[dekeguy]

Back in the day when I was active this sort of issue just didn't come up. We generally had both open and closed parties. Open parties were seen as a means of looking over possible recruits and also a way to party with friends who were either GDI or in other houses. Girls were always welcome but almost always came with a date. Closed parties were members and date only but this was viewed in general as a "family party".

Risk management was primarily handled by hiring a couple of off-duty cops and by designating three or four of the biggest jocks to be ready to back up the cops, although this was rarely needed.

Multi-house parties were common where we would throw a band dance with a sorority at some hall that was neutral territory. If it was a more well known band we would team up with two or three other houses, hire additional cops, and charge admission.

On the couple of occasions where guys would get into a fight one of the cops would 'get their attention' and tell them to take it back to the gym or be hauled off to the precinct house. By the time those who accepted the invitation to take it back to the gym got there they couldn't remember what the fight was about. System worked every time.

Most open parties were either BYOB or 'feed the kitty' which generally eliminated the freeloaders. Anyway, we generally had local live band parties about once a week and dee-jay parties (usually the dee-jay was a member) once a week. Band parties were either Friday or Saturday night, dee-jays were usually Wednesday nights, and Sunday afternoons were bbq cook outs paired up with something like volleyball or softball.

During football season parties tended to be closed due to the large numbers of alums and their wives or girlfriends. Also, if the opposing school had a chapter then we would host the brothers, their dates, and alums.

All in all, there were plenty of open events and a good number of closed ones as well. No one seemed to have any heartburn over that arrangement.