GAMMA to reconsider alcohol policy

"Once I know the details of the state law, things could change," said Chris Sandell, chairman of Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol.

GAMMA policies allow liquor sales at fraternity parties, provided the alcohol is sold at a cash bar by an outside vendor who has a proper license to do so.

In Arizona, however, state law prohibits cash bars in instances where an outside vendor is hired to furnish and serve alcohol at a party through individual bar sales. Also, roving outside vendor licenses don't exist in Arizona.

Sandell said he was not sure what the requirements are under state law for a third-party vendor to receive a license to sell alcohol at a fraternity party. He said he planned to talk to the Arizona Department of Liquor License and Control.

GAMMA may change its policy to better suit the law, Sandell said.

He said the clause was in the GAMMA policy because students wanted to keep the cash bar option open.

Last month 70 fraternity presidents, social chairs and advisers met to rewrite the GAMMA policy, said Julie Poore, coordinator of Greek Life Programs.

The meeting, called the GAMMA summit, sought to clarify the areas of the policy commonly misunderstood. The summit established a steering committee, a group of 20 that plans to meet weekly to rewrite specific areas of the policy, with the goal of adopting a new policy by Jan. 1, Sandell said.

Although not initially identified as a problem area, he said the steering committee plans to address GAMMA's cash bar policy when it meets next Tuesday.

Last weekend, one GAMMA-governed fraternity was investigated by the University of Arizona Police Department for charging guests for alcohol. Phi Gamma Delta had hired an outside vendor who was not licensed to sell liquor, according to the Arizona Department of Liquor License and Control.

Fraternity officers and GAMMA members said they were unaware such activities were illegal.

Geoff Smith, president of Phi Kappa Tau, and member of the GAMMA steering committee said he "was never aware that a third-party vendor was not a legal vendor of alcohol."

Robert Danielson, a Phi Gamma Delta officer and past social chair, said the fraternity has had cash bars at parties in the past.

"We were under the impression under GAMMA and IFC (Interfraternity Council) rules that this was legal. What we did does not violate GAMMA rules," he said.

Assistant Student Union Director Dan Maxwell said fraternities are often hoodwinked by outside vendors who misrepresent themselves as having the ability to sell alcohol at parties.

"We have a number of third-party vendors who want the business with fraternities, so they give the frats the impression that it's OK for them (the vendors) to sell alcohol," Maxwell said.

Fraternities think a third-party vendor absolves them from responsibility when they choose to host a party where alcohol is served, he said.

"That's not going to work anymore. That's a fake reality," Maxwell said. "The bottom line is if you choose to have alcohol at a chapter party, you are held accountable for what happens."

Maxwell said an investigation would look into the events at Phi Gamma Delta Saturday night, but would not speculate what that investigation would find.

In the past, chapters have been placed on social probation, which limits the types of functions a chapter may host, Maxwell said.

Maxwell said the GAMMA policies, written by students, will contain a provision allowing cash bars if Greek leaders want to retain that option, but he hopes the clause will be changed to clarify state law.

"We hope that what will come out of this is a very clear definition of how third-party vendors are treated under Arizona law," Maxwell said.

Smith said GAMMA may want to retain the option of cash bars because Arizona law may change in the future.

Michael O'Brien, Arizona Department of Liquor License and Control investigator, said he has no plans to investigate alcohol policies in the Greek system. He said local police should investigate liquor law violations that involve non-licensed vendors.

UAPD Sgt. Sal Celi said the department investigates individual vendors that sell alcohol at fraternity functions without a license. He said there is no on-going investigation of the Greek system's alcohol policy.