The fraternity and sorority community was given the opportunity to demonstrate to the university that it could continue to govern itself and address the problem. Students found that the previous risk-management policy wasn’t meeting present-day issues. A student task force was developed to propose changes to the document. Before the start of the 2010-11 school year, chapter presidents gathered to vote on this piece of critical legislation. This was an opportunity for students to take the first steps toward leading change, living out their values, and establishing a model Greek community at Miami University.
Students on the task force were thrilled when their peers voted to pass the new risk-management policy. The changes to this policy were designed to reduce the risk associated with events containing alcohol. They were based upon best practices from other institutions and real-life experiences and recommendations of students serving on the Greek summer task force.
These changes also are intended to strike a balance between management of risk and the activities involved with fraternity and sorority life. The task force wanted to support organizations and their leaders in having safe, but fun events.
The policy reinforces other aspects of fraternity and sorority life, like academic success, brotherhood and sisterhood, and leadership. Students felt it was important to raise community standards by holding each other accountable for the ideals and values of the fraternity and sorority community as well as Miami University.
Many chapter officers believe the policy helps make their jobs easier, by providing a way to hold members accountable for their actions and others have found their chapter has formed stronger ties due to emphasis placed on brotherhood and sisterhood events.
Lauren Myers, outgoing president of Alpha Omicron Pi, said she found the policy helpful when her sorority held its formal last fall, with members taking an active role in policing possible alcohol use. “The new policies made my job as president less stressful. I had extra eyes at the event to help monitor.”
Education was another key component that was addressed. New members joined the fraternity and sorority community in mid-January and, several weeks later, Greek 101 was launched. This brand-new workshop took the place of previous educational programs. Students not only learned about sexual assault, alcohol, hazing and bystander behavior, but they also engaged with their peers in small group discussions.
As warm weather draws near, chapters are gearing up for another spring formal season. With dozens of successful “uptown” socials and two smoothly run out-of-town formals that took place earlier this year, students and staff are expecting safe and sunny events.
Larissa Spreng is a senior at Miami University and 2010-11 Panhellenic Association president. This is one of a series of monthly columns being coordinated by the Butler County Coalition for Healthy, Safe and Drug-Free Communities to call attention to alcohol and other drug issues facing county residents.