[13056] in APO-L
Re: National Alcohol Policy
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Kristiana Marie Kincaid)
Mon Oct 23 16:02:11 1995
Date: Mon, 23 Oct 1995 12:54:23 -0700
Reply-To: Kristiana Marie Kincaid <faireldy@CATS.UCSC.EDU>
From: Kristiana Marie Kincaid <faireldy@CATS.UCSC.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
In-Reply-To: <199510231227.FAA12497@cats.ucsc.edu>
On Mon, 23 Oct 1995, Yaneev D. Benno wrote:
> I hate to belabor an issue that has been discussed several times, but
> what exactly is the national policy dealing with alcohol? Some people
> had told me that it died at nationals, and others have told me that it
> didn't. If there actually is a policy, I would appreciate a copy of it.
> I'd like to read it exactly the way it was written. Thanks for your help.
>
> YiLFS,
> Sidd
> --
On that note, I attended the Section 4 Fellowship conference at
Sacramento State on Saturday the 21st. While there, we had a meeting
about the '96 national convention in Phoenix, and delegates from each
chapter were asked for their input into making Phoenix a well-rounded,
smooth-working event with "something for everybody."
It didn't come up at the time of the meeting, but later Saturday night I
and other members of Alpha Gamma Nu (UC Santa Cruz) attended the
post-official-event-unofficial-event at one of the chapter members'
homes.
I write today primarily due to my feeling quite alienated from
the brother/sisterhood that evening. People were drinking, shouting,
laughing, drinking, dancing to loud music, playing some variation of
quarters, etc. We were glad that they were having fun, but we felt as if
the fact that we WEREN'T drinking (when probably everyone in the room was
close to manic) was an isolating factor.
Coming from UCSC, where fraternities are small and few, and concurrently
quite alienated and looked down apon by the rest of campus, Alpha
Gamma Nu continually tries to keep afloat in such a hostile environ. To
that end, our chapter developed a personal alcohol policy that, frankly, most
other chapters seem to have trouble with. We, quite simply, don't have
"unofficial events." In fact, if one of the over-21 members of our
chapter happen to be wearing letters when they're out having any kind of
alcohol (even a glass of wine), they remove them before beginning to
imbibe.
This may seem rather ludicrous to many other chapters, but we've had to
work hard to earn an air of legitimacy on a campus that actively condones
greek activities and tells its international exchange students to "keep
away from fraternities and sororities." (a direct quote) I wonder if
there are any others out there dealing with similar stigmas, especially
dealing with them in this manner. It would certainly help AGN to know
that we're not the only ones who don't necessarily enjoy spending nights
drinking with the brothers.
I bring all of this up because I'd really like to see a "coffee bar" or
"espresso bar" theme to a hospitality suite at the next convention, so
that those whose preferences DON'T lean towards large amounts of alcohol
have a venue to meet, chat, and get to know one another. I've always
felt that this brother/sisterhood is quite enough of an icebreaker for
people to get to know each other without alcohol to do it for them.
Please, don't read into this that I'm chastising other chapters for
wanting to have parties, drink, whatever. I'm certainly not! I've done
my share of partying, and sometimes I even participate (amazing). What
I'm arguing for is simply that there always be a CHOICE for a
non-alcoholic alternative -- movies, Denny's, coffee shop, whatever -- at
ALL inter-fraternity events...not even just at Nationals.
Comments? Criticisms? Suggestions? I'm certainly all ears.
Kristiana Kincaid
MemVP, UCSC AGN chapter
