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Chideltjen,
Sorry, but I'm gonna have to side with the Greek Advisor on this one. If this party falls within the time-period of the established dry rush period, then it WOULD BE ILLEGAL for any IFC or Panhel member to attend.
The term "dry rush" means so much more than just not allowing alcohol at the houses and during scheduled recruitment events. "Dry Rush" means that in no instance, circumstance or occasion will an initiated member of a fraternity or sorority be allowed to be in the same room with ANY non-member where alcohol will be present and/or consumed, regardless if that person has signed up for rush or not...EVERYONE is a potential new member. So, using that guideline and logic, then yes it is technically illegal for a fraternity or sorority member to be a restaruant or bar drinking at the same time PNM's are present...ESPECIALLY if that restaruant or bar is the site of an officially sponsored or hosted function/event by a GLO. Regardless if your organization is a part of IFC, Panhel or not - you are a GLO and therefore the perception will be that you are the same as the IFC and Panhel groups. And PERCEPTION is the key to many cases regarding liability and association with a specific organization.
Let me give you a scenario of what happend here at my campus a few years ago. It was during formal dry rush and after a round of house visits, several chapter members went out to eat at the local Mexican place. They had a few beers with dinner. While they were sitting there eating, drinking and relaxing, several Rushees came into the place. The Rushees said hello to the chapter members because they recognized them from the house tours, and sat down at a table near the chapter members. Across the restaruant was a sorority member whose boyfriend was in a rival fraternity. She reported to the Greek Advisor that she witnessed the chapter members drinking with Rushees, despite the fact that the chapter members and rushees were not "together". The GA slapped a rush infraction on the chapter due to violation of the dry rush rule. So you can see it doesn't matter what the circumstances are...members and non-members CANNOT be around alcohol NO MATTER WHAT during the dry rush period.
Sorry to say it, but it sounds like your party will be a flop. IFC and Panhel members are NOT going to run the risk of being charged with rush infractions simply to attend your party. Chalk it up to bad scheduling and ignorance of the rules. I would suggest trying to postpone the party until AFTER formal rush is over and the dry period ends. For example, if the published time that rush ends is 7:00 p.m. on Sept. 27, then make your party a "7:01" party!
Good luck with it!
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