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Clemson University has become the latest university to overhaul their Greek life rules and regulations in response to the tragic hazing and alcohol-related deaths that have occurred over the last few years.
According to reports, Clemson University Greek life officials cracked down on fraternity rules last semester (Spring 2018) to reduce the risk of “unsafe” behavior at frat houses.
Among the new rules, fraternity brothers are only allowed to invite three guests to parties, hard liquor has been banned at events, and student IDs are scanned at the door to monitor who’s attending.
The decision comes as universities around the nation attempt to combat increased reports of deaths or injuries at fraternity events and parties.
via Greenville News:
“We had to change our culture. Our Greek community just had a tragedy strike with the loss of a new member at another Greek organization, and after that we knew things had to change,” said Evans Few, a senior and Kappa Alpha Order president. “Since I’ve been initiated, we’ve been making these changes, but last semester we had another incident, another eye-opener.”
Fraternities across the country are enforcing similar safety rules. Other fraternities not interested in changing their rules have severed ties with their respective universities and are operating independently. As a result of the Interfraternity Council decision, students say Clemson fraternity parties now have a mostly Greek attendance because getting an invite can be tough.
Since last spring, two violations have been filed against fraternities: one this fall for alcohol-related disorderly conduct, and another last spring for alcohol offenses. That compares with an average of four violations filed each semester since spring 2013.
Clemson’s Greek life community accounts for 23% of the student population.
This is the latest major fraternity or sorority overhaul in the last year, as schools such as Indiana University, the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, Texas State, Florida State, Ball State, Louisiana State and Penn State have all suspended fraternities in the wake of hazing and alcohol deaths.
These reports come amidst similar allegations that have been made against fraternities nationwide, including Sigma Alpha Epsilon at East Carolina University, who was shut down for hazing and the Lambda Chi Alpha chapter at the University of Arkansas which has been accused of taking sexually explicit photographs of women without their permission.
In response to incidents like these, fraternities such Phi Kappa Psi have made numerous changes to their code of conduct in an effort to address the issues that have arisen. In addition, schools such as Texas State, West Virginia University, and Penn State University have introduced new Greek Life rules to try and prevent these problems.
