Forget movies like Animal House that glorify the stereotypical bad boy fraternity where drinking, pranks and drugs rule.Yeah, they go to the fraternity houses to get drunk.
At Purdue University, that type of behavior is increasingly leading to school sanctions and, in some cases, criminal charges.
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Alcohol and drug abuse, cited in more than half the cases at Purdue since 2001, have ranged in severity from underage drinking to what the university has deemed a hazing incident when a Sigma Phi Epsilon member was treated at a local hospital for a blood alcohol level nearly four times the legal limit.
Zach Brettnacher, president of the Interfraternity Counsel, the governing body of fraternities and sororities at Purdue, hopes such statistics will convince members to rethink some of their choices.
"The university is trying to send a powerful message that this type of behavior won't be tolerated. We do want to rework and rebuild. These chapters are strong and they're going to bounce back."
Pablo Malavenda, associate dean of students at Purdue, said the university has not changed its policies."I don't think we're cracking down any more," Malavenda said. "The information is coming to us faster, from friends or parents or faculty at the university."
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Malavenda said problems can be traced to how well students regulate themselves and how much stability is provided by leadership.
Strong risk management programs, which stress consequences for all actions, are imperative, he said.
Some sorority women attribute the relatively low number of sorority cases (less than 10 in five years) to a stronger accountability system.
"We can't drink in our house," said Colleen Drasga, a Kappa Kappa Gamma. "When we have Big Sis events, we take them bowling, not to the house to get drunk."
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