I don't doubt that this culture can change. But...I doubt that Greeks could ever change it and I think Greeks should consider whether they want to hold onto these high risk chapters. Once the university addresses its own issues and the campus is safe, then we should be there. Yes there are always exceptions, but to me these schools are hurting us too much.
-Rudey
Quote:
Originally posted by TSteven
At the University of Kentucky, it use to be that the consumption of alcohol was "ok" pretty much anywhere on campus. It was ok to drink in your dorm room or in the fraternity or sorority houses. Heck, depending on the situation, it was ok to drink on other parts of campus. For example, wine receptions for an art opening to a keg being brought in at the end of a class. (This really happened.) It was the *culture* of the campus at the time.
Fast forward.
After some alcohol related deaths, (not limited to the Greek community or to the UK campus) the University administration cracked down. UK became one of the first dry campuses in the nation. This applied to all University owned property. And property for any organization recognized by the University. Which meant all the Greek houses on and off campus.
So what happened?
My understanding is that initially, the GLOs - mainly the fraternities - had a hard time with conforming to the "dry only" policy. But after repeated University and various Inter/National GLO crackdowns - and graduating of the chapters' "old school" members - the *culture* changed.
And while I am sure that negative issues and situations may continue to arise with respect to alcohol, the "dry only" policy is now the *culture* of the campus.
I would like to add that this does not mean that the UK Greek community - or UK students in general - do not know how to party or have a good time. Just the opposite may be said. They still party and have a good time, but for the most part do so responsibly. The *culture* is that all events that involve alcohol must use a third party vendor. So risk management issues that are often associated with alcohol is kept at a minimum. If there is an issue, the individual - or group if applicable - is usually dealt with swiftly and fairly.
As such, Greek life is doing well. So well that the Greek system has grown from 17 fraternity chapters to 22 within the past ten years. So well that the University is working with chapters in developing the Greek Park. So well that the University is helping to build excellent new houses in prime real estate areas of Lexington for the Greek community.
So it is possible for the *culture* of drinking on a campus to change. And for the better.
edited for grammar and spelling
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