The administration banned alcohol at Greek events, official and unofficial, because they were not sure that the Greek community could responsibly handle the privilege of throwing wet parties. While the jury is still out on whether or not this was a good move in terms of student safety, it certainly was a major blow to social life here.
Like it or not, fraternity parties are a staple of campus life. Though Greeks constitute a minority of students, many non-Greeks take advantage of parties and events on the Row. With their large houses, fraternities are in a nearly unique position to throw large parties that bring hundreds, if not thousands, of students together.
Part of the reason this is the case stems from economies of scale. A DJ and sound system cost the same whether 20 people or 200 people show up, meaning that the more people come, the lower the cost is per person. Furthermore, fraternities have the man-power to plan and execute large events; other groups generally don’t.
Fortunately, there is a student organization on campus that has the human and financial resources to keep the party scene lively: Student Union. Over the next two months, SU proper (not the various student groups they fund) has the opportunity to fill the social gap Greek Life made by essentially shutting down fraternity parties.
SU already has experience hosting large events, even those with alcohol. Happy Hour brings hundreds of students together every Thursday. Bauhaus is the largest wet party remaining on campus and a venerable tradition. There’s also Vertigo. And current seniors might remember attending a great party known as “Heaven and Hell” as prospective freshmen, in which Mallinckrodt was transformed into a two-level nightclub (the next year, it was a bust).
Ultimately, what makes a good party is turnout, and with the social scene now excluding fraternity parties, SU has a chance to make a comeback as a serious organizer of University social life. SU has many advantages that suggest they can upstage Greek life: they are more trusted by the administration; they have more financial resources; their parties won’t suffer from the stigma often attached (rightfully or wrongfully) to fraternity parties that keeps some students off the Row.
By stepping up and planning alternate parties that rival fraternity parties in scope, SU can keep the party scene on campus, where students are safer. Doing so would also help break the Greek minority’s virtual monopoly on parties, giving students more choice in their social life.
As far as Greek organizations go, they will benefit for just that reason; Director of Greek Life Karin Johnes said that one of her problems with Greeks is their seeming need to provide social programming for the whole campus. Remedying this problem can only help Greeks’ chance to retire the alcohol ban in December.