Correction appended
No more Wednesday social functions. No more away bars. Photo ID required for entry. And professional bouncers at the door.
Beginning next semester, a "pretty groundbreaking" social policy will be implemented by the Interfraternity Council, IFC President Luke Pierce said Monday night.
Under the new policy, IFC hopes to reduce the emphasis on alcohol in the greek community and encourage chapters to focus on risk management, Pierce (senior-economics) said.
The changes are rooted in a desire to solve three major issues in the greek community: large events, uninvited guests and excessive drinking.
The IFC President's Council -- which includes the presidents of the IFC's 49 member fraternities -- approved the policy Nov. 10.
"I don't think any single event triggered this response in any way," Pierce said. "It has been a busy semester, though."
Under the new policy, Wednesday social functions will be eliminated during "regular weeks."
"We are holding parties during a majority of the week, and this detracts from other things we could be doing in the community," Pierce said.
During "special weeks" -- Greek Week and the weeks leading up to Greek Sing and Homecoming -- Monday social functions will no longer be permitted. But Tuesday and Wednesday social functions can last from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., a two-hour extension of the current rules.
Under the new policy, fraternities hosting parties will be required to hire two social monitors -- essentially "bouncers," Pierce said -- from a private security agency to be selected by the IFC. Pricing has not yet been determined, Pierce said, as the IFC still has about five weeks to choose a specific security company.
Chapters will be responsible for covering the labor costs of the social monitors, Pierce said.
"These third-party monitors will verify guests," Pierce said.
As a result, guests will be required to present photo identification at the door -- a policy designed to ensure that those entering the party are on the fraternity's now-mandated guest list.
One designated member of the fraternity -- either the chapter president or an alternate member -- can add guests to the list during the party to account for unexpected guests, Pierce said.
Fraternities will also be required to register events and guest lists by 11:59 p.m. the Wednesday before the social function, a switch from the current deadline of 11:59 p.m. the Tuesday before the event.
Additionally, the IFC will eliminate away bars, which currently allow multiple fraternities to distribute alcohol from different locations within a single fraternity house.
"The problem is excessive consumption, so we will serve all beverages from one location," IFC Vice President for Communications Zachary Meli (senior-economics) said.
As they are used now, away bars allow the fraternity whose house is being used to be held liable for alcohol-related incidents -- even if another fraternity actually distributes the alcohol, Pierce said.
The policy will be subject to a nine-month trial period. After that time, fraternities can apply for an exemption from the bouncer requirement if they have demonstrated their own risk management practices are successful.
"I don't think in any way it's going to hamper the social environment," Pierce said. "The things that are offered in this policy offer a safer environment for their members and guests."
IFC executive board members and fraternity chapter presidents have been working for six weeks to develop the new policy, which will be formally distributed to chapter presidents today. Although there may be some "growing pains," Pierce and Meli both said they think the new regulations will be a positive change for greek life.
IFC executives will make themselves available for attend chapter meetings to give presentations on the policy designed to ease the transitions for fraternities.
Newly elected Panhellenic Council President Sara Linkosky said the changes would be positive for the greek community.
"We do attend IFC events, so we will be affected," Linkosky (junior-political science) said. "The PHC respects the IFC. They are our counterpart."
Pierce said the PHC was not part of the policy-drafting process, although the organization's executive board will be briefed about the transition.
IFC Vice President for Membership Mark Mixon said he was "pretty optimistic" about the policy, although he understands there will be issues.
"In context, it will probably be well received by greek leaders, but not by those who don't understand the new policy," said Mixon (senior-energy, business and finance), who is also the president of Sigma Nu fraternity. "It comes down to the way the presidents will explain it to their chapters."
But not all greek leaders are sure the policy is a step in the right direction.
"Not having an away bar will make isolation more apparent in the greek community," said Cherilyn Cecchini, social chair and president-elect of Delta Gamma sorority.
And a guest list will also create issues at the door, Cecchini (junior-premedicine and biology) said.
"It seems beneficial on the surface, but it will cause a lot of problems in the beginning," she said. "I don't see a reason to go around and change the policy so drastically."
This article incorrectly states Mark Mixon's position within Sigma Nu fraternity. He is the former president.
