James Madison University - Fraternity and Sorority Life

INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL
ALCOHOL POLICY
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY

Fall 2007
Appendix A

Article I: Scope

This alcohol policy shall cover all social events sponsored by members of the James Madison University Interfraternity Council. This policy is intended to supplement, not replace, the alcohol policy found in the James Madison University Student Handbook and in the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as the FIPG or FIPG-like policies held by all member organizations. The Executive Council and an appointed committee shall review this JMU/IFC Alcohol Policy once per year.

Article II: FIPG Policy

1. Alcohol and Drugs

In that all Fraternities and Sororities on this campus are insured through FIPG policies or FIPG-similar policies, it is imperative that the guidelines set forth in that document be adhered to at James Madison University.

A. The possession, use, and/or consumption of alcohol beverages while on chapter premises, during an official event, or in any situation sponsored or endorsed by the chapter, must be in compliance with any and all applicable laws of the state, province, county, city, and university.

B. No alcoholic beverages may be purchased through the chapter treasury nor may be purchased by a member for members or guests or be undertaken or coordinated by any member in the name of, or on behalf of, the chapter. The purchase and/or use of a bulk quantity of such alcoholic beverages, i.e. Kegs, is prohibited.

C. No chapter members, collectively or individually, shall purchase for, serve to, or sell alcoholic beverages to any person under the legal drinking age.

D. The possession, sale, and/or use of illegal drugs or controlled substances at any chapter-sponsored event or at any event that an observer would associate with the chapter, is strictly prohibited.

E. No chapter may co-sponsor an event with an alcohol distributor, charitable organization, or tavern (tavern is defined as an establishment generating more than one-half of annual gross sales from alcohol) where alcohol is given away, sold, or otherwise provided to those who are present.

F. No chapter may co-sponsor or co-finance a function where alcohol is purchased by any of the host chapters, groups, or organizations.

G. All recruitment activities associated with any chapter will be Dry Recruitment functions.

H. Open parties, meaning those with unrestricted access by non-members of the chapter, without specific invitation, shall be prohibited.

I. No member shall permit, tolerate, encourage, or participate in “drinking games.”

J. No alcohol shall be present at any new member program or activity of the chapter.

2. Hazing

A. No chapter, colony, student or alumnus shall conduct nor condone hazing activities. Hazing activities are defined as:

“Any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule. Such activities may include but are nor limited to the following: use of alcohol; paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips or any other such activities carried outside or inside of the confines of the chapter house; wearing of public apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and buffoonery; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with academic achievement, fraternal law, ritual or policy or the regulations and policies of the educational institution, or applicable state law.”

3. Sexual Abuse and Harassment

A. The fraternity will not tolerate or condone any form of sexually abusive behavior on the part of its member, whether physical, mental or emotional. This is to include any actions which are demeaning to women or men including but not limited to date rape, gang rape or verbal harassment.

4. Fire, Health and Safety

A. All chapter houses should meet all local fire and health codes.

B. All chapters should have posted by common phones emergency numbers for fire, police and ambulance and should have posted evacuation routes on the back of the door of each sleeping room.

C. All chapters should comply with engineering recommendations as reported by the insurance company.

D. The possession and/or use of firearms or explosive devices of any kind within the confines and premises of the chapter house is expressly forbidden.

5. Education

A. Each fraternity shall annually instruct its students and alumni/alumnae in the Risk Management Policy of FIPG. Additionally, all student and alumni/alumnae members shall annually receive a copy of the Risk Management Policy.

Article III: Definition

This policy applies to all functions registered through Student Organization Services.

A Function shall be defined as a social gathering or event of or in any Fraternity/Sorority property (including annex and satellite houses), and where any of the following criteria are met:

1. The presence of more than fifteen non-members, (A non-member is defined as anyone who is not an active or new-member, or alumni/alumnae)

2. The presence of alcohol.

3. The judgment and discretion of the staff member deems it so.

Article IV: Event Registration

Section A
All events sponsored by member organizations at James Madison University shall be registered by the time designated by IFC and the Office of Fraternity/Sorority Life. These events must coincide with the proper event forms, be correct as to the days in which they will occur, and be fully and accurately completed, including all required signatures.

