"The 'Animal House' image of the 1970s is no longer tolerated. People are fed up."
So reads the general risk management policy of some national fraternities that are pressuring University chapters to completely eliminate alcohol from their houses.
At least six University fraternities' national headquarters are pushing for "dry" chapters, which means there can never be alcohol in the fraternity house -- no alcohol at parties, mixers or bedroom mini fridges. The fraternities include Phi Kappa Sigma, Delta Sigma Phi, Delta Upsilon, Theta Chi, Sigma Nu and Sigma Pi.
Phi Kappa Sigma's national offices instituted the alcohol-free policy July 1 and expect the University chapter to be dry now, while the University's Delta Sigma Phi chapter has until December to eliminate alcohol.
Theta Chi has until 2003 to go dry.
Delta Upsilon's and Sigma Nu's nationals have instituted certain criteria to allow them to have alcohol in their respective houses.
At Sigma Nu, the house grade point average has to remain above the average male University-wide GPA. Also, if more than 75 percent of fraternity houses at the University become dry, Sigma Nu must follow suit, said Sigma Nu President James McDonough.
DU President Stephen O'Connor and nationals of DU could not be reached for information on their policy.
Sigma Pi had pledged to eliminate alcohol from the house two years ago, but National Executive Director Justin Briscoe said after it was hotly debated at a recent convention, the fraternity decided not to go dry.
Sigma Pi President Richard Sedwick said that although they are not dry yet, "the nationals are heading us in that direction."
Asst. Dean of Students Aaron Laushway works closely with fraternities and their national offices.
"Many national organizations have decided that undergraduate fraternity life has veered away from their fundamental purposes with an overemphasis on social life," Laushway said.
For instance, Phi Kapp was founded upon the ideals of fellowship, leadership, academic achievement and the character development of individuals.
The national Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity resolved to have substance-free houses on July 1.
Phi Kapp President Austin Wilson could not be reached for comment.
"My sense is that requiring chapter houses to be alcohol free, as the sororities' general headquarters have, will return chapter houses to centers of brotherhood," Laushway said.
The national chapters of 14 of the University's 16 sorority chapters recently have adopted stricter policies regarding alcohol.
The Inter-Fraternity Council does not enforce individual houses' national policies.
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