Time for frats to bid goodbye to bad-boy rap

Though 25 MIPs may seem like a lot, UA fraternities should be pleased with the overall calm of Friday's bid night parties. Celebrating the end of rush, these parties draw attendees from all over campus and sometimes serve as hotbeds of criminal activity.

There were more than a few exceptions on Friday, but for the most part, bid night went smoothly.

One of the night's largest parties, at the Pi Kappa Phi house, went off without a hitch. The house was full, but no arrests were made and no noise complaints were filed.

UAPD officers even had time to laugh and talk with students at some of the parties.

Some might wonder what the big deal is. It shouldn't be hard to keep bid night under control, should it?

But with several greek houses having been suspended or having lost recognition in the past year, it's heartening to see one of their hallmark events occurring with so few problems, especially with law enforcement watching as carefully as it was on Friday.

Private security and regular police patrols helped keep attendees in check. Throughout the night, six UAPD officers on "party patrol" targeted fraternity parties as potential sources of alcohol violations.

Put in perspective, it's no surprise that a couple dozen minor in possessions were handed out. An underage drinking-free bid night is an unreasonable expectation ÷ though a noble goal ÷ and 25 MIPs doesn't seem out of hand for such a major event under such tight watch.

Though the night wasn't flawless, at least one fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, managed to put on a party that greeks across the campus should try to model future festivities after.

Take your pick of the problems fraternities have had in the past year: The Pi Kappa Alpha house was trashed, Sigma Alpha Epsilon temporarily lost its recognition after pledges vandalized some property and Sigma Chi was suspended for hazing violations.

Many fraternities would probably happily forget last year. But the onset of the new school year and the recruitment of a new set of pledges mean new opportunities for them to improve their perception around campus.

The bid night parties were a good start. Hopefully they will serve as a starting point for a more productive year than last.

Opinions are determined by the Wildcat opinions board and written by one of its members. They are Kristina Dunham, Brett Fera, Caitlin Hall, Daniel Scarpinato and Jeff Sklar.