Fraternity learns about minimizing risks

In coordination with their national organization's Risk Management Week, the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity held a risk management seminar last Sunday to educate the Greek system about potential legal risks during parties. About a dozen people representing four fraternities attended the seminar, which consisted of a short film entitled This Is My House and a discussion session with Ron Jasner, claims supervisor for the office of risk management. The film was hosted by a "typical" fraternity president who spoke about attitudes, policies and risks. "There are certain things we have to do so we're not liable, so we don't get into trouble, so no one gets hurt," the president said in the movie. "And it's not just the policies that need to be worked on, it's the attitude [of the brothers]." The movie became especially relevant to the students in attendance when the president started talking about adhering to his university's alcohol policy. The Greek Advisor's Council recently proposed a new Alcohol Management Policy to the University, which, if approved, would impose severe restrictions on fraternity parties. The president in the movie said he would like to "forget the 21-year-old drinking age [and] forget the national alcohol policy," but he said he knew this was not possible. "We card at every party we do," he said. "[But] I know we don't card ourselves, and the guy at the door doesn't card anyone he knows, and we only invite people we know." Phi Sigma Kappa President Hayden Horowitz said that liability is the key factor which connects the risk management seminar to the proposed new alcohol policy. "The risk management seminar talked a lot about liability and about how if there's an incident, whoever suffers the personal injury is going to look for . . . 'deep pockets,' " the College sophomore said. "Basically the Greek Advisor's Council is looking to eliminate fraternities from all liability by an extremely, extremely strict policy." Jasner's presentation focused on insurance policies, liability laws and how fraternities can practice risk management. Jasner said that pre-event planning is the key for fraternities to protect themselves from unnecessary risks. "All activities have some level of risk, and you're not going to be able to avoid all risks," he said. "When you do things spontaneously [without pre-event planning], you tend to forget elements like how to keep people from getting hurt." "It is not the consumption of alcohol itself that caused governments and universities and insurance carriers and nationals to impose these restrictions on the usage," he added. "It's the behavior that accompanies it." Horowitz said he was pleased with the seminar despite the small turnout. He added that he hopes that more fraternities will become knowledgeable about the risks involved with having parties.