Not that it matters much, as I'm not even part of an NPC group, but here's my 2 cents anyways...
I totally understand the reasoning
behind the initiative. Even more, I understand the
desired results.
I think the problem lies within some of the means of getting there (Do the ends
always justify the means?). Saying that all NPC sororities are going dry is one thing: meaning that they don't throw parties with alcohol or have alcohol in the house. (Although, as I've stated before, I think that adults should be treated as such, and this doesn't do that). If the sororites decided on this, then that's what they decided. Several fraternities have "gone dry" or are working on it by a specific deadline anyways.
Not being allowed to
attend a party, however, is ridiculous. I could
almost see if the initiative prevented the sorority going, as a unified group, to parties. But I agree with 33.. what happens when my friend and I show up at XYZ's fraternity party, where there happens to be alcohol, and find that 2 of our sisters are already there. Do you think anyone's going to be like:
"ok everyone.. PUT DOWN YOUR DRINKS.. there are now 4 sisters of ABC sorority here, and there will be no more alcohol at this party AS OF NOW".
And then everyone will just
stop drinking?

Uh huh.
I don't know if you could legally say this violates your civil rights, but it theoretically sounds like it violates my (anyone's) civil rights to me.
I would (and did) join a dry GLO. That wasn't even an issue for me. But if they would have informed me that I couldn't be present at ANYONE ELSE'S parties where alchohol was served, even when I am OF LEGAL DRINKING AGE, I would think twice. What does that say about the leaders' (nationally and locally) opinions of us as undergraduate members? What if it's just a couple of my friends and I getting together for dinner + we each have a drink or 2? And we're also sisters or brothers?
The other aspect that concerns me is that fraternities + sororities
can have parties w/ alcohol through "3rd party vendors".. my understanding is that, basically, they can have events + parties at bars or other locations that serve alcohol. While the idea of Greeks being portrayed as "dry" this is all fine + good, it seems to me that this wasn't thought through a whole lot. At least not from many perspectives. My little school didn't have housing to begin with. The social GLOs were all locals. Almost
all of their parties were held off-campus. The number of students who went to these events were few. Who wants to get all the way downtown (or wherever the event is at) + then have to find a
safe way to get home (especially if they've been drinking)? I never would.. I would rather stay close enough to campus that I felt safe walking. You can talk about designated drivers + such, but we all know that plans can change, + it might not be your fault. But things
do happen. The whole 3rd party idea, to me, seems to encourage off-campus drinking, which has obvious (+ not-so-obvious) negative sides.
I respect the fact that NPC wants to see changes... this is a good thing. But not at the expense of trust and respect with your members. What I've noticed with "zero tolerance" type policies is that they are initiated by a governing body because things have gotten out of hand.. and things wouldn't have gotten out of hand if they would have been dealt with properly in the 1st place.
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SilverTurtle@greekchat.com
Phi Beta Fraternity
Phi chapter
[This message has been edited by SilverTurtle (edited May 02, 2000).]