The Orbis

One Friday night, at the early hour of 11 o'clock, one young Orbis freshman writer surveyed the scene at that hip-happening place we like to call Frat Row. Already there were hundreds of loud, drunk people, most of them probably freshmen, wandering the streets and drifting from frat to frat. With the arrival of Vanderbilt's new alcohol policy, it supposedly has made it more difficult for freshman, and any underage student, to procure alcohol at fraternity parties.

Registered parties at Vanderbilt now require students to sign in as over 21 or under 21. Previously, the frats had open-bar policies and all one had to do was walk up and ask for a beer. Currently, parties are supposed to be "BYOB" or "bring your own bottle." (While this used to be commonly known as Bring Your Own Beer, Vanderbilt has taken the liberty of changing this catchphrase).

The Vanderbilt Student Handbook states that "B.Y.O.B. practices contemplate that an individual student of drinking age may share alcoholic beverages with a date or companions who are also of legal drinking age. However, any subterfuge or device to evade the spirit of the University policy prohibiting the use of common containers or the provision of alcoholic beverages at undergraduate functions will subject students and organizations to disciplinary action."

The new alcohol policy also stipulates that "Vanderbilt University will impose disciplinary sanctions on students, ranging from a warning or reprimand, to disciplinary probation, suspension, or expulsion and referral for state or federal prosecution, for violation of its alcohol and controlled substances policy."

So I went exploring to test my theory - how many fraternities would serve me alcohol as a freshman, having signed in as under 21. So I set off . hoping, by the end of the night, to be able to taste some frothy goodness of the Champagne of all Beers - Natty Lite. (Amazingly good and yet so low in calories.who would have thought!) As it turned out, every single frat I entered gave me beer. I even got offered a few surprises like wiggly Jell-O shots! While a couple bartenders lamented the fact that "they were out" it took only a quick talk to a frat brother to produce some more beer. I didn't even have to play a single game of beirut!

While the university's alcohol policy has certainly curbed the amount of alcohol served to minors, it is by no means difficult to acquire beer. But sometimes you have to wonder if the frats are serving you beer or catering to your taking off that mini skirt on the dance floor later that night. The fraternities continue to be what they should be - a place to drink (in moderation, naturally), relax, hang out and, of course, play a little beirut.

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