Thursday, April 18, 1996
By Jennifer Louie
Daily Bruin Contributor
After 70 years and plenty of beers, UCLA fraternity Phi Kappa
Sigma is in the process of going substance-free.
After dwindling membership forced Phi Kappa Sigma into
suspension last fall, the fraternity decided to recolonize as
substance-free, and organizers are aiming to have the fraternity up
an running again by the end of next year.
As the first substance-free fraternity at UCLA, organizers
explained that Phi Kappa Sigma will make an effort to increase its
focus on scholarship, brotherhood, conduct, community service and
campus involvement.
"We are founded on scholarship and service, not social
(reasons). We want members to keep that in mind," said Matt Brick,
expansion director for Phi Kappa Sigma International Fraternity.
"Our purpose is to get members ready for life after school, and
alcohol doesn’t do that."
As a refocused organization, members of Phi Kappa Sigma said
they hope to provide another option within the greek system as a
substance-free fraternity.
"We want to make members feel free to come and study and to
provide an atmosphere conducive to studying  not partying,"
said Tyler Rudd, educational consultant for Phi Kappa Sigma
International Fraternity.
In addition to an atmosphere geared toward studying, organizers
said that another appeal of Phi Kappa Sigma will be its
significantly lower fraternity insurance costs. While fees for
fraternity members average $125 per year, Phi Kappa Sigma members
will pay $50 per year due to its status as a substance-free house,
Brick estimated.
With these benefits in mind, organizers of the fraternity hope
to attract more studious men.
"UCLA students are now smarter and more diverse. We need to
cater to the more intelligent, diverse, more serious environment,"
Brick said.
In addition to support from UCLA, Phi Kappa Sigma organizers
said it has received encouragement from other houses who feel the
fraternity will create a more positive image of the greek
system.
"It’s a good idea. When rushees come through rush, they won’t
have to feel alcohol is a big part of being in a fraternity. It
sends a good message about the greek system  you join for
friendship, contacts and social purposes whether or not alcohol is
involved," said Edward Rodriguez, a third-year physiological
science student and a member of Sigma Nu.
But despite its studious focus and its lower insurance fees,
other greek members felt this message is a high price to pay for
Phi Kappa Sigma’s members.
"If you’re paying rent, you should be allowed to drink. It’s
better to aim for moderation, not an extreme," said Robert Mendez,
a third-year political science student and a member of Kappa
Sigma.
Because some greeks considered this measure extreme, they
expressed concern that the fraternity will not be successful.
"Girls who want to join open parties won’t be attracted to the
house. (The fraternity) will have a stigma. It will be stereotyped
as a bookworm house," predicted Steve Voight, a fourth-year biology
student and a member of Phi Kappa Psi.
"I doubt it will be successful because the world in general
seems to be drinking more now than ever," agreed Tim Robbins, a
third-year business economics student and a member of Sigma
Chi.
But despite some greeks’ predictions that sororities will not be
attracted to Phi Kappa Sigma, many women said they support the
intentions of Phi Kappa Sigma.
"It encourages them to be involved with other activities more,
like intramural sports, the Interfraternity Council and student
government," said Courtney Haller, a third-year political science
student and a member of Alpha Chi Omega.
Other sorority members said they will probably attend the
fraternity’s activities regardless of whether they are
substance-free or not.
"It’s the people in the fraternity, not what they do, that makes
people want to hang out there," explained Laura Anderson, a
second-year English student and a member of Alpha Delta Pi.
In sharp contrast to the opinions of other greeks, organizers of
the Phi Kappa Sigma said they believe providing a substance-free
community is the only way to be successful as a fraternity. In
addition, organizers expect the new policy to prevent incidences of
substance abuse.
"It’s easier to keep bad things like alcohol-related deaths from
happening if we keep alcohol away from the fraternity," Rudd
explained.
To replace alcohol, Phi Kappa Sigma plans to find other means of
quenching thirst at their substance-free parties. Organizers said
they are considering asking Student Health Services to provide
alcohol-free "mocktails."
In the event that a member is to have alcohol in the fraternity,
consequences may range from a fine to being asked to live
elsewhere, members said.
But recruiters for the fraternity are confident they will not
experience much difficulty enforcing the new policy. Organizers
said they believe they can reduce the likelihood of infractions by
making rules and their consequences clear from the beginning.
However the fraternity’s new regulations are not to completely
put a lid on the fraternity’s activities. Though the policy
prohibits alcohol, tobacco and drugs within the fraternity house,
activities outside of the house may involve these substances.
With this exception, members of the Phi Kappa Sigma said they
believe there will be more room for the international fraternity’s
success. And if their move proves successful, Brick believes that
other fraternities will begin to follow their lead.
"If the current trend is making good friends and getting good
grades," Brick concluded, "a substance-free fraternity is the wave
of the future."