MU's Greek socials go dry

The National Panhellenic Council is working toward dry fraternities, and it's using sororities to further that goal.

The Panhellenic Council ruled that sororities are not permitted to attend social events at fraternity houses where alcohol will be served. The groups must go through a third-party vendor, such as a licensed bartender who makes less than 50 percent of his/her income from the sale of alcohol.

"Girls are a vital part of the fraternity social life, and if the girls can't come to social events that have alcohol at them, the social life of the Greeks will begin to wilt away," said Javey Vance, TKE president.

The ruling has been a long time coming. The Panhellenic Council has been discussing it for five years. This year, it became national.

"Before 1989, Marshall fraternities were allowed to have kegs in their houses," said Andy Hermansdorfer, director of student activities and Greek affairs. "In 1989, the Interfra-ternity Council ruled house kegs were no longer allowed. When that happened, several Greeks quit. Everyone said the Greek social scene would die because we couldn't have kegs anymore. It's still alive today. There are other options."

The policy does state a lot of things sororities cannot do, but it does not state what they can do.

The sanction is being enforced by the Panhellenic Council, not Marshall. So, Marshall cannot penalize any sorority that does not abide by the ruling. Enforcement of the rule is strictly up to the National Panhellenic Council.

"I'm 21. I understand that they [Panhellenic Council] can take away the rights of a sorority, but I don't feel they should be able to take away my personal right of choosing where I drink," said Kim Cella, Winfield senior.

Katie McMenar, Buckhan-non sophomore, said, "They are taking away from our college experience. Now going Greek means losing options instead of gaining them. If you're in a sorority, they can tell you where to drink, and if you're not you can drink wherever you want."

Not only does the ruling take away options for Greek students, it makes it harder for them to have social events. Most local bars won't qualify as legal third party vendors, according to the National Panhellenic Council's rules.

Only places like the Civic Center, Holiday Inn and Radisson Hotel qualify, if fraternities and sororities can come up with the money to rent them every time they want to have a social gathering.

"Not only does it take away the fun of the socials, it makes it more difficult to have them," said Bethany McClave, York-town, Va., sophomore. "We have to find a place to have them and a licensed vendor to chaperone them."

When the Interfraternity Council discussed forcing all fraternities to go dry, it ended up leaving the decision to the individual fraternities. Most, if not all, fraternities at Marshall are not dry. That means that they are still permitted to have parties with alcohol at them, regardless if the sororities are allowed to attend.

So, how strictly will the new rule be enforced?

"It is not Marshall's job to enforce it," Hermansdorfer said. "We cannot punish any sorority caught breaking the rule. This is solely the job of the Panhellenic Council. We do, however, support them in what they are doing."

The Panhellenic Council has reasons for its ruling. They want to help the Interfraternity Council get all fraternities to adopt a substance-free living environment. This means that the houses would still be allowed alcohol, but only in the private living quarters of members 21 or older.

Sorority houses have always been completely substance-free. They say that, because they don't have parties like fraternities, their houses are nicer, cleaner and last longer.

Also, the Panhellenic Council feels that fraternities are getting away from their true goals.

They are trying to change the stereotype that all fraternity and sorority members do is drink and party. They want to improve the image that they are community service oriented, socially conscience young men and women.