The Traveler

Issue date: 4/15/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Bailey McBride Police force Sisco Adler and Schwayze off stage during their performance at the Sigma Nu Row Week party at 1:30 a.m., the time when all music at fraternity parties must stop, according to Greek Life policies.

This year's Row Week festivities, hosted April 1 though April 4 by various fraternity chapters, brought a mix of disappointment and excitement to the campus, UA students said.

Row Week, which originated six to eight years ago, originally stood for Recruitment Orientation Week and was used as a recruitment tool for the fraternities across campus.

"In the last few years, we have tried to restructure the event to provide social activities for students on our campus," said Parice Bowser, the director of Greek Life.

Bowser also stressed that there is a nationwide policy among Greek chapters that recruitment is a dry event.

Row Week now isn't affiliated with recruitment and consists of closed parties that are hosted by fraternities where members are allowed to invite guests.

There were nine public intoxication arrests at this year's Row Week, according to Gary Crain, public information office for the UA Police Department. There also were separate charges of criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and a minor in possession of alcohol.

"With the other events that occur on campus like football games, it wasn't that out of line," Crain said. "In fact, it was pretty normal."

One misconception this year was whether Row Week was going to be covered by MTV.

"I did not invite MTV, and to my understanding, the chapters did not invite them," said Bowser, who reiterated that the events hosted during Row Week are closed parties and that people, including members of the media, must be invited to the events.

A common complaint from students both this year and last year regarded the "closing" of houses during the actual concerts in the yards of the fraternity houses.

"From a risk management standpoint, 100 people should not be standing in a hallway for safety reasons," Bowser said. "Members and guests are always allowed to enter and use the facilities."

Continued...

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