What began as a fund-raiser at the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternityhouse resulted in 87 citations from police Saturday.
Following its Bike-A-Thon to raise money for the American StrokeAssociation and the Karl Harford Memorial Scholarship Fund, LamdaChi Alpha hosted a party. Lambda Chi member Sean Yau said the partybenefited the scholarship fund.
After pulling over a vehicle of underage drinkers, Muncie policeheard about Lambda Chi's party. UPD, meanwhile, received a noisecomplaint about the fraternity house at 1:32 a.m.
Signs posted outside the house instructed minors not to consumealcohol, and people over 21 received stamps on their arms, Yausaid. However, police issued 87 minor consuming alcoholcitations.
"I don't appreciate them coming to our house and wreckingsomething for a good cause," Yau said.
The Muncie Police, University Police and Delaware County Sheriffdepartments supplied extra officers to weekend patrol in responseto underage drinking, Muncie Police Chief Joe Winkle said. Thedepartments issued 101 minor consuming alcohol citations during thetwo-day period, Winkle said, which is about 10 times theaverage.
Winkle said the departments didn't intend to target a fraternitybut that's what caused the complaint.
Interfraternity Council requires greek organizations to create aguest list and register events, IFC president Bo Moreland said.
University Communications spokeswoman Heather Shupp said LambdaChi didn't register its party.
Shupp said the number of police who responded reflected the sizeof the party.
"If they're going to address something that big, they (need) tohave a large number to do it effectively," Shupp said.
Besides the citations, three students were arrested, Winklesaid.
Sophomore Andrew Brown was charged with resisting arrest andpublic intoxication, junior Joseph Rohrman was charged withdisorderly conduct and public intoxication, and former Lambda Chipresident Bradley Smith was charged with resisting arrest andpublic intoxication.
Shupp said Ball State's "Police Yourself" campaign and thepolice departments' increased patrol is unrelated. "PoliceYourself" aims to educate students and make them aware of underagedrinking's consequences, Shupp said.
"There's a similarity in the timing, but they're differentthings," Shupp said. "Knowing city officials had an interest inincreased enforcement, we thought it'd be important for students toknow that."
Dean of Students Randy Hyman said he will receive a list of the87 students charged with drinking. His office and the UniversityReview Board will deal with individual cases.
Punishments could range from a possible warning to suspension orexpulsion, Hyman said, depending on the individual's record.
"If it's their first time, it's likely they'll first be put onprobation," Hyman said. "Unless there's some reason for us notto."
As for the fraternity, Moreland said IFC will begininvestigating the case today.
IFC adviser Rob Turning said IFC's response could be severe,because of Lambda Chi's four-week probation period before SpringBreak for a similar situation.
Lambda Chi is suspended temporarily, meaning it can'tparticipate in Greek events until further notice, Shupp said.
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