student newspaper serving Iowa State since 1890.
Alcohol content
Sororities, fraternities explain contrasts in regard to drinking regulations By Elaine.Godfrey @iowastatedaily.com
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Fraternity alcohol policies*
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wet houses damp houses dry houses
or some, greek life at Iowa State carries a stigma of alcohol consumption and constant partying, but students might not know that there’s a large difference between campus sororities and fraternities, and even between individual chapters, regarding alcohol policies. According to the Collegiate Panhellenic Council, the organization governing the national panhellenic sorority chapters on campus, alcohol is strictly forbidden in any sorority housing or on chapter grounds. Likewise, sororities are not allowed to cosponsor events where alcohol may be present. Fraternities, however, are governed under the campus Interfraternity Council, which designates three categories of fraternity housing: wet, dry and damp. According to the IFC bylaws, alcohol-permitted housing, also called “wet” housing, allows the possession and consumption of alcohol on chapter property for people of legal age, as well as for registered events. In alcohol-restricted, or “damp” housing, registered events with alcohol are not allowed on chapter property, but alcohol can be consumed on-site. A “dry” or alcohol-prohibited house doesn’t allow consumption or possession of alcohol at any time. Out of the 30 fraternity chapter houses on campus, only seven are considered “wet,” including
Alpha Kappa Lambda, Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Tau Delta, Lambda Chi Alpha, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Sigma Pi, according to the Office of Greek Affairs’ 2014 greek magazine. James McConnell, president of Sigma Phi Epsilon, said his chapter follows a set of strict guidelines from the Office of Greek Affairs in order to maintain its alcohol-permitted status. “Being a wet house is like being in your own home,” McConnell said. “But it’s heavily enforced at our house that under 21 you can’t drink.” Of Sigma Phi Epsilon’s 91 members, 47 live in the fraternity house and members are permitted to have outside guests. Everyone is allowed to drink alcohol on-site, provided they are of legal drinking age. However, just like in most wet fraternities, members under the legal drinking age are still able to live in the house. Half of the fraternity’s in-house members are younger than 21. Risk management is something McConnell considers to be of the “utmost importance.” Preventing accidents, as well as taking good care of their chapter house, means having strict alcohol policies. T h e fraternity generally only has two regis-
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*Out of fraternities with chapter houses Statistics according to 2014 ISU Greek Magazine
Images courtesy of Bigstock
GSB discusses scholarship for Speaker Homeland Security funding runs out Friday By Michaela.Ramm @iowastatedaily.com
Compensation for the speaker and vice speaker of the Government of the Student Body Senate was the main topic of discussion of the senate meeting last night, which ultimately failed in a vote. GSB voted on a bill that would compensate those serving in the roles of the speaker and vice speaker of the senate. The bill would give a half scholarship, which is equal to in-state tuition,
as well as a parking pass to the speaker. The vice speaker would receive a parking pass. Abhijit Patwa, finance director, said GSB’s budget last year was $175,000 and 10 percent was used for internal affairs. “Students don’t pay fees, so we sit here and spend money on ourselves,” Patwa said. Vice Speaker Dan Breitbarth said Speaker Gabe Walsh easily puts in 10 hours of work a week, and it takes a lot of patience and time to do his job. Walsh said the bill would not
affect him, but he was in favor of passing the bill. “There’s not always going to be someone willing to do this role,” Walsh said. “Why would someone want to put in that time if they won’t be compensated for it? We’re just asking to get a little bit of compensation for putting in a heck of a lot of time.” Patwa said the executive and judicial branches is just as important as legislative branch. “We need to draw the line,” Patwa said. “Everyone works hard, but we don’t need to pay everyone
to make them accountable.” Sen. Ryan Starn pointed out that no senator is compensated. “If you want to be speaker, you should be willing to accept those demands and be treated the same as a senator,” Starn said. Sen. David Moore III said the scholarships are given because students can’t hold a job and fulfill the duties they need to. Moore said with this compensation there may be a larger accountability from the speaker.
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Sam Greene/Iowa State Daily
Employee clears snow off of Durham steps
By Alex.Hanson @iowastatedaily.com The Department of Homeland Security is heading for a shutdown Friday if lawmakers on Capitol Hill cannot agree on how to fund the agency that deals with counterterrorism operations. Until Tuesday, Republicans in both the House and Senate, including the leadership, have sought to tie a measure undoing President Obama’s executive action in immigration, which would shield millions from deportation to funding of the Department of Homeland Security. The debate goes back to midDecember, when Congress narrowly averted a shutdown by passing a $1 trillion budget just hours before its deadline. By a narrow vote, the budget was approved, but it only funded the Department of Homeland Security for about three months, a move Republicans said would allow them time to come up with a strategy to deal with the immigration announcement from November. The Department of Homeland Security includes immigration operations like the United States Border Patrol. Senate Majority Leader Mitch
A university employee works to clear a half inch of snow off steps in front of Durham on Wednesday afternoon. The ISU campus received much less snowfall than the expected eight inches, but there is a chance of more in the forecast.
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