A push by the University to enforce old regulations will soon mean an end to alcohol in two UNM Greek houses, officials say.
UNM owns the land that the Kappa Sigma and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternities sit on and lease the houses to the organizations.
Those leases are ending within the month, and an official from UNM's Real Estate Department said before the organizations are allowed to sign new ones, they must go dry by Jan. 1.
"The new leases require these organizations to prohibit alcohol in their houses," said Kim Murphy, director of the Real Estate Department. "Basically, we want them to conform to the same standards of behavior as the residents in the dormitories."
The two fraternities, along with the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, are the only organizations facing the regulations because they are the only ones that don't own the property their houses are on.
Phi Delta Theta, however, is not feeling the effects of the push because it is voluntarily alcohol-free.
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Murphy said prior leases for the fraternities had provisions that prohibited alcohol on the premises, but admitted that those provisions had never been enforced with any regularity.
He said he thinks the new leases will provide a clear understanding of the rules governing alcohol in the University's Greek houses and help UNM officials police them.
"The new leases are designed to allow the various University agencies with oversight powers a common goal when it comes to this policy," Murphy said.
According to the University's student code of conduct, the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of controlled substances or alcohol on UNM property as part of any activity by any member of the University community faculty, staff or student is strictly prohibited.
Murphy said those regulations are strictly enforced in UNM's eight dormitories, with people found in violation of them often made to attend mandatory alcohol abuse counseling and put on University-sanctioned probation.
He said there should not be a double standard when it comes to students living in Greek houses.
"There needs to be a standard set of rules," Murphy said. "It is necessary for us to do this."
He said he is open to discuss the matter further with the organizations, but he hasn't met with any violent objection from those being affected by the decision.
Representatives from the two fraternities don't seem too concerned, either.
Josh Leon, president of Sigma Phi Epsilon, said the fraternity's members aren't looking at the decision to make their house alcohol-free as that big of a deal.
"Our world doesn't revolve around alcohol," he said. "There are plenty of other things that make our organization what it is. In the end, it might even be a good thing."
Officers from Kappa Sigma refused to comment.
Garry Ballinger, coordinator of Greek Life at UNM, said he thinks there will be a definite period of adjustment for the two organizations. He said he expects the regulations to be successful and may even force other Greek organizations to re-evaluate their actions.
The new regulations are in line with the recent national Greek movement to move away from the stigma of being associated with alcohol, said Randy Boeglin, dean of students at UNM.
"Alcohol in general is a large issue at most colleges," Boeglin said. "Greek organizations have had their fair share. Ultimately, this is the right thing to do."
