Miranda Carpenter
Contributing writer
mcarpenter4@murraystate.edu
Murray State is ahead of the game when it comes to a ban on hard liquor.
The parents of four college students who lost their lives in alcohol-related hazing incidents have teamed up with the North American Interfraternity Conference and the National Panhellenic Council to create a partnership that will “focus on pursuing and strengthening state hazing laws and significantly expanding education and training for high school and college-aged students,” according to the NPC website.
The NIC serves as the overarching governing body for 66 international and national men’s fraternities. The NPC is the national governing body for 26 sororities.
As part of the initiative, more than 6,100 fraternity chapters on 800 campuses have until Sept. 1, 2019 to ban all hard liquor.
“Any liquor above 15% ABV [alcohol by volume] in any chapter facility or at any chapter event, except when served by a licensed third-party vendor is banned,” according to the resolution passed by the NIC.
Murray State implemented this new standard on Aug. 26, 2018 as part of the new social life policy for Greeks.
“We expect that this and all changes which were recently made to the Greek Life Social Event Policy, will be supported and adhered to by chapters,” Don Robertson, vice president for student affairs, said. “Furthering recruitment efforts and growing Greek life are a vital part of our campus life through leadership, scholarship, service, philanthropy and personal growth opportunities.”
Chapters on campus that want more information are asked to review the new policy found in the Greek life handbook.
The new standard was introduced to reduce alcohol consumption and combat hazing in the new member experience. University chapters are asked to start advocating for stronger anti-hazing laws within each chapter as part of the new partnership.
“This action was taken because nearly all hazing and over-consumption deaths in the past two years have involved students consuming high-percentage alcohol beverages,” according to the resolution passed by the NIC.
Within the previous school year, three fraternity members have lost their lives due to hazing from alcohol. Andrew Coffey, 20, from Florida State University, Timothy Piazza, 19, from Penn State University and Maxwell Gruver, 18, from Louisiana State University died from overconsumption of alcohol.
The Murray State administration encourages all students to participate in National Hazing Prevention Week which is Sept. 24-28, 2018. One way for students to get involved with National Hazing Prevention week is to pledge against hazing at hazingprevention.org.