By Michael Hill
Correspondent
The state’s largest university has taken steps to put the clamps on of one its biggest issues: alcohol abuse at fraternity and sorority house parties on campus.
“Obviously, it stinks to be a senior and have it be our last semester,” said Phi Kappa Sigma member Paul.
Paul would not give us his last name but says he’s a senior and will miss the opportunity to really celebrate his feat because Rutgers has banned parties at the 19 houses of campus fraternities and sororities for the rest of the spring semester. The university says the ban applies to all 86 recognized fraternities and sororities and chapters are not permitted to sponsor or co-sponsor a party unless it meets certain requirements.
“Organizations are still allowed to host formals and other events where a licensed third party vendor is used to serve alcohol, but they will not be allowed to host parties in their houses. OFSA is taking this step out of caution and concern…” In the same statement, Rutgers went on to emphasize its commitment to maintaining a healthy and safe campus.
“It was definitely not a majority causing issues and they just had to take it out on everyone,” Paul said.
The party ban follows a series of alcohol-related incidents at Greek houses. One sent an intoxicated member of Sigma Phi Epsilon to the hospital. The national chapter has shut down that fraternity’s chapter.
In another, 19-year-old sophomore Caitlyn Kovacs died of alcohol poisoning after leaving a party last September at Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, now on suspension and under review.
Caitlyn’s mom told NJTV News “If what they are doing helps to save one family from going through what I am living right now then I think it’s a good thing. But it doesn’t change what happened or bring my daughter back to me.”
Some students say they find the ban on house parties for fraternities and sororities on campus extreme or extraordinary. But there are others who say based on what’s happened, they find it necessary.
“I think it’s a good thing. I guess it would give us, Outsiders see us as an academic school instead of a party school,” said freshman Dominique Sharp.
“It makes sense if the university is suspending some parties but I think it should be like we need to consider it in different cases,” said graduate student Yolanda Shen.
“I don’t know about dying but I do know if you go to hospitals on a Saturday morning, Saturday night, Friday night, Sunday night, you’ll see people there from Greek life and non-Greek life. I live off campus, I can tell you that it’s not exclusive to Greek life whatsoever,” said senior Talia Friedman.
“I think it’s a very strong stance and I disagree with it,” said attorney Eric Morrell.
Morrell says it hurts those who follows the rules and he advises one fraternity on house parties and runs a seminar as well.
“There’s a lot of good things that the Greek area does and I think by them shutting them down puts a chilling effect,” Morrell said.
The university’s freshman orientation includes the dangers of alcohol abuse and other risks. But Paul says Greek organizations themselves can and should do a better, more responsible job of hosting parties.
“Whoever’s on executive will usually oversee it, even have sober exec members running the party, have people running risk outside so you don’t let people in that look too drunk, you don’t let people in with outside alcohol. It’s very avoidable,” Paul said.
That may be but Rutgers University says that’s not what has happened just this school year alone. So it’s imposing the party ban.