The Greek Week event you may not have heard about: “morning bar”

The music started at a UW fraternity, the crowd cheered and the party kicked into high gear. The difference between this party and others was that instead of the band taking the stage at 9 p.m., it started playing at 9 a.m.

Some of the couple hundred students raised their drinks to the band and sang along. Others watched from a balcony overhead or from open windows facing into the backyard where the band Golden Haan was on stage.

There have been plenty of rumors circulating the campus about “morning bars” and students showing up to class drunk. While there has been plenty of partying this last week, the majority of those attending this particular party didn’t have any classes that day. And those that did were either not drinking or not going to class, said some students at the event.

According to Kyle Sahagun, the vice president of public relations for the Interfraternity Council, this specific party was a registered event that followed all university and fraternity guidelines.

“We do discourage drinking during events specifically connected with Greek Week,” Sahagun said, “but that’s mainly because those events are geared towards charity and community work. We just don’t want people showing up drunk to fundraisers.”

Though it was during and unofficially connected with Greek Week, this morning concert and party was a private fraternity party. Because of this, the decision to serve alcohol is left completely to the discretion of individual chapters.

“This party was a registered event,” Sahagun said. “We knew about it beforehand and they followed all the rules and guidelines that pertain to events that are going to have alcohol.”

Along with the IFC, the University of Washington, UWPD and SPD were made aware of the party beforehand and knew that alcohol was going to be served. The fraternity and those attending the party followed the rules and didn’t violate any university policies or state/federal laws, Sahagun said.

“This is our way of saying goodbye to all the graduating seniors,” said one of those seniors at the party, who asked to remain anonymous. “It’s not so much about partying in the morning; it’s about doing something different. We can have a party anytime, but how often do you throw one right when you wake up?”

There was plenty of beer available for consumption, but only to those 21 and older. Fraternity members at the front door checked IDs and gave wristbands to students old enough to drink.

The beer and other drinks were served from a makeshift bar opposite the stage, and the members working the bar were only giving drinks to people wearing the wristbands.

“Each of us seniors takes turn working one of these parties this week,” another anonymous senior said. “It’s our way of saying thanks for all of the good times.”

Because of the nature of the party and its unofficial connection with Greek Week, the fraternity has asked to remain unnamed, as well as the unnamed people quoted in this story. Though no rules or laws were broken, the national headquarters of each chapter dictates their own policies and it is uncertain whether this event would bring repercussions from the specific fraternity’s national association.

Golden Haan is comprised of three UW students: Paris Froissart, Sam Lee and Brian Keever.

“It’s really cool for us to play at this,” Froissart said. “These are our friends and it’s awesome when a bunch of them are able to sing along to some of our songs.”

Since they started playing together last summer, the band has recorded an album and played various gigs in the area.