IFC: Alcohol policy helps Greek revival

The Interfraternity Council is rewriting its social policy in an attempt to revive Greek social life, which many say has been suffocated in recent years by overly strict party regulations.

The proposals would allow fraternities to contract outside vendors to provide drinks and monitor in-house parties for underage drinking in an attempt to take some of the burden of monitoring drinking off fraternity members. It would also allow up to eight people to drink in chapter houses’ common rooms at any time without fear of probation and would permit hard liquor to be kept only in bedrooms.

The IFC has been preparing the revisions since last school year, and IFC leaders plan to take the new policy before IFC and Panhellenic Association chapter presidents within the next three to five weeks. If it passes with the required two-thirds vote, IFC officials hope to approve the policy by the end of the semester.

“Too long have we complained about an ill-fitting policy without taking a positive step towards changing it,” said IFC Vice President Tim Peach. “We have listened to all the main complaints by fraternities concerning reasons they do not hold parties and have addressed them.”

Under the proposed policy, private vendors hired by fraternities would be responsible for checking IDs at the door and supplying alcohol at parties registered through the IFC. Under the current policy, partygoers must bring their own beer, and the fraternity cannot purchase or provide alcohol.

Peach said the third-party vendor option would encourage in-house chapter parties because fraternities wouldn’t require guests to bring their own beer, and while social event monitors would still walk through each party one to three times per night, they wouldn’t be stationed at the door.
...
Diamondback Online - IFC: Alcohol policy helps Greek revival