Editorial : Potential policy regulating fraternity events creates problems without giving solutions
Syracuse University recently put forth a proposal that, if passed, will require SU fraternities to follow strict regulations for their events.
The said proposal includes guidelines that would require fraternities to create a guest list capped at 150 people, with under-21 attendees clearly marked. The list would need to be turned in to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs up to 12 days before the party. All guests would require a wristband, with students under 21 receiving a different color wristband. In addition, fraternities would no longer be able to serve alcoholic beverages. Over-21 students would be allowed to bring with them either six beers or four wine coolers.
If passed and enforced, these new guidelines will certainly affect the historic tradition of SU Greek life. It will deter recruitment and cause current membership to drop. No one joins Greek life to have limits placed on their social experiences.
SU should have at least considered the maximum amount of members that could potentially attend a closed fraternity-sorority mixer. With most sororities surpassing 150 members, this new proposal is unreasonable and unnecessary.
Regulating such policies and managing guests once inside the house seem unenforceable. Guests under 21 will inevitably drink more while ‘pre-gaming’ before heading to a fraternity house, putting them at an even greater risk for alcohol poisoning.
SU may think this new proposal will limit underage drinking and create a safer weekend environment, but the effect of the rules will be quite the contrary. If fraternity houses are no longer an option, attempts at drinking in dorms will rise and South Campus apartment parties will become more of an issue. Foot traffic in off-campus areas, such as Euclid and Comstock Avenues, will increase, placing an even larger number of students in danger.
SU has been attempting to crack down on Greek life for some time now. But such strict guidelines appear to come as a surprise — there has been no recently publicized increase in alcohol-related incidences at fraternity events. The negative repercussions that will ultimately affect the rest of campus are not worth the potential gain of a more controlled fraternity party. Nor will it solve the problem of binge or underage drinking.
This proposal is unfounded and could create more problems, without solving any. The Daily Orange encourages those involved to appeal the proposal.
