Seven fraternities on Alpha Drive have remained dry since a Feb. 1 alcohol ban, but the ban may not be affecting the number of alcohol incidents.
ASU Department of Public Safety police logs indicate a decrease in alcohol incidents on campus since the ban went into effect, but officials said they haven't seen a decrease in incidents on Alpha Drive.
"[The ban] hasn't done a whole lot to stop it," DPS Officer Mark Aston said. "[Fraternities are] just trying to be a lot more careful. They're doing more to not get caught than actually observing the ban."
But Emmanuel Ramos, a business junior and Tau Kappa Epsilon member, said his fraternity has been following the ban.
"We've been imposing it because it's more important we keep our chapter on campus than have a couple of fun nights," Ramos said.
"It's a stereotype that [police officers] think we just sit around with alcohol," he added. "That's not the case."
According to the police logs, 19 alcohol-related incidents were reported on campus during the weekend of Jan. 27, before the ban took effect.
During the weekend of Feb. 3, seven alcohol-related incidents were reported. Three were reported the following weekend.
But numbers don't tell the whole story, Aston said.
"Just because they ban alcohol doesn't mean there will be a decrease in consumption," he added.
Leah Hardesty, spokeswomen for ASU's Department of Public Safety, has said the ban would be lifted once each fraternity submits an alcohol risk-management plan.
The fraternities affected by the ban are Sigma Chi, Delta Sigma Phi, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Phi Kappa Psi, Sigma Nu, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Sigma Pi.
Two fraternities have submitted plans, but Greek Life is not releasing the names, Hardesty said.
She has said the University would like to see each fraternity have security at parties to check IDs and have guest lists.
Ramos said his fraternity has always hired security and used guest lists when having parties.
The ban has caused more members to go out to bars rather than drink in the house, Ramos said.
"It sometimes leads to bad things," he said. "People do drive drunk."
Some fraternity members think the alcohol ban can be seen as a positive step.
Political science junior Craig Zoebisch, a member of Sigma Chi and president of the Intrafraternity Council, said the ban has changed the atmosphere of Alpha Drive.
"The last couple of weekends, it's obviously been a lot quieter," he said.
Sigma Chi has been coming up with different ideas to handle parties, Zoebisch said.
The fraternity is looking to make parties invitation-only and restrict the number of invitations each fraternity member can pass out, he added.
Zoebisch said the fraternity would remain dry no matter how long the ban lasts.
Reach the reporter at kristi.eaton@asu.edu.
