Sobering Facts on Alcohol and Fullerton’s TKE Fraternity

Health and safety problems stemming from the flow of booze have been brewing between Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity at Cal State Fullerton and Fullerton neighbors, the Planning Commission and City Council.

Over the last 20 years, reports of alcohol problems at and around the TKE house are sobering. In response to noise complaints, the city passed an ordinance requiring fraternities to meet certain conditions to operate. TKE and two other fraternities sued the city, claiming the ordinance violated their constitutional right of assembly. In 1986, the city filed a complaint that TKE and other fraternities were a public nuisance. An Orange County Superior Court judge agreed and three fraternities, including TKE, lost their houses and university recognition.

In 1995, TKE regained its status. Since 1995, more than 25 police complaints from local community members have occurred. Reports show complaints of beer cans thrown on neighbors’ property, party-goers urinating in residents’ yards, beer thrown at students and allegations of sexual assault. TKE said these problems were from “outsiders” and promised to hold quieter parties.

As is the case with problem bars and liquor stores, the fraternity’s demands on police time outweigh its financial contribution. With five other fraternities in addition to TKE on Teri Place, high-density housing and alcohol availability are a poor mix.

Devastating alcohol problems have occurred elsewhere. Near Louisiana State University, 20-year-old Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity pledge Ben Wynne was drinking at an off-campus keg party featuring “funneling” (beer shot through a rubber hose into the mouth) and chugging Jagermeister liqueur at a local bar. Fraternity members used shopping carts to get drunk pledges home to pass out. With a blood-alcohol level six times the legal limit, Wynne died; three others were hospitalized.

Binge drinking (four or more drinks for women and five or more for men) stems from alcohol availability. Studies show fraternity leaders are among the heaviest drinkers. Party-goers can damage the local environment and school reputation, and set a poor example for other students. A recent national study of 61 colleges found that nearly 74% of fraternity leaders binge. Due to the violence, police trouble, impaired driving and low academic performance that accompanies it, binge drinking should be a greater concern for fraternities and sororities, student health advocates, campus administrators and the local community.

TKE’s alcohol problems could have been prevented if health and safety standards for the use of alcohol were in place. Limits on how much college students will drink depend on social and legal limits. The age 21 drinking law has fallen short as law enforcement officials have never had the resources to enforce it.

Addressing alcohol availability is the first step to plugging the beer flow. Because the fraternity social environment is higher risk, innovative solutions exist to address problems. The following comprehensive measures should be used to lower alcohol problems in Orange County college communities:

* “Town-gown” coalitions on alcohol issues can restore the academic purpose of colleges and find resolutions to alcohol-related problems in local neighborhoods. Since November, university officials have been heading in the right direction, working with city leaders, police and residents to develop new guidelines.

* There can be conditional-use permits for fraternity houses. A stricter permit for TKE should include responsible beverage sales and service training and certification, as in the case of problem liquor stores and bars.

* Fraternities should address alcohol problems with effective prevention programs addressing alcohol availability, consumption and binge drinking.

* Fraternities should look at the cost/benefit of alcohol and follow the leadership of Orange County fraternities that have gone dry, including Sigma Nu at Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine and Phi Delta Theta at UC Irvine.

* Alcohol promotions on campus bulletin boards and stores, fliers, banners and other signs that bombard and remind students to overindulge should be prohibited.

* Alcohol advertising should be restricted in school newspapers.

* House Resolution 321, “the Collegiate Initiative to Reduce Binge Drinking,” should be supported by Orange County’s congressional representatives. It would require a task force to look at student life, have zero tolerance for illegal consumption of alcohol and reduce legal opportunities to consume alcohol on campus.

Community leaders should encourage local establishments that sell and promote alcohol to curtail the sale of alcohol to underage or intoxicated students, and adopt responsible marketing practices.

The key is preventing risks and problems before they pour into the community. Alcohol problems should be prevented and addressed by using tested health and safety techniques.

Annette Padilla is co-chairwoman of the Orange County Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Policy Council.