NIC ENDORSES ALCOHOL-FREE HOUSING

Robert E. Manley, Manley & Burke

After six hours of debates and committee meetings, the National lnterfraternity Conference adopted a resolution to encourage “its member fraternities to pursue alcohol-free chapter facilities.”

The issue in the debate was not whether alcohol-free facilities are desirable, but the proper means to obtain that goal. Many fraternities have agreed to alcohol-free housing under the NIC Select 2000 Program. This program is a value-oriented program that is embraced on a campus-by-campus basis with full collaboration of the campus administration. A part of it is alcohol-free fraternity facilities.

[The NIC Select 2000 Program is a value-oriented program that is embraced on a campus-by-campus basis with full collaboration of the campus administration]

Four fraternities have gone down their own national paths toward alcohol-free facilities. These are Phi Gamma Delta, Sigma Nu, Phi Delta Theta, and, of course, Farmhouse Fraternity which has had alcohol-free facilities since 1905.

The entire resolution reads as follows:

Resolution on Addressing the Misuse of Alcohol

Whereas, National Interfraternity Conference member fraternities strive to provide a value-based setting for the development of lifelong friendships, scholarship, leadership skills and a commitment to community service; and

Whereas, membership in these fraternities should be a privilege conditioned on a commitment to high standards of conduct and personal responsibility; and

Whereas, the misuse of alcohol by college students is at an extremely serious level that detracts from the mission of higher education and does damage to the students themselves; and

Whereas, problems such as the misuse of alcohol that involve the entire campus community can be addressed successfully only with the commitment of the colleges and universities and surrounding communities to recognize and to address these problems; and

Whereas, the National Interfraternity Conference is addressing these issues with efforts such as Select 2000, the joint NPC-NIC Task Force on Substance Free Housing and Our Chapter, Our Choice; and

Whereas, a college living environment that is free of alcohol can be cleaner, safer and more conducive to learning and healthy personal development than an environment in which alcohol is present, as has been demonstrated by a growing number of fraternity chapter facilities; therefore

Be it Resolved, that the National Interfraternity Conference strongly encourages its member fraternities to pursue alcohol-free chapter facilities, especially at campuses where the host institutions commit themselves to support such an initiative, or other programs designed to address the misuse of alcohol, and commits the NIC to support its members in this effort; and

Be it Further Resolved, that the National Interfraternity Conference requests and will actively seek the cooperation, support, staff involvement and resource commitment from institutions of higher education in this effort.

The NIC Resolution was adopted on December 6th. The next day the Association of Fraternity Advisors that was meeting in conjunction with the NIC meeting passed a resolution supporting alcohol-free housing. Previously, the National Panhellenic Conference had passed a resolution supporting alcohol-free facilities for all fraternities.

During the course of the debates, the NIC allowed not only members of the NIC but also members of NPC, college administrators, and any other interested persons to participate in the debates. It was a high-level and serious discussion of an important issue.

On the morning before the big debate, Phi Delta Theta made a presentation which had reported that as a result of the policy for alcohol-free facilities, the following four fraternities already have a large number of chapters that have alcohol-free facilities.

Farmhouse (alcohol-free since 1905)                                    27 Chapters

Phi Delta Theta                                                                          63 Chapters

Phi Gamma Delta                                                                      19 Chapters

Sigma Nu                                                                                     41 Chapters