UW-Madison’s never-ending alcohol-related debate often finds the Greek System as a major player in the discourse. Sometimes criticized, sometimes praised, the generic labels “Greek” and “alcohol” are often lumped together.

It may be due to “Animal House”-related stereotypes or stories of Langdon Street bashes, but nonetheless, Greeks have long had a reputation for partying.

Tim Strassman, Langdon-area neighborhood police officer, said Greek student organizations were involved in campus problems for several years.

“Socially, there have always been some issues,” Strassman said.

Many students are aware of the image, and some do not view it as a significant problem.

“Part of the fraternity culture is partying,” Kappa Sigma house manager Allen Madsen, said. “It seems to be the culture that is passed down.”

This reputation, however, can overshadow other areas of Greek life. Vallie Brant, Chi Omega president, said sororities and fraternities are often not recognized for the ways they serve the community.

“What you hear about is the parties,” she said.

Sororities have always been alcohol-free, but last fall the nationwide sorority governing body made a decisive and gutsy move. The Panhellenic Association voted to end its involvement with fraternity events that include alcohol through a policy called Resolution 2000.

Although the end result is the same for all houses across the United States, Brant said specific alcohol policies differ among sororities. Each house follows the rules of either the Panhellenic Association or its national chapter — whichever is strictest.

Brant said her house has additional rules. For instance, the sorority cannot send chapter e-mails or put up posters endorsing an alcohol-related fraternity event. Endorsements of pre-parties within the house are also banned.

After more than a year of living with stricter alcohol restrictions, some say Greek life has been restructured. Others say a change is on the way. But frats still have parties, and sorority members still drink. A debate has begun, but no consensus has been met.

Repercussions of the rules

Initially, many sororities found Resolution 2000 unpopular, particularly because alcohol is a historically ingrained aspect of Greek culture.

“The climate had been the way it was for so long,” Dara Gniady, president of Kappa Alpha Theta, said.

Brant agreed, and said the new rules made it harder for sorority members to meet, since parties were a way of seeing each other on the weekends.

The policy has similarly affected fraternity members. Madsen said they are unable to interact with sorority members in the way they used to.

“There was a cohesiveness among the system before,” Madsen said.

A reason the policy was created — and why it has been accepted — is because the heightened regulations help increase safety and reduce liability for fraternities and sororities.

Since sororities cannot throw parties at fraternity houses, they are required to hold events at third-party vendor establishments. At such places, usually restaurants and bars, the houses have less liability because bouncers and bartenders check IDs.

“It takes things out of our hands a little bit more,” Gniady said. “It adds a whole new dimension to safety.”

Former president of Gamma Ohi Beta Gina Vosseller said holding an event at a third-party vendor may actually decrease the amount of alcohol people drink. She said underage members are more worried about getting caught than they would be at a fraternity or house party.

“Inhibitions are higher,” she said. “That makes it more difficult to drink.”

The pressure to drink socially does not decrease with the scene change from frat house to bar. The majority of students living in most sorority houses are underage, meaning they need false identification to go to the bars, whereas fake IDs are not necessary at a house party.

Strassman said the increased cost of drinks at bars could also contribute to lower alcohol consumption.

Although he fundamentally supports the increased alcohol regulations, Captain Dale Burke of University Police does not see third-party events as a positive alternative to fraternity parties. He said barhopping has its faults.

“If people become incapacitated, they’ve only moved from one location to another,” he said. “The problems that occur from alcohol abuse still remain.”

While it may not be the perfect solution, many members of the Greek system plan to continue using third-party vendors, and hope bars and restaurants are willing to cooperate with them.

Long live the house party

While fraternities are utilizing the option of third-party vendors, Strassman said they have not abandoned their previous party agenda.

“This doesn’t mean they don’t have parties occasionally,” he said.

However, Strassman said the number of fraternity parties has decreased in the past year, prompting some to question whether fraternities will soon adopt policies similar to those of sororities.

Currently, all but two fraternities on campus allow members to possess and serve alcohol.

The notion of fraternities going dry may be inevitable, Mirecki said, due to increasing insurance rates and lawsuits.

Some Greeks believe the change will come, but few favor a complete dry up.

“It’s not in our best interest to go dry,” Madsen said. “It’s hard to sell a [dry] frat to pledges.”

Mike Weiss, chapter secretary of Theta Chi, one of UW’s alcohol-free fraternities, said going dry could attract a new population of students to Greek life.

“We find that a lot of members who end up joining our fraternity are people who didn’t want to join fraternities,” he said. “They thought all we were based on was alcohol.”

Mirecki said that although alcohol has traditionally been a part of fraternity life, it has never been the focus.

“Alcohol is not something that is a requisite of our community,” he said. PULL QUOTE?

Decreasing the emphasis a house places on alcohol may be a way to combat stereotypes about fraternities, Strassman said. He said he has noticed some fraternities putting less focus on drinking in their houses.

Weiss said that because his house is alcohol-free, he is able to focus on the ideals of the fraternity, such as brotherhood, leadership, academics and community service.

Many sororities have expressed similar experiences following their alcohol policy changes. Brant said her sorority has increased its focus on philanthropy.

“During rush, instead of emphasizing parties, we emphasize what we do,” she said

Alcohol outreach: getting the campus involved

While changes in houses’ alcohol policies may affect the drinking habits within the Greek community, it is uncertain whether the changes have affected overall drinking on campus.

“People are still going out,” Vosseller said.

Brant agreed that members still drink, but said that they often go to bars or friends’ apartments instead of fraternity houses.

“Before we went dry, there were still other ways to go out besides the Greek system,” she said.

Strassman said that while it may be too early to know the effects of the sororities’ policy changes, more events have taken place off of Langdon Street.

“Social Greeks don’t avoid alcohol,” he said. “But, obviously, in student life in general, alcohol is a factor.”

Many people believe fraternities and sororities have been unfairly singled out in alcohol-related issues.

“The Greek system is a very easy target,” Vossellar said. “But everywhere you find these problems.”

People may also unfairly look to fraternities and sororities to fix UW’s alcohol issues.

“The Greek system has a lot of pressure to do something about it,” Brant said. “We can’t do everything.”

“Progress to be made”

Most people agree that if the Greek community has made improvements in its drinking habits, and that additional changes must come from students.

“Students have to be involved in the changes in order for them to be meaningful and successful,” Captain Burke said. “Students are smart. They know how to do these things. They just have to want to do them.”

Sorority and fraternity members have already come up with ideas on how to improve the drinking environment on campus.

Vosseller said the focus should not be on abstaining from drinking, but rather on drinking safely and planning before going out.

Strassman said he has already noticed changes.

“In the last five years, there has been a continuing improvement in the social environment,” he said. “Greek organizations are becoming more responsible and more organized.”
Sororities and fraternities must continue their work in changing alcohol issues and stereotypes, Mirecki said.
“With any change like this, there’s progress to be made,” he said. “It’s just going to get better with each weekend and each successful event.”