It is no secret that drinking is part of the college experience.
It has pretty much always been that way, but recently the culture has shifted. Pressure from the Moscow Police Department and the University of Idaho has increased. It is pretty well known that leadership –or whatever is left of it–in the university wants to crack down on underage drinking, especially within the Greek system.
And that last part is the real issue.
Yes Greeks drink–a lot. But you know who else loves to drink? About every other living group on virtually every campus in America.
My freshman year was spent in the dorms, social pledging a house. While at the dorms I learned that people who live there drink quite a bit but they are under the scrutiny of housing. Housing rules aren’t all that effective, and somehow allow violations that would result in police action in a Greek house, to be bargained down to virtually nothing.
The University Housing system follows a three-strike system, with the first two strikes essentially being slaps on the wrist and the third strike being somewhat serious. With all these strikes Moscow PD is never involved, except in the most serious cases when emergency help is needed. If housing personnel were to call the police on every alcohol violation, the police would be there all the time.
The first strike is a fine and an alcohol and substance abuse class, the second strike is a potential dorm room change as well as the class again — very relaxed compared to the risk of a legal citation faced by Greeks. The third strike is the most serious, with suspension and potential expulsion, but even that can be appealed and the police department is never involved.
Therein lies another problem. Housing residents get out of three potential citations from the police. I understand that UI has more jurisdictions over Housing as they are a UI entity, but then why are they so lenient with underage drinking? Is underage drinking different between the dorms and the Greek houses?
Greek houses aren’t some ruthless band of youth anarchists who love to get drunk and commit terrible acts and endanger others. Greeks are college students, just like many others. The difference is Greeks aren’t embarrassed by the college lifestyle.
What dictates if a Greek house can drink? Grades.
Most Fraternity Nationals only allow for houses to have alcohol if they are in good academic standing. Unlike University Housing, if a Greek house breaks their rules and continues to drink while receiving poor grades, they will suffer from it. And believe it or not, every house has at least some form of risk management, and that includes taking care of people who have drank way too much. They don’t just take care of fellow members, they take care of everyone who is in need.
Yes, sometimes someone will slip through the risk management watch, but is that risk management’s fault or the houses fault for that matter? They are trying to the best of their abilities to make sure people are safe, people who willingly chose to drink way past their limit.
If you do decide to drink, please be safe. Drink light at first, learn to know your limit. That way when you drink next, know when to stop. Always have a sober driver, always have someone you can trust to help you. Don’t fear Greek houses. When you do drink they are some of the safest places you can be, and if you are ever in need don’t be afraid to walk up to a host and ask for someone on risk management to help you. I guarantee my fellow Greeks out there will find someone to lend a helping hand.
Judd Sempel can be reached at [email protected]