Beginning this week, fraternities will be able to apply to host social events again, according to an email obtained by the Cornell Review.
On Wednesday evening, Feb 1, a joint email from Kara Miller McCarty, Director of Sorority and Fraternity Life, and Rocco DeLorenzo, IFC President, announced a restart of social events with several changes on event rules.
In November, the Cornell Interfraternity Council (IFC) had implemented a social suspension in response to reports of alleged druggings and assault. Normally, social events are not allowed during study week and finals, and then restart after fraternity officers attend a training session held early in the spring semester.
This year, IFC recruitment was extended until January 28, and non-recruitment events are not typically held until after recruitment closes. With recruitment finished, many were expecting an announcement this week regarding social events for the weekend of February 4.
The event rules “place greater emphasis on sexual violence prevention, risk management and increased student and organizational accountability,” according to a copy of the email obtained by the Review.
A new “peer accountability model” will have volunteers from each house form a pool to be trained to monitor registered social events. This has fraternity members actually visiting parties at other houses to assess compliance with the event rules. Further, at fraternity-hosted events, there will be a monitored area to check coats or other belongings to make it difficult for someone to tamper with those belongings.
There has always been a de-facto prohibition against “open parties,” and party attendance was limited to a guest list. The policy has been revised to use wrist bands to better enforce the guest list and screen out unlisted attendees.
Prior to COVID, the Cayuga’s Watchers, a student organization, provided sober monitors at social events. A sober monitor is someone who attends a party without drinking who can intervene if he sees someone who has drunk too much. Now, Cayuga’s Watchers is taking on a training role, and each house must supply volunteers for sober training.
Event managers will also have an updated checklist to be used at events, and each house can resume social event scheduling after demonstrating that officers have updated training.
Sober monitors at parties will wear LED-lit wrist bands to assist party-goers seeking immediate help. Also, the phone number of the party organizer will be prominently posted to allow people to call for help.
Many IFC social events are co-sponsored by a sorority. In some cases, up to four houses will cosponsor a larger event. Now, a meeting between the co-sponsors is required before the event to “establish communication and mutual understanding of risk management expectations.”
The string of attacks that led to the suspension of IFC events in November are still being investigated, though no suspects have been publicly identified. These reforms were designed in the wake of the monstrous attacks last semester to lessen the chance that such incidents will occur again.
These steps represent a careful balance resulting from cooperation between Cornell and the entities that either own off-campus houses or rent Cornell-owned houses under long term leases. Parties conducted in sororities or Cornell dorms are subject to other policies, which generally do not allow alcohol.
