Ever since the cult-classic 1978 film “Animal House,” greek houses at the University have been accompanied by images of riotous parties where men and women dress up in togas and let the skin show and the beer flow.
This school year, however, fraternity and sorority members have been striving to clean up their image and closely control their consumption of alcohol, following University President Dave Frohnmayer’s establishment of a ban on alcohol in greek houses last fall.
The ban was part of a strategy that was created to improve the quality of life in fraternity and sorority houses. Things such as academic performance, leadership, community service and healthy living were all
included in the University’s endorsement standards for fraternities and sororities. If a greek house failed to comply with the endorsement standards — like Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Nu, the two fraternities that did not sign a substance-free compliance agreement — they would be disaffiliated from the University.
Interfraternity Council President Jonah Lee said forcing fraternities to go dry was a good idea, but many greek members were against the ban, and he added that their opposition has not been reconciled.
“I feel like alcohol is still a recruitment tool at some houses,” Lee said. “It’s just been downplayed more and kept more secretive.”
Lee said his own fraternity, Delta Sigma Phi, has been substance-free since it was first founded because members did not want to make alcohol the sole priority of their fraternity. He added that while the ban hasn’t caused fraternities to dry out entirely, it has leveled the playing field for recruitment. The handful of fraternities that went dry on their own don’t have to compete with the other greek houses’ huge alcohol bashes now when trying to entice new members to join, Lee said.
Faryl Kagan, a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, said the ban has required fraternities to rely on group activities where fraternity brothers actually have conversations with recruits instead of just throwing parties. Activities such as “putt-putt golf” night and games of “broom ball” have replaced the mindless partying that used to be a fraternity mainstay, Kagan said.
“The things we used to do, that weren’t as cool because we were partying all the time, are now really important,” he said.
However, Kagan added the ban hasn’t stopped fraternity members from drinking alcohol; they just take it off-campus now. Many greek houses rely on “live-outs,” members with off-campus housing, to provide an appropriate party atmosphere. At Sigma Phi Epsilon, Kagan said there are two members over 21 with an off-campus apartment who host a senior night party at least once a month.
Panhellenic Council President Alicia Lindquist also said the alcohol ban has pushed fraternities and sororities in the right direction by forcing them to initiate quality, structured recruitment efforts. However, Lindquist acknowledged that while alcohol is no longer the main focus in greek life, it still plays a significant role. Lindquist said many greeks are involved in “pre-funking,” meaning they go to a live-out and drink before attending their greek-sponsored function.
“People still party as much; they just have other ways of doing it now,” she said.
Director of Student Activities Gregg Lobisser said students have told him that drinking is still being done at greek houses, but there are fewer and smaller parties, and greek members have taken steps to self-monitor and control drinking in the houses.
“Endorsement standards have not stopped alcohol consumption in fraternities, but it has resulted in a dramatic drop in consumption,” Lobisser said.
He added the changes that have occurred indicate that safer living environments are being created in the greek system.
“Anytime you start a process like this, it’s hard to stay on course with your commitment,” Lobisser said. “It is true that they have some problems, but they also do some wonderful things.”