We’ve got it handled

IU’s campus is infamous for binge drinking, but it doesn’t have to be.

On Oct. 22, the heads of IU’s 33 fraternities gathered under the guidance of IU’s Interfraternity Council to decide the future of the greek system — one of the most active, influential and controversial segments of our campus.

Enough fraternity presidents voted to approve IFC’s new hard liquor policy, limiting the amount of hard liquor to 12 handles at parties and banning liquor altogether after midnight.

The Editorial Board — which is composed of both greek and non-greek students — believes this is progress toward changing a culture whose relationship with binge drinking has become so ingrained that it’s an integral part of many chapters.

What’s even more significant is that the initiative came from students, namely the IFC, and not the University, whose rules are so often only paid lip service or ignored by the greek community.

Instead of spreading “awareness,” IFC has stepped up and drawn a line in the sand with cold, hard policy.

There are those who say the initiative isn’t realistic.

That it won’t work primarily because IU’s previous attempts to curb the drinking culture have largely failed.

But an imperfect policy, especially one implemented by the students themselves, is better than no policy at all.

This initiative isn’t designed to kill the fun or prevent people from getting drunk.

If members wish to continue binge drinking, no one will stop them from doing so at live outs, bars or private residences.

But the policy is an important beginning for student-led efforts to address IU’s drinking problem.

It prompts a cultural shift in fraternities and our campus at large.

Rather than being cradles for deadly drinking habits, fraternities will — if the initiative is executed correctly — sideline this behavior so that in years to come it is the exception, not the rule.

The new policy isn’t perfect. Plenty of room exists for more pregaming and drinking inside bedrooms during a party, which could pose significant risks to women and those drinking alone.

This is where chapters themselves will be critical in stepping up and having serious conversations with their members.

Really, so much of the responsibility to move student life forward will fall on the shoulders of individuals.

More than ever the difference between frats and fraternities on our campus will be made clear with this new initiative.

In the end, a battle between those who actively try to undermine a much-needed change and those willing to put the safety and well-being of their brothers and sisters first will determine the future of IU’s greek system.

So far, the side for change is winning.

Greek leaders have stepped up. Now it’s time for everyone else to do the same.

­— opinion@idsnews.com
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