Eli Fraternities Openly Defy Liquor Edict From Griswold

NEW HAVEN, Nov. 18--Despite President Griswold's statement yesterday, liquor was flowing tonight along Fraternity Row. A spot check of five fraternities tonight revealed that alcohol was being served to anyone who had the price of a drink.

Griswold said yesterday on the eve of Yale's biggest weekend in two years, "fraternity bars must operate on a completely legal basis or not at all." This was taken to mean that anyone under 21 would not be served a drink--thus complying with the state laws.

By 10 p.m. tonight, crowds were forming in and around the numerous fraternity houses off York St. College bands, including the Williams "Spring Street Stompers," the "Eli's Chosen Six," and other lesser known groups, were playing before large audiences. The bars were doing a strong business, and no attempt at checking ages was evident.

"News to Me"

Neither University nor New Haven police expressed any concern over the obvious serving of liquor to minors. One Yale policeman in one of the Colleges said he knew "nothing about Griswold's statement." "It's all news to me," he said when queried about possible enforcement of state liquor laws.

The manager of a package store on Chapel St. said he had no knowledge of the enforcement, but said if it were put into effect, he would expect a rise in sales.