Fraternities adopt closed-party policy
Frat Row is about to see a few changes to a common way of life.
When walking along a stretch of 800 East directly opposite Utah State University, travelers will no longer see A-frames advertising weekend parties at fraternity houses.
Members of the Greek Council and their advisers have initiated a freeze on open parties.
Through the years, fraternities at USU have been allowed to invite the student body to their parties, but because of increasing problems in the first two weeks of school, a recommendation was put out on the table: No open parties.
This means that the general public will not be invited. Guest lists will be made and strictly abided by, Tiffany Evans, director of the Student Involvement and Leadership Center, said.
In most cases, fraternity members will be allowed one or two guests each depending on individual house guidelines, said Jon Morrill, president of Sigma Nu.
“We had been kicking [the idea] around a little on our own,” said Michael Ricci, judicial vice president of the Inter-Frat Council and vice president of Sigma Chi.
But he said it was Evans that got them to take action.
“This is a positive step in the right direction,” Evans said. “The students have been very pro-active and mature about understanding the big picture.”
Since 1995, police have responded to Frat Row numerous times, but not necessarily because of problems caused by fraternity members, mostly because of problems brought on by the public. In 1997, an attempt to fix the problem was made when a task force was organized to discuss substance-free housing. Since then, the number of problems drastically decreased, Evans said.
The common areas of the fraternity houses are substance-free. However, 21-year-old renters are allowed alcohol in their rooms. Fraternity insurance policies stipulate that if a public event is held, no alcohol is allowed on the property, Evans said.
“[Fraternities] can’t control the abuse and misuse of alcohol by the general student body,” Evans said.
A person drinking beforehand and then coming to the location causes as much of a problem as on-site drinking, he said.
“It’s hard to be accountable for other’s actions,” Ricci said.
Previously, fraternities had to register their parties with the Student Activities Department, notify the Logan City Police Department of the party and provide them with a contact number, as well as station the president or vice president of the fraternity at the door as a greeter. Even with these stipulations, problems still arose, Evans said.
“This is something [the fraternities] want to do because they realize the cost-to-benefit ratio is just not there,” he said.
Having open parties is a huge liability. Damages to the house, angry neighbors and a bad reputation are a few.
Fraternities don’t want the student body to think that they are axing an otherwise social walk of life. They still hope to maintain a good reputation in that respect, Ricci said.
There still are more options to explore, Ricci said, but until then, parties will be closed events.
“There are probably a few who don’t like the idea, but for now, the way things are going, it’s the best idea,” Morrill said.
-jlkarras@cc.usu.edu