AUBURN, Ala. (EETV)- Auburn’s Interfraternity Council has recently announced that they will be putting a hard liquor ban into effect beginning on May 5, 2018, as voted for by the Committee of Presidents. This process has been under discussion within the IFC executive committee, the Council of Presidents, the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Student Conduct since the IFC executive committee attended the Southeastern Interfraternity Conference in Atlanta this past February.
“We have worked tirelessly over the past couple months to create a solution that will make Auburn’s Greek Community safer and healthier,” said Gavin McGettigan, Auburn’s IFC president, “We also recognize this might seem like another harsh rule to follow, but it is our hope that we have exemplified self-governance in the truest form.”
These steps are following in the footsteps of similar initiatives set out by other universities that have faced tragedies due to alcohol related incidents. Due to several hospital transports and an increase in fraternity risk management violations because of overconsumption of liquor on Auburn’s campus, IFC has deemed that change is necessary in order for Greek life to continue safely.
This solution is in efforts to protect Auburn’s Greek community headed into the future. This ban has not been put into effect for the rest of the semester’s well-run fraternity events that include third-party vendors, but will, however, not allow third-party vendors at parties in the future.
According to the ban, if a fraternity were to be found responsible for having liquor at their house or at a chapter event, they could be put on immediate cease and desist. The issue would then go through the normal court process that IFC already has established.
“As a fraternity president, one of the large responsibilities we took in our role is to help facilitate a safe environment for our brothers, as well as guests as different social events,” said Matthew Campbell, president of Auburn’s chapter of Pi Kappa Phi.
Although Auburn has not made any headlines, several other schools in the Southeast region and throughout the country have had their Greek life put on hold or eliminated entirely because of incidents relating to overconsumption of alcohol.
This new rule falls right in with the goals presented by IFC’s Executive Directive that was released in fall of 2017. Many of the points presented by the new liquor ban are already included in IFC policy and Auburn’s chapter regulations, but McGettigan explained that this official ban is in efforts to prevent confusion anyone may have on the expectations of liquor at Auburn’s fraternity events.
