University Administration To Investigate And Possibly Suspend Fraternity For Brewing Beer In Their House

BlutarskyTFM13 years ago

To most people beer and fraternities go hand in hand. After a long day of dominating the social scene at school there’s no better way to relax than sitting back and having one or twelve ice cold brews. Unfortunately the administration at Chico State disagrees, and is preparing an investigation because of one chapter’s love of beer. The chapter, Sigma Chi, loves beer so much, in fact, that they allegedly have been brewing it in their house. This of course is a grievous offense…in 1925.

The investigation comes only days after a small fire broke out in an upstairs bedroom in the early hours of April 13th. According to Marie Fickert, a fire inspector for the Chico Fire Department, one of the residents in the house woke up and noticed a fire in his room. Said Fickert, “his brothers played a definite role in saving his life…if they had not responded and called, it unfortunately could have been very serious.” The fire was not beer related. Well, it wasn’t beer making related.

At some point, the fire fighters or other officials must have noticed the brewing supplies in the house. Either that or someone just couldn’t keep their mouth shut about the frat brewery. There is a policy a Chico State that forbids the consumption of alcohol in chapter houses, according to C.C. Carter, Director of Student Life and Leadership. That may be true, however, and I’m no lawyer, but it seems to me there is a difference between consumption and production. “If the accusations are true, the sanctions could be anywhere from probation to suspension.” That’s seems a little extreme. Even if they were drinking the beer they’d been brewing, they should get a pat on the back from the business school. After all, they cut out production, labor, and shipping costs, and have eliminated any form of a middle man. Not to mention they don’t have to deal with those pesky unions.

In the end, you can’t hold a whole fraternity responsible for the behavior of a few, brilliant individuals. For if you do, then shouldn’t we blame the whole fraternity system? And if the whole fraternity system is guilty, then isn’t this an indictment of our educational institutions in general? I put it to you, C.C. Carter – isn’t this an indictment of our entire American society? Well, you can do whatever you want to them, but I have a feeling those Sigma Chis are not going to sit there and listen to you badmouth the United States of America, or their beer.

[via The Orion]