Rutgers Bans Fraternity, Sorority Parties for Remainder of Semester

Rutgers University is banning all fraternity and sorority parties for the remaining three weeks of the semester.

The university said in a statement the decision came "in light of a number of alcohol-related incidents this year involving Greek organizations." 

The 86 recognized fraternities and sororities are still allowed to host formals and other events where a licensed third-party vendor is used to serve alcohol, the university said, but they won't be allowed to host parties in their houses. 

The presidents of the fraternities and sororities learned about the decision during a meeting with university officials in New Brunswick, NJ Advance Media reported.

Most of them seemed to be on board with the ban because they wanted to avoid risking further negative publicity that's surrounded Greek organizations on campus and across the country this year.

"We haven't run the parties nearly as well as we should, so I can understand that," said senior Jacob Dominy, a fraternity member.

Freshman Darek Rola said "there have been many cases of poor decisions made."

Sophomore Caitlyn Kovacs died of alcohol poisoning last fall after attending a fraternity house party. Last month, the Rutgers chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon was shut down because of an underage drinking incident. 

The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs "will use this time to continue and reinforce its dialogue with the leadership of the university's 86 recognized fraternities and sororities about greek life at Rutgers and their responsibilities to the campus community at large," the university said in the statement. 

But freshman Sristi Rai said the conversation could still happen without the extreme measure of shutting down house parties.  

"I don't think it's necessary," said Rai. "I think the issue is more of educating students not just about Greek life but about how to be more responsible." 

Rola said there are other aspects to Greek life that he plans to enjoy the rest of the semester.

"We still have our community serve, we still have intramurals. We still have everything else," he said. 

-- Brynn Gingras contributed to this report. 

Contact Us