Greek Alumni Council to change alcohol policy

Move meant to decrease liability Greek Alumni Council officials acknowledged shortcomings in the current alcohol policy and will meet tomorrow in a closed-door meeting to discuss possible changes. "We had thought that [bring your own beer] would accomplish that, [but] we're having problems with the implementation," GAC Chairperson Andrea Dobin said Sunday night. "What we're trying to do is to come up with a compromise that everyone can live with," Dobin added. GAC hopes a new policy would remove liability for alcohol-related injuries and underage drinking from fraternities and place it on the individuals who supply alcohol, she said. The current alcohol policy, originally drafted by the GAC and submitted to the University during the summer, is designed to reduce liability by enforcing the system's long-time BYOB policy. According to the policy, which has been in effect since the fall, party-goers have to be on guest lists, wear ID bracelets and bring their own beer. All parties also have to be registered with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. The policy may be changed so individual fraternity brothers would have their own guest lists and would be responsible for their guests' behavior and alcohol consumption. This would potentially take liability off fraternities and put it on the brothers of the houses. Interfraternity Council president and College junior Hayden Horowitz said he thinks the current policy will be revised to increase "risk management." "From the IFC's perspective, the alcohol policy is in place and we're just looking to make it so that the liability on us is decreased [and] parties are better managed," he said. "We don't want to see the social aspect of the fraternities affected in a detrimental manner," Horowitz added. The IFC is looking for other alternatives which will maintain the level of social interaction while decreasing liability, Horowitz said. For instance, the group is considering throwing a party of its own off campus for all fraternities. This would remove liability from both fraternities and students. "We're still checking out the options there," he said. "The alcohol policy is something that is going to gradually evolve," Horowitz said. "People have different stances on it." Horowitz said the biggest concerns for liability are providing alcohol to people under 21 and alcohol-related illness and injury. But, he cautions, the current policy has advantages of its own. "One of the positives that's come out of this policy in its present form is that the chapters are much more cautious, and are aware of the consequences of [a situation] getting out of control," he said. The current GAC alcohol policy is not an officially recognized University policy.