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Issue date: 3/14/05 Section: features

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We have all been to the parties, enjoyed the drinks, mingled with the crowd, danced the night away, and at times dressed in a flashy get-up to
follow the theme of the infamous Vandy frat parties. For the avid Greek Row partier, changes may seem apparent as parties have changed this past year.

Freddy Ford, a senior in the College of Arts and Science, a member of the Inter Fraternity Council (IFC), and the president of Sigma Chi here at
Vanderbilt, was involved with much of the changes Greek Row groupies now notice. The alcohol policy for all fraternities had remained the same for quite some time, until recently. The fraternity headquarters, through a compilation of policies, required all fraternity houses to maintain a sober party patrol to keep things under control, a guest list, by checking
ID at the door to know who comes to the parties, and most important, to take responsibility for all the party goers.

At an IFC retreat, Ford and other presidents and offi cers of various fraternities, made the decision to change the alcohol policy, one of the
most dramatic changes ever made. Over the last few years, IFC had only made small changes to better enforce the alcohol policy. Now, the policy has been changed, adding to the old policy, to where no chapter can use pooled money, that is money from dues, collections, or money from any of the brothers, to purchase alcohol (liquor or beer) to serve their guests at the parties. Ford advocated this policy because if someone were to get intoxicated at a fraternity party, then that chapter would be at fault.

Ford says, "We'd rather have parties where a couple of people get mad at us, then have parties where it could potentially be dangerous to us and
others. This policy was passed as a matter of safety."

Now through IFC regulations, fraternity
parties must all be BYOB (bring your own beer), so
if people want beer they can provide their own,
thus the increase of BYOB notices on campus party
banners. "It will take time for people to accept and
understand," Ford adds.

The fraternities may or may not follow this new regulation, or may or may not like it, but the truth remains that the new alcohol policy is out
there, most importantly, to protect the students.

In another issue, Ford backs up the no hazing policy, which more or less has been unacceptable here at Vanderbilt. Ford, with the IFC, has invited speakers to come to campus to speak to the Greek community about hazing, to talk about why fraternities do this and why it does not make
sense to haze. Ford wants to cause awareness and inform the Greek community of its negativity.

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