[BigRedBeta]

Would agree with the risk reduction - that was probably the very first thing my pledge class learned because another chapter had a party the previous week where a bunch of their guys got MIP'ed. I don't think we ever covered it as well, or as early the rest of the time I was in the chapter. Certainly, before the first party you can cover things like staying inside, don't take alcohol into the DD's cars, don't go outside to smoke, look after your brothers, what to do if the cops come, etc. A lot of it's going to be campus specific based on how the cops normally treat college parties, and what sort of specific issues have been a problem in the past for your chapter.

I also think that the requirements within a pledge program can go a long way to imparting the values a chapter has. My chapter required a certain number of community service hours, minimum numbers of intramurals, certain requirements at house events, involvement in at least 2 on campus organizations, and a pledge semester GPA higher than our General Fraternity requirements or most of our rival chapters in order to initiate. That sets it out from the beginning that we expect new members to be complete college students doing well academically while also getting their name out on campus and doing good things in the community.