Interfraternity Council votes to restrict Greek parties
New regulations limit event options
By Ashley Edwards
Published: Friday, September 23, 2005
The Murray State News
The Interfraternity Council passed a rule that limits almost all fraternity social events to Greeks and invited women listed on a pre-approved form.
The rule took effect Sept. 19. Its goal is designed to reduce problems at social events, said Rob Whitfield, public relations director of IFC.
"In addition to making our parties safer and to decrease liability for the individual fraternities, we have decided to close parties to non-Greek males," Whitfield said. "We do not have problems with women starting fights at parties. We do not have problems with women causing property damage at our parties. Virtually 100 percent of the time, it's men."
Whitfield said many of the problems are caused because of a lack of alcohol awareness education among non-Greeks.
He said fraternity members are required to take programs that educate them about the dangers of alcohol abuse.
"We have no idea how many people outside of the Greek community have had that education, but we do know that every fraternity member and most sorority members, I believe, at this campus are required to have that sort of training," Whitfield said.
He also said individual fraternities are required by the University to have a $1 million liability policy to protect against lawsuits resulting from accidents at social events.
A social event is defined as a gathering with more than 50 non-fraternity members in attendance, IFC President Mike Brown said.
A policy regulating Greek parties has been in effect since spring, Brown said. However, he took informal polls last semester and noticed the majority of fraternity members favored a more stringent non-Greek party policy.
"(The administration) felt it was a really good idea, and I think they were pleased that IFC, as a student government council, is taking responsibility for how Greek social life is carried out," Brown said. "We just want to keep everyone safe, and this policy will benefit chapters in the future."
Since the new rule took effect, each fraternity is now allowed two limited parties a semester in plus their philanthropy, Brown said.
Limited parties are defined as a social event in which any male or female, 18 and older, and Greek males can attend. The pre-submitted guest list will remain a requirement for these events.
"If for some reason one of the fraternities does not hold their philanthropy, they are allotted one more limited party in its place for a total of three a semester," Brown said. "Also, no fraternity can hold a limited party before rush is over next Monday."
The previous rule requiring a submitted guest list is still in place.
"Before each social event the fraternities chapter must turn in a guest list to the Student Social Event Organization Office," Brown said. "After the party a final guest list and sign-in sheet must be turned in so the university can see who is attending the parties".
Brown said he favored the policy change as a way to keep students safe and help with risk management.
"We just want everyone who attends the parties to be safe, and with this policy we can keep a closer eye out for things that may go wrong," Brown said. "We want everything to run smoothly so the parties can keep going."
IFC representatives also hope this policy will encourage more students to go Greek, Brown said, but it was not a direct motivation for the policy's adoption.
Chris Bruce, sophomore from Madisonville, is hoping to rush a fraternity. However, he said the policy changes will have a marginal effect on decisions to go Greek.
"You can always party somewhere else so keeping non-Greek males out of the parties isn't a big deal," he said. "Fraternities aren't all about that, and if students decide to go Greek, it will be for their own reasons."
Michael Ahart, junior from Paducah, is also going through rush but disagrees about the policy's effects on Greek attendance. He said it depends on the person's status.
"When you are on the outside of Greek life, you think the policy is a horrible idea, but once you're inside you understand the liability issues the fraternities have," Ahart said. "I think there are some students who won't want to be on the outside, and that will encourage them to go Greek."
Other students who are members of fraternities have mixed feelings about the policy. Seniors Chip Walker and Brandon Brady disagree with the policy.
"I think it's stupid to put regulations on parties," Walker said. "The University doesn't want anyone to have any fun."
Brandon Brady agreed the rules are unnecessary.
"All IFC rules suck," Brandon Brady said. "Parties were a lot better when I was a freshman. There weren't any regulations then, and everything went fine."
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