Greeks & Binge Drinking Essays - Fraternities And Sororities

Greeks & Binge Drinking Essays - Fraternities And Sororities Greeks & Binge Drinking Greeks and Binge Drinking Greek life has always had its problems with underage and binge drinking. Though, lately it seems like the number of problems and even deaths due to binge drinking has been on the rise. To try curbing these problems, the Pan-Hellenic council, which is the governing body of all sororities on CMUs campus, has decided to drastically change one of their alcohol policies. This change has come in the form of article 12 which states, that no sorority or sorority member may partake in any party at a fraternity house, were alcohol is present. On the other hand, fraternities here at CMU are not showing the same support for article twelve that sororities have. With this mixed reaction for article 12 it is going to be hard to instill and enforce the rule to fraternity and sorority members. First, lets take a look at CMUs past alcohol policies that fraternities and sororities had to abide by. According to, Central Michigans web site on alcohol awareness; fraternities have had a consistent alcohol policy that has stayed the same since they have been registered organizations on CMUs campus. Fraternities are allowed to drink in their houses, and have parties with alcohol present. The only restrictions that they have is that they are not allowed to have full keg barrels in their houses, and they must provide a beer check at all their parties (1). A beer check is a place were sorority and fraternity members, who are attending the party, may check in their beer with a sober brother for safe keeping. The check can come in the form of a number of things. It may be a cooler filled with ice, or even a full sized refrigerator. On the other hand, Sororities had a much different alcohol policy in the past. All sorority houses are dry, which means that they are always drug and alcoho l free. This rule still remains in effect and is strictly enforced. Also, sorority members were allowed to drink at fraternity houses, as long as two sobers were present from the sorority to give rides to any intoxicated members (1). This is the area where the drastic change has occurred. During the spring semester of 2000, the Pan Hellenic council voted into effect a rule that changed the way sorority and fraternity social events will take place forever here at CMU. They passed article twelve, which prevents sorority members from consuming alcohol in a Fraternity house. This law was passed to try and decrease the amount of under age and binge drinking done by sorority members, due to the recent heat that Fraternities and Sororities have been receiving from the media because of binge drinking. Binge drinking is becoming increasingly popular on all college campuses throughout the country, and is causing major problems for college students. According to a study done by Dr. Henry Wechsler at the Harvard school of public health, forty four percent of college students are binge drinkers. Among that forty four percent, fraternity and sorority members are four times more likely to become binge drinkers compared to other students. (Wechsler 3). The reason why sororities want to crack down on binge drinking is because it causes a number of serious problems for college students. For example, frequent binge drinkers are sixteen time more likely than non-binge drinkers to miss class, get behind in their school work, engage in unplanned sexual activity, not use protection while having sex, get in trouble with campus police, damage property, or to get hurt or injured (Wechsler 5). As you can see, binge drinking can quickly ruin a students college career or their life. Even though article twelve was put into effect to help sorority women, most fraternity men are not happy with the rule. Ty Burnett, president of the IFC, which is the governing body for fraternities here at CMU stated I dont like to admit this, but the truth of the matter is that a lot of guys join fraternities just for the drunken parties with sorority members. When you take this aspect away from them, then they see no other reason to be involved in a fraternity. As sad as this may sound