MSU's Greek leaders approve ban on alcohol

The presidents of Michigan State University's Interfraternity Council and Panhellinic Association voted Tuesday night to prohibit alcohol at all social functions in chapter houses.

The measure passed 20 to 6 for IFC and 16 to 0 for Panhel. IFC President Jason Rosenbaum said parties involving alcohol will have to be held in restaurants, banquet hall and other third party vendors.

Panhel president Rebecca Gillespie said the houses are looking into more social functions that do not involve alcohol.

The proposal is effective July 1 and will last until March 1, 2001 when the Council of Assemblies - a panel made up of 10 IFC and Panhel presidents - will evaluate the improvements made and decide whether or not to move to alcohol-free housing, Rosenbaum said.

Fraternities are permitted to hold parties with sororities in their respective houses for the rest of the year, he said. But guest lists parties are banned.

The Michigan State administration supports the Greek community for taking the initiative in such a severe step.

"This is indeed a dramatic step. I commend the leadership of IFC and Panhel for coming to this point," MSU Vice President for University Relations Terry Denbow said.

"As leaders on campus they have done an excellent job of monitoring themselves and looking at themselves introspectively," he said.

This vote comes at the end of the 30-daymoratorium that ended March 12. The alcohol ban will allow chapters to direct attention to other issues discussed during the moratorium, Gillespie said.

"This will allow us to increase focus on leadership, service and scholarship," Rosenbaum said.

Statistics from other universities that have gone alcohol-free, such as the University of Iowa and University of Oregon, have shown an increase in recruitment numbers, Rosenbaum said.

"Overall I don't think there will be a negative affect. We will just be recruiting a different kind of man and woman," Gillespie said.

Rosenbaum agreed saying "Recruitment isn't about social functions. It is about individuals who are leaders and have a strong focus on academics.

"They take community service and philanthropy ventures into consideration when looking for a student organization they want to be involved in," he said.

Leaders in the Greek community at Michigan State created a Greek Coalition on March 11. Participants in the Coalition will include MSU President M. Peter McPherson, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Lou Anna Kimsey Simon, eight chapter presidents, Rosenbaum and Gillespie. They will help to deal with the complex issues that involve the Greek community, Rosenbaum said.

"It is a way for the university to assist to creating a bigger, better, stronger Greek system," he said.

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