Who's buying?

Policy will not address problem

To many, the Greek system represents social opportunities and a chance to make friends. Parties are often part of the Greek system's socialization. A recent trend among fraternities and sororities - both at the local and national level - is to switch from communal alcohol sources to requiring that everyone bring their own drinks to parties. Last week, all but one of the University campus's fraternities signed the Interfraternity Council's new "bring your own beverage" policy, requiring that they only sponsor parties without kegs and open bars. While IFC has good intentions with the policy, it does not adequately address the root of the underage drinking problems and could prove ineffective.

Last December, nine sororities signed a similar contract at the request of the Panhellic Association. The association's policy requires that when sororities hold parties with other fraternities, they both abide by the BYOB rule. IFC's policy does not restrict the fraternities in this way, stating only that fraternities holding parties will not supply alcohol.

Many fraternities are already required by their national headquarters to adhere to BYOB party policies. When fraternities hand out flyers for open parties, they almost invariably have "BYOB" stamped strategically in the corners. But these parties often have a common alcohol source regardless of the rule.

IFC's policy faces a similar problem. Without an effective mechanism to punish offending fraternities, the policy will not have a significant impact. If fraternities that violate the policy are extricated from Greek social events or are threatened with some other sort of sanction, it might prove potent. But a mere signature on a document that will later be mailed to national headquarters has no binding effect on the fraternities. As it stands, the policy is ineffective.

Even if fraternities do stop supplying kegs, it will probably not have the desired effect. Since the policy does not prohibit minors from drinking outright, it is unlikely that the number of people using alcohol will decline significantly. Further, minors will probably be able to find someone to buy alcohol for them - negating any intent to loosen underage drinking. The policy goes only part of the way to affecting alcohol consumption at fraternity parties. In order to truly be effective, the ban would have to be outright.

This policy is intended, in part, to relinquish blame from any fraternity should something happen to a non-Greek member at a fraternity-sponsored party. Situations like this have happened in the past and while IFC is determined to protect all local chapters at the University from facing serious sanctions either from the University or national headquarters, this policy is a Band-Aid and not a cure. Underage drinking will continue and non-members of the Greek system will still attend fraternity parties.

IFC deserves recognition for pushing this policy, however useless, on fraternities. But instead of making this token gesture, it should establish a stronger set of guidelines that could actually effect change. The present policy will not only cause minimal changes in the number of underage drinkers at fraternity parties, and without stricter enforcement, it will likely not affect the presence of kegs and other sources of alcohol. The policy is a step in the right direction, but it will take several more leaps before something truly productive is achieved.

01-28-98