Earlier this week, The Plainsman shared an article regarding the Auburn Interfraternity Council of Presidents vote to ban hard-liquor at fraternity-sponsored events held on chapter property. This includes date parties, band parties, rush events and big brother nights.
The move is consistent with the direction the IFC has elected to move in recent years with regards to safety. The move is also a giant farce.
In the article, the ban was described as self-imposed. This is technically true because the presidents voted on it. However, this vote was almost certainly just ceremonial.
Most likely, this “self-imposed” ban was “self-imposed” because those voting on it were told that they can either make this choice themselves or the administrators involved with the IFC would make it so.
This is largely conjecture, but it is conjecture based on a description of these votes from people with intimate knowledge of the process.
The claim is that the decision was made on the basis of an increase in IFC Judicial Court cases and transports to the hospital from fraternity events.
I cannot speak to the issue of hospital trips, but I have a deep suspicion that the increase is fictitious. However, I completely believe the increase in IFC court cases, but only because of the draconian rules that a fraternity must follow in order to have a social event.
Ask the risk manager of any fraternity on campus, and he’ll show you a checklist of party requirements the length of your arm in size 12 font.
The fun has been sucked out of the experience.
The experience is now jumping through the series of hoops set up by IFC and those set up by the fraternity’s national organization, which are often contradictory.
At this point, you may be thinking, “What’s your point, guy? All you’ve done so far is complain.” Well, let me tell you, friend. My point is that, whether it is intentional or unwitting, the IFC is making conditions such that fraternities at Auburn cannot continue to thrive or even survive.
In their quest to cover themselves, IFC is ending its need to exist. By continuing to impose over-the-top rules intended to curb drinking at fraternities, the IFC is going to curb the number of men who pledge.
People will not continue to pay for the fraternity experience if that experience is a series of rules, red tape and extreme punishment for minor rules infractions. Membership will steadily decline, the money will dry up and the fraternity houses around campus will become empty monuments to a once thriving Auburn Greek Life.
I’m not opposed to safety, and I recognize the need for some rules to be in place to protect both the fraternities and the University from liability. But we’ve long since passed the point of liability protection. We’re now approaching the point of padding the walls, mandating helmets and suggesting people wear life vests around “just in case.”
IFC, if you want Auburn fraternities to exist in 15 years, chill out. Let the grown men in these fraternities make their own decisions and manage their own risk. Let the fraternity experience be fun again.
The views expressed in columns and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Auburn Plainsman.
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