IFC responds to death

In the midst of transitioning into their new duties as Interfraternity Council executive officers, new executives were already dealing with an incident that had not happened in a IU greek house for years.

It was a Friday afternoon when sophomore Brian Macken was discovered unconscious at Phi Sigma Kappa, and by that evening, all chapter presidents, both of fraternities and sororities, voted to cancel all social parties and activities until further notice.

IFC President and junior Matt Edwards said he had nothing to do with it.

“It was unanimous,” he said. “We came to (the chapters) and said, ‘Here’s a serious issue, how do you guys want to deal with it?’”

And what followed, he said, was a week of grieving, reflecting, bonding and revising.

“We teach each of our members to assume a role of care and to look out for instances like these,” Edwards said.

During this time, the sororities and fraternities reviewed and revised their risk management plans.

Edwards and other executives met with chapters individually to evaluate the
new changes.

There was no formal end of the moratorium on partying. Edwards said chapters were permitted to schedule social events on a case-by-case basis after they had met with their respective IFC or Panhellenic Association executives.

“We preach one thing as IFC,” Edwards said. “But each chapter had their own ideas. It’s more universal.”

While Phi Sigma Kappa awaits its fate to be determined by an ethics board review,
Edwards said he is trying to be an adviser of sorts but is not pointing fingers.
Edwards said the administration, from the greek adviser to the deans and vice presidents of the University, has been supportive.

“We decided all this on our own,” he said. “I think that showed them that we are who we say we are. We can deal with these things and work with the University.”

Though things are slowly returning to normal, Edwards said there is a renewed sense of responsibility and awareness between chapters.

On a personal level, the new president said his job has gotten easier, but it’s coupled with a sense of seriousness that will last throughout the term.

Saturday’s memorial service, three weeks after Macken was found unconscious, served as another reminder.

“It’s a somber sense of reality,” Edwards said. “Something like this makes everyone want to work harder.”