Section B
Failure to submit the proper forms, fully completed, may result in the cancellation of the event. Failure to adhere to these specifications is to be considered a violation of this policy. Once registered, the forms may not be changed.

Section C
For each event that alcohol is present, there will be a minimum of five sobers. These sobers will be listed by name/office on the event registration form and present in the party, or at the doors, for the entire event.

Section D
If the registered event is with more than one organization at a 3rd party vendor, one of the legal sponsors on the event registration form must be from the co-sponsoring organization(s).

Section E
Each fraternity will be allowed a maximum of two events per week. The only exceptions will be special events weeks, which will not exceed two per semester. These weeks will be determined by individual fraternities and must be approved by the Coordinator for Student Organization Services, Office of Fraternity/Sorority Life prior to turning in the event form/s.

Section F
All groups involved in the registered event must be indicated on the event form. There may be no more than four (4) groups involved in one registered event. An event form from each fraternity, or sponsoring chapter involved must be turned in. Any event of this type must comply with the National Panhellenic Council “no- mixer” policy.

Section G
Guests must be on a list created prior to the commencement and turned into the SOS office no later than 12pm on the Wednesday prior to the event.

Section H
Registered events involving four (4) groups shall not be open to guests.

Section I
Any policies necessary for special weekends, (i.e. Homecoming), will be announced by the IFC Executive Board prior to the weekend.

Article V: Guest List Events

Section A
No one who appears to be intoxicated shall be served.

Section B
Only beer contained in 12 oz. aluminum cans are permitted.

Section C
No liquor will be allowed at any registered event.

Section D
Wine is not permitted at registered events.

Section E
It is understood that host organizations are responsible for guests attending their events (until all alcohol is out of their systems) and their actions.

Section F
The sober executive council member of the host organization reserves the right to end, at any time, a registered function that is occurring if they perceive unsafe conditions to exist.

Section G
“Drinking games” (i.e. beer pong, flip cup, etc...), will not be permitted at any time and are violations of the FIPG Insurance Policy.

Section H
Hazing is not permitted at any time at any event and is against the law in the State of Virginia.

Article VI: Hours of Operation

Events held when classes, or required University activities, (i.e. assessment testing), will be held on the following day are permitted to start at 9:30pm and end no later than 1am. Otherwise, the events must be held within the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. No event may last longer than four hours.

If two events are registered for the same day, each event may not last longer than four hours with at least a two-hour break period. All events will be terminated promptly by the deadline. This means the party rooms must be cleared.

Article VII: Door Policy; Front Door

Section A
No person will be permitted to enter a registered fraternity event unless he or she is a registered guest.

Section B
At least two sober (who have consumed no alcohol the day of the event) members of the fraternity, ( one of whom must be an initiated member), shall be present at the front door, for the entire event, to enforce the guest policy.

Section C
The names of all of the sobers and the Executive Officer working the registered function will be posted by the front door and clearly visible to the Interfraternity Council Executive Officer and the Assistant Greek Coordinator on duty, upon reaching the front door.

Section D
No new/associate members for the fall semester may work as a sober at any registered Homecoming events. No new/associate members or newly initiated members for the spring semester may work as a sober at any registered Alumni Weekend events.

Section E
A clean, dry, and manageable guest list must be maintained at the front table. This table must be in the location marked on the chapter house map.

Section F
Each guest must be sponsored by a member or associate member of the host fraternity. The number of guests sponsored by a member or associate member shall not exceed four or the number specified by the organization’s National Policy. There will also be a special guest list for sorority members.

