Thursday night, the Interfraternity Council will hold its third "Party Done Right" at the Sigma Nu fraternity house.
The party is designed to show the men (and women) of Auburn's Greek community how to throw a party that adheres to all of IFC's social event standards.
Fraternity and sorority presidents and their dates will party the night away while observing standards they surely follow each week already.
These include, but are not limited to, checking IDs of every attendee and placing wristbands on those who are of legal drinking age.
For those who choose to indulge in alcoholic beverages, they must "check" their beer (only six drinks are allowed per guest), and they are then given tickets that correspond to the number of drinks they have brought in.
When they want a drink, they bring a ticket to the "drink master," and he doles it out. After six, they're done.
IFC must show University officials in attendance that they are attempting to hold their fraternities to standards aimed at avoiding unlawful and unbecoming behavior at its members' parties.
However, the ideal that "Party Done Right" will advocate is nothing short of a ridiculous stage show.
If IFC was serious about its members adhering to its cut-and-dry standards, it would spend more time policing those standards at real parties than spending IFC funds on a public relations event to impress University officials.
Should these officials actually care to see what the standards of etiquette are at an Auburn fraternity party, they should wait a night and attend one of the many parties that will be raging on Old or New Row Friday.
The "play" they will be shown Thursday night is far from the reality of an Auburn fraternity party that embraces underage drinking and would scoff at the idea of "checking" six beverages.
This is not to put forth some higher moral standard about underage drinking at parties.
It is obvious that the purpose of a fraternity party is not to adhere to IFC's standards, but to provide a memorable night for its brothers, their dates and any other guests.
Fraternity parties are fun.
Parties would not be as fun if fraternities adhered to IFC's standards.
And IFC knows this. This is why the "Party Done Right" doesn't seem right at all. If IFC was serious about holding its members to standards, it would police the real parties instead of creating a fake one for the sake of its image.
What is right or wrong is not the issue, but if IFC is going to say it stands for what it believes is right, it should take that stand in practice, not by preaching it to deaf ears at "Party Done Right."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
