'Frat beat' patrols irk CMU

Four fraternities at Carnegie Mellon University say daily patrols of their houses by campus police are violating their privacy and discouraging new members.

But school officials say the patrols at Delta Upsilon, Beta Theta Pi, Theta Xi and Kappa Delta Rho -- which happen four times a day during the week and six times daily on weekends -- are necessary to curb unspecified alcohol-related problems.

"I don't think anybody would want police patrols where they sleep and eat," said Dan Phillips, 21, of Delta Upsilon. "It's an unnerving, upsetting experience."

The university has used police patrols to discipline fraternities in the past, but the walkthrough patrols begun last fall mark the first time in memory that campus police have randomly inspected more than one fraternity at the same time, said Michael Murphy, dean of student affairs.

"It's unfortunate that any organization would have to face that disruption because the houses are in many ways a positive climate for these young men," Murphy said. "But they need to understand the responsibility that goes with that."

In recent years, the university has seen other fraternities closed because of alcohol problems. The Delta Tau Delta house was closed by its national organization; Kappa Sigma disbanded after hazing problems, but rechartered and opened a new house off campus.

The fraternities say the police patrols are driving down membership and driving up costs: They pay $10 for each police visit, under the campus policy -- or $320 a week.

Delta Upsilon has three pledges this year, compared with 27 two years ago, said Orest Sopka, 21, another member from Cleveland.

"People are a little skeptical when you have a police officer patrolling," Sopka said.

Kappa Delta Rho President Matthew Yeager, 21, of Scott Township, said the police patrols have cost the fraternity about $6,000 over the past four months -- or about 10 percent of its budget.

"We've had a lot of trouble making ends meet on our budget," Yeager said. "It's a lot of strain."

Murphy said the only other way to pay for the extra patrols would be raising tuition or fees for all students, which he says would be unfair.

Phillips said the university needs the fraternities because "there's no other way to blow off steam and have a good time" on campus.

But Murphy said only 15 percent of CMU's male students are fraternity members, so students must be finding other ways to entertain themselves. About 550 men and 350 women belong to Greek organizations on campus. About 130 men live in the four houses being patrolled.

"We certainly want our students to have an active social life," Murphy said. "We don't think violating the law is a necessary part of that."

Centre Daily Times | 04/18/2005 | 'Frat beat' patrols irk CMU