Local bars affected by rules

This Thursday, as usual, I went out to Kirkwood to have some drinks with my friends. I went to several different bars, and it wasn\'t until I decided to leave that I noticed how crowded it was. Once I left, it took me a good 20 minutes just to get outside of the bar, and soon enough, I stumbled out to Kirkwood, only to be a part of the crowd that was still wanting to go out, but wasn't quite sure where to go. \nI wondered why there were so many perfectly content drunk college students just hanging out on Kirkwood, and not actually in the bars. Furthermore, why were there so many people at the bars? If my hazy memory serves me right, waiting in ridiculous lines and getting your drink spilled on you more than 10 times wasn't a part of the bar culture in Bloomington in years past. So why now?\nAnd then it hit me: In the past few years, the fraternity system has been hit hard. From alcohol violations to accidents, the crackdown on the fraternities has imposed stricter rules and affected party attendance. What used to be an all-out crazy fraternity party is still a wild event, but not if you include the hour you might spend in a shut-down. The jam-packed hallways might be full for a while, but once you get tired of throwing your plastic cup of beer in the black trash bags for fear of the Dean, it's more of an aggravation than a party. \nThese frat party hassles might be a major part of the increase in the number of people at the bars, but they are only a small part of the problem. The new trend in collegiate party life has a lot to do with the rules. After the fraternity-related accidents of the past, newer, stricter regulations were imposed on the greek system as a whole. The University could not ignore the fact that both Joseph Bisanz and Seth Korona died in connection with fraternity functions and consumption of alcohol; the rules got tougher and the punishments more severe. \nNonetheless, stricter rules and harsher punishments won't stop fraternity parties or make them safer -- there has to be another way. But does this problem have a solution? Is there any way to let us have our fun without endangering our lives?\nConsidering both sides of the argument, what we do need is increased alcohol awareness. The University should let up on the rules somewhat, but create a mandatory alcohol management class for all students. Keep an eye on the fraternity parties, but station a security guard at the back door. Let us have our fun, but within reason.\nGive the fraternities and the IU students another chance; we are willing to compromise. After all, if the frat parties go, then my fun nights out at the bars will be evenings of mass insanity, with ex-frat-partiers sitting on my stool. But until things change, I will continue to be throwing elbows and waving $20 bills at the bartender to get a drink. I can handle it, but can the fraternity system survive much longer? I sure hope so. It would be a shame to see it go.