That is a great idea!  Of all the threats, the one that is scariest to these
guys is that they cannot have a party.

In general, I think the concept of "registering" a party has some merit.  I
am aware that at Washington and Lee, the frats must obtain a permit from the
city to have an event and the days and times for such events are limited to
reasoanble frequency.

Jim Wilson
Historic Renovation Corp
Charlottesville
----- Original Message -----
From: "Janie Fowler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2000 9:42 AM
Subject: Re: FW: Oregon State fraternity houses rack up thousands in fines


> Here at the Univ. of Alabama, we inspect fraternities before social
events.  If
> their house does not meet code by having all exit lights working,
emergency
> lights working, fire extinguishers inspected and in place, stairwells
clear,
> etc., then their social event is not approved.  Needless to say, they
correct
> the deficiencies and have their party.  This program was developed after a
> serious fire at one of our fraternities in the late 1980's.  I met with
the
> City legal department, greek representatives, the fire marshall and
student
> life and they all agreed that monitoring the fraternity's activities was a
high
> priority.  The social events (fraternity parties) was designated as a way
to
> get their attention and it has worked.  Initially, it took quite a bit of
> time.  But over time, the houses have significantly improved and several
now
> call us before a party to see when we are coming for the safety
inspection.
> See our checklist by accessing www.ua.edu, then site map (at top of page),
then
> under E (Environmental Health and Safety, then Services, then Fire Safety
> Program and then the Approval Procedure for Fraternity Parties. The
Tuscaloosa
> Fire Department has zero tolerance for false alarms for the fraternity and
> sororities (meaning they can get a fine, community service or both) and
was
> incorporated this past spring semester.
>
> Dan Jones wrote:
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ron Binder [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Monday, May 22, 2000 2:05 AM
> > Subject: Oregon State fraternity houses rack up thousands in fines
> >
> > Associated Press
> > May 21, 2000
> >
> > Oregon State fraternity houses rack up thousands in fines
> >
> > CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Oregon State University fraternities are creating a
fire
> > hazard that could end in disaster despite repeated fines totaling
thousands
> > of dollars, a newspaper reports.
> >
> > The Mid-Valley Sunday said that Corvallis Fire Department records show
that
> > fraternities have blocked fire exits, disconnected smoke detectors,
> > silenced fire alarms and let residents sleep in potentially deadly
> > crawlspaces over the past five years.
> >
> > Only about half of the 32 fraternity and sorority houses have sprinkler
> > systems or modern fire alarms to protect their residents, although
sorority
> > houses generally have a better safety record.
> >
> > But every one of the 21 OSU fraternity houses has, at one time or
another,
> > violated the city's building code, according to fire officials.
> >
> > A major concern is what fraternities call a "butt hut" - using concealed
> > crawlspaces to sleep and to gain more privacy. Officials view them as
> > firetraps, because the only way in or out is through a tiny hole in the
> > wall.
> >
> > The crawlspaces also often contain makeshift electrical wiring for such
> > items as space heaters.
> >
> > Building supervision normally is the responsibility of nonprofit alumni
> > boards that act as landlords, but there is practically no oversight at
> > fraternities, officials say.
> >
> > Repeated building code violations, inadequate buildings and a lack of
> > supervision mean it is only a question of time until a dangerous - even
> > deadly - fire sweeps through a frat house, said Jim Patton, fire
prevention
> > officer for the Corvallis Fire Department.
> >
> > "We've been fortunate, and our time hasn't come yet," Patton said.
> >
> > Other campuses haven't been so lucky. In the past five months, fires
have
> > struck fraternities at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania, Washington
> > State University and a dormitory at Seton Hall University in New Jersey.
> > Students were either killed or injured in those blazes.
> >
> > Every year, about 1,700 fires burn college dormitories, classroom
> > buildings, fraternities and sororities, according to a report by the
U.S.
> > Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association.
> >
> > But the report said the largest problem area is in off-campus housing,
> > including fraternities, sororities and apartments.
> >
> > "These facilities are not as regulated as the campus housing facilities,
> > which means the risk to the students living in them is probably
greater,"
> > the report said.
> >
> > Some examples of violations at OSU include:
> >
> > - On April 3, the Theta Chi fraternity house was fined $500 for seven of
> > its members sleeping in the building's study rooms where there are no
smoke
> > detectors and no emergency escape windows.
> >
> > - On Feb. 25, officials fined the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house
$1,000
> > for blocking a fire escape with mattresses.
> >
> > - On Feb. 8, Acacia House fraternity was fined $1,400 for using two
> > concealed crawlspaces and silencing the fire alarm system to cancel the
> > fire department's response to an alarm tripped by kitchen smoke.
> >
> > - On Jan. 24, the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity was fined $500 for using
a
> > concealed room for sleeping. A heater, outlets and light fixtures were
> > among the items found in the room. Officials ordered all items removed.
> >
> > - On Jan. 19, officials penalized Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity house
$500
> > for using a concealed room for sleeping. Electrical outlets and light
> > fixtures had been installed in the room. Officials ordered the removal
of
> > all items, including a couch and sleeping bag.
> >
> > - On Nov. 12, the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house was fined $400 for
> > silencing the fire alarm system. Someone had broken into the fire alarm
> > panel and disabled the system, according to the report. During repairs,
> > officials discovered the wiring to two of the hallway smoke detectors
had
> > been disconnected.
> >
> > Patton, the city's fire prevention officer, said fraternities view
> > inspections and fire codes as a nuisance when they are intended to save
> > lives.
> >
> > "The residents need to understand they're not doing these things to keep
> > the fire department off their backs," he said. "They're doing these
things
> > to protect themselves and others in the house."
> >
> > The Acacia Fraternity house, the oldest building in the frat system, has
> > drawn more civil penalties than any other fraternity over the past five
> > years.
> >
> > Fraternity president Shane Sawyer says members are aware of the danger
and
> > they're working to change things.
> >
> > "I feel like we're at least on the right track," Sawyer said.
> >
> > (c) 2000 The Associated Press.
>
>