Daily Collegian Story - Frats Want Snow Break
Collegian Photo by David Whalen - Theta Chi President Ed Brown shovels snow from the sidewalk in front of the fraternity that is located on South Allen Street.
As appeared in the Feb. 15, 1985 edition of The Daily Collegian
By Damon Chappie - Collegian Staff Writer
Not clearing snow from sidewalks may mean a tougher penalty due to a recent State College Municipal Council decision, but several fraternity leaders believe they should be "given a break while we're on break."
The fine for not removing snow from a sidewalk within 24 hours of a snowfall is $5 for the first two violations and $25 for subsequent infractions. Previously, violators paid $5 for each citation. Violators will also have seven days to pay the fine instead of 30 days.
Interfraternity Council President Maury Billig said the change will also affect fraternities during semester break when many fraternity houses are vacant.
"Many of the houses are in residential areas but the students, who are residents, go on University vacations at times," Billig said. "When we're away for five weeks how can we shovel the snow? If the (fraternity members) came back each time it snowed here they'd spend half their vacation shoveling."
But Donald R. Dorneman, the borough's director of public works, said fraternities are still responsible for following the ordinance at all times.
"When I go away for a time I make arrangements for someone to shovel my walk," he said. —they should too."
Bill Allen, president of Phi Kappa Theta fraternity, 338 E. Fairmont Ave. said "We have not yet considered hiring neighbors to shovel the snow."
Council Member Felicia L. Lewis said State College residents complained last month about fraternities not clearing their sidewalks during the semester break.
Lewis said she was concerned about "large corner properties that were not cleared" of snow, but declined to identify a particular fraternity."
Scott Kitlinski, president of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, 351 E. Fairmount Ave. which is a corner property, said he believes the borough is "being a bit unreasonable" in the way it is enforcing the ordinance.
He said the house was fined $5 last month after a snow storm when temperatures dropped to minus 14 degrees Fahrenheit.
"They came around the next morning and expected us to clear the sidewalk in the middle of the night before it all froze up," he said.
Allen said he agrees with the snow-shoveling ordinance "as long as we're in school, but it is unreasonable to enforce when we are on break."
Billig agreed: "The borough should use some discretion when they are going to be enforcing this law."
"Who will be responsible when the sidewalks are. not shoveled?" Dorneman asked. "I think they're going to find that they have to make arrangements or take the consequences."