Elizabeth Erwin
News Editor
eerwin1@murraystate.edu
After the Murray State Greek life social suspension was lifted on Aug. 24, The News compared the updated social event policy with the 2017-2018 policy.
The policy was reviewed over the summer by a designated Greek life social policy committee after Greek life was put on a social suspension on May 9.
Vice President of Student Affairs Don Robertson said the policy review is not unique to Murray State but rather part of a nationwide trend to make the “safest environment possible” for students.
“We, like many other schools, felt like it was time to step back and put a pause on things, take a thorough look at our policies and see if there were changes that needed to occur, how do we enhance enforcement and decide what needed to be done,” Robertson said.
The following are changes to the policy, which were not previously discussed, during a press conference held by Robertson and committee co-chairs Kathy Callahan, chair of the department of history and Tim Todd, dean of the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business on Aug. 24.
During the conference, the addition of a software system for check-in and check-out procedures at social events was described as a new change to be implemented in the 2018-2019 school year.
The updated policy stated the Office of Greek Life and Office of Student Life would be responsible for purchasing the software program. However, upon further inspection of the 2017-2018 Greek life social policy, it was discovered that a similar software was mentioned in the old policy.
According to the 2017 policy under Guidelines for Social Events, “The Office of Greek Life and Division of Student
of Student life shall purchase a software program for use of check-in and check out procedures.”
Multiple sources have confirmed that the software was never purchased or implemented by the Office of Greek Life and Division of Student Life last year.
According to the updated policy, the cost of the software will be covered by a “Greek Fee” of $10 per semester that will have to be paid by every member of each organization.
“We are not really investing [financially in the new system],” Robertson said. “This $10 fee that is going to go toward the software and any other speakers, if that is not enough [the University] will certainly supplement that.”
With a new Greek social event calendar being implemented, each organization can schedule up to six social events per semester. However, organizations will be unable to schedule their social events for consecutive weekends.
The maximum number of attendees will now be limited to the total chapter size multiplied by two. The 2017 calculation for attendees was the total chapter size multiplied by three.
All social events will be limited to members of the Greek community, with the exception of a guest list that will include the names of up to 15 non-Greek Murray State students. This is a notable change from the previous policy that allowed any University student regardless of Greek-affiliation, to be on the guest list and attend these events.
“There have been problems in the past,” Robertson said. Particularly there has been [problems] from non-Greek members, but also this should be activities for Greeks. That’s one reason you join a Greek organization.”
Going along with attendees, the previous policy allowed for ten people not on the guest list to be added at the door of the event. The updated policy no longer permits this.
The new all-Greek attendee policy will be enforced with the introduction of university-issued Greek ID cards. Attendees for all social events must present their Greek ID along with another acceptable form of identification to confirm their Greek status along with their age.
In order to enforce the new ID policies, each chapter that hosts a social event will be responsible for hiring one third-party security person. This security person is required to be licensed, bonded and insured as either an employee of the venue or a security company. The security person may also be an off-duty police or parole officer.
Due to the addition of a hired security person, the minimum number of ‘entrance monitors’ for each event has been downsized to two people versus the previous requirement of three.
Despite the downsizing of entrance monitors, all social event monitors will be required to complete an additional monitor training program. The previous policy did not require any specific training for event monitors.
Monitors will now be limited to only active members of the chapter. This differs from the 2017 policy wherein a maximum of two new associate probationary members could serve as monitors.
Organizations will still be required to provide at least one non-alcoholic drink for all guests during the event, but the non-alcoholic option is no longer limited to water.
The updated policy also states that chapters should “provide less-salty foods such as breads, meats, cheeses, vegetables, cookies, subs, pizza, brownies, fruit, and dips for guests.”
The previous policy did not require any organization to provide these types of foods at their events.
Chapters will no longer be required to provide plastic cups for attendees. However, glass bottles will still not be permitted into the event spaces. Attendees will be forbidden from bringing bags or backpacks into events.
Previous coverage along with the old and updated policies can be found below.
Full Greek Life Social Event Policy 2018