IFC introduces 'bring your own beer' plan

To create safer and more responsible atmospheres at parties, the Interfraternity Council has spent more than a year creating the Social Responsibility Policy, which would allow houses to host bring-your-own-beer parties, said Justin Sloan, IFC president. With the policy, people 21 and older could bring six packs to parties, although hard liquor is prohibited.\n"I know chapters use and serve alcohol during their parties," Sloan said. "The IFC is no longer turning our heads."\nThough the policy is not finalized and awaits Dean of Students Dick McKaig's approval, members of the greek community have reacted favorably toward the possible allowance of BYOB parties.\n"With so many greek individuals \nbeing over 21, the best course of action is to admit alcohol into the houses and deal with it openly, rather than pretend it's not such a major issue," said David Weller, president of Phi Kappa Psi. "What the new policy would do is make individuals responsible for their actions, as well as the greek chapters."\nMcKaig said it's too early to speculate the feasibility of the policy, but live-in supervision will be needed for it to be implemented.\n"The real debate is if it will result in a more controlled atmosphere \nfor alcohol consumption," he said. "If so, it's a step forward."\nFor BYOB functions, authority figures such as off-duty police officers will check identifications of beer bearers, and the fraternities will be responsible for securing the alcohol in a designated area, Sloan said. Each fraternity will determine how the beer is claimed during the party, but a ticket system is one possibility. \n"It's a really good policy because it allows people to be safer when drinking and more accountable for their actions," said Annemarie Schreiber, the Panhellenic Association vice president of standards. "It takes the liability off of chapter \npresidents."\nSloan said the IFC is also considering having third-party vendors set up a cash bar. The vendor will be responsible for checking IDs and distributing bracelets, so all the liability will be on the vendor, not the fraternity. \nThe Social Responsibility Policy will also enable the IFC to monitor fraternity parties more closely. Sloan said the current policy has major downfalls because events cannot be monitored effectively. People inspecting the parties enter through the back door and must wait until the president arrives to show them inside. \n"This delay gives members a chance to take out trash, mop floors, hide alcohol and turn some lights on," Sloan said. "As soon as they leave, the party goes back to how it was."\nThe proposed policy would allow the Social Responsibility Committee to enter functions freely and write what they see. Fraternities hosting BYOB parties must follow specific guidelines, which include having a guest list, Sloan said. \n"Our main goal is not to \nallow more alcohol flowing," he said. "It's to make sure the social environment is a safer place for partygoers."\nWeller echoed Sloan's statement, saying the policy will help reduce underage and binge drinking, thus making greek functions safer and more enjoyable. He said these effects are already being seen at campuses that allow BYOB parties, including Purdue.\n"What has been observed is that monitoring the amount of alcohol and the people consuming it is more effective than trying to eliminate it completely," Weller said.\nHe also said most fraternities' national organizations support BYOB functions.\n"The new policy will help us comply with the rules that our chapters already believe to be the most effective," he said.\nFraternities whose national organizations do not support BYOB functions would not be allowed to participate in the program at IU unless they receive national approval, \nWeller said.\nCurrently, the IFC is training the most responsible fraternities for a test period, which would start next fall if approved by McKaig. If the trial run goes well, adequate adjustments will be made to the policy next year.\nA new policy will be created if it fails, Sloan said.\n"I have a lot of faith in it," he said. "We're taking the necessary steps to make it a \nsuccess"