Trout Fry continues despite opposition

For 28 years, the Decorah community and Luther’s administration have seemed to have bigger fish to fry than combating the annual spring party hosted by Pi Sigma Omicron, an unofficial Luther fraternity. This year, however, Trout Fry—the biggest party of the year for Luther students—faces serious opposition as the Community Campus Alcohol Committee attempts to shut it down.

Greg Lonning, director of Wellness, and the Campus Community Alcohol Committee have worked for three years to diminish underage drinking issues in Decorah and on Luther’s campus. After contributing to the new campus alcohol policy and focusing on underage drinking at Decorah bars, the CCAC shifted its focus to ending Trout Fry.

“Nothing has ever been done about [Trout Fry] that I know of,” Lonning said. “To have this annual keg party ... as a community is something that we weren’t in favor of.”

Lonning said the CCAC started its fight against Trout Fry by contacting Decorah police, the county sheriff, the county attorney and community members.

One community member contacted by the CCAC was Don Jewel of Jewel Bus Company. Trout Fry is held at Chimney Rock Campground, located outside of town. In the past, a bus has been provided to attendees to ensure safe travel and eliminate drinking and driving.

“I’m finding that the college doesn’t want me to do it,” Jewel said. “On my end it always was a dangerous situation. I told the Pi Sigs I’m sorry. They were my longest standing client.”

This year, Jewel refused service to the Pi Sigs for Trout Fry for the first time in 18 years.

Colin Marnach (‘09) has orchestrated much of the Trout Fry planning for the Pi Sigs this year and expressed disappointment with the busing situation.

“I told [Lonning], ‘You’re making a step towards stopping Trout Fry, but you’re also taking away the one truly responsible thing that we do,’” Marnach said.

After scrambling to find another service, the Pi Sigs hired a different company to transport patrons to the campground.

“Without buses, it would be too much of a risk for people to drive out there,” Marnach said.

When Jewel declined to drive for Trout Fry, Lonning encouraged the Pi Sigs to cancel the event.

“What I told the Pi Sigs was that without the busing, I would hope that they don’t have the party,” Lonning said. “I think that that would be terrible to have the party out there and not be able to bus the students out there.”

Pi Sig members have booked three buses from a different company to transport students to and from Trout Fry.

Members of the fraternity said they were notified of possible bootlegging charges for serving alcohol without a liquor license at Trout Fry as well.

Winneshiek County Sheriff Leon Bohr said enforcement is prepared to increase patrol on the day of Trout Fry, as they have in the past.

“We just want to make sure nobody gets hurt out there,” Bohr said. “There are a lot of people that are 21 and older up there, and there are some that are under 21 as well. But all are adults.”

The possibility of federal charges being brought upon the fraternity members led to the biggest change for Trout Fry this year. The party is now bring-your-own style, and kegs will not be provided.

“It’s our choice not to have kegs. We had the order in, and [the sale] was going to be done legally, but because we would be making a profit off of them, it would be called bootlegging,” Marnach said.

Marnach said that drinking on the campground is legal for people of age. To monitor underage drinking, the Fraternity will be checking IDs and distributing wristbands to all Trout Fry patrons, as they have in years past.

Bohr said the event organizers have been forthcoming about the situation. Pi Sigma Omicron president Rex Wood (‘10), however, had a different perspective on the Pi Sigs’ collaboration with the CCAC.

“I personally had a meeting with Greg Lonning. In the meeting he was not in any way, shape or form willing to work with us,” Wood said.

Lonning said the purpose of contacting local businesses who have been involved in Trout Fry was to inform them that the party is not a Luther-sponsored event. Both Marnach and Wood said the party is the reason Pi Sigma Omicron lost their charter 15 years ago.

“Upholding this tradition is the very reason that Pi Sigma Omicron is no longer an approved fraternity of Luther College,” Wood said. “Trout Fry is not a giant party held so people can drink. Many who come to Trout Fry do that every weekend without our help.”

Despite the controversy, April 24 is still marked for Trout Fry. The effects of this year’s tension between the fraternity, Lonning and the CCAC remain to be seen.

“I believe Trout Fry will be very similar to what it has been in recent years. We still want people to be able to enjoy themselves,” Wood said. “As long as there are Pi Sigs left there will be a Trout Fry.”