Section G
The host organizations will stop admitting guests at any point when the number of people in the party room becomes unsafe. They will register this number with the Coordinator of Student Organization Services for Fraternity/Sorority Life.

Section H
The guest lists will be collected at the end of the event by the Assistant Greek Coordinator or the IFC Executive Council member on duty. If not collected, they must be turned in to the Coordinator of Student Organization Services for Fraternity/Sorority Life by 5:00 p.m. on the following Monday.

Section I
Each guest of the host fraternity must present a valid James Madison University Identification Card upon admittance to the party room. As individuals enter the event, their names will be highlighted on the guest list. Use of magic marker or pen to mark names is prohibited.

Section J
Any out-of-town guests, (meaning a non-JMU student), must be placed on a separate out-of-town guest list prior to the commencement of the event. In addition, he or she must present a valid identification card and be sponsored by a member of the host fraternity whose name shall be listed by the guest. The number of out-of-town guest shall not exceed 25 individuals. Organizations other than the host organization are allowed out-of-town lists at joint functions.

Section K
Access to all events shall be limited to affiliates and guests only.

Section L
All guests must be college students with verifiable identification cards, or over the age of 18. No one who is under the age of 18, and not a college student is permitted to be in attendance at any registered function with alcohol.

Section M
Each guest and affiliate of legal drinking age will be issued a wristband upon entrance to the event. This wristband will be attached to the right wrist. Nothing may be substituted for wristbands (i.e. garbage bag ties, cable ties, etc.). If the host organization fails to pick up their wristbands for the registered function, they may not hold the function, as there are no acceptable substitutions.

Section N
Wristbands must be available at the front door at all times if alcohol is being served at a registered event. If the host organization runs out of wristbands, they will close their front door.

Section O
Each guest’s hand will be marked with a legible stamp signifying legal or minor. Section P
All parties must be contained within the perimeter of the fraternity’s specified party room. These party rooms are agreed upon prior to the event through the house maps required to be completed before a registered event will be allowed.

Section Q
No guest, member or alumni, who are of the legal drinking age, may bring in more than the number of beers the organization’s national policy states, in aluminum cans to any registered event.

Section R
No glass containers shall be permitted in the party room

Section S
No one shall leave the party room with any alcohol.

Section T
Each fraternity reserves the right to refuse admittance to anyone, unless that person can prove with valid identification that he or she is a police officer, Fraternity/Sorority Life Staff member, or member of the IFC executive council.

Section U
The individual working the front door shall not consume any alcohol the day of the function, prior to or while working the door.

Section V
Any members of a sorority at a function where that sorority’s guest list is not posted at the front door should be on the regular guest list.

Article VIII: Door Policy; Rear Door

Section A
No persons shall be admitted by way of the rear doors with the exception of the Assistant Greek Coordinator and Interfraternity Council Executive Officer on duty.

Section B
At least one member of the fraternity shall always be present at the rear door to enforce this policy. The individual(s) working the rear door shall not consume alcohol the day of the event.

Section C
Where applicable, secondary back doors (i.e. kitchen doors), must be operated according to the previous sections of Article VIII Section A.

Article IX: Bar Policy

Section A
Bar must be operated by at least one initiated member. People working the bar may not consume alcohol the day of the event. Additionally, these individuals must be twenty-one (21) years of age or older.

Only sober members, working the bar for the party, are allowed behind the bar(with the exception of the DJ).

Section B
Bar operators must check for the presence of a bracelet in addition to a legal stamp before serving the individual. Only those persons of legal drinking age will be served alcohol. Violation of this section is a very serious offense.

Section C
Visibly intoxicated persons will not be served alcohol.

Section D
Non-Alcoholic beverages must be available and visible at all functions (water fountains do not count as an alternative beverage). At a minimum, reasonable amounts of bottled water must provided and accessible to all guests.

Availability of alternative beverages must be obvious and produced upon request at the bar. The alternative beverages are to be poured in cups-no cans or bottles may cross the bar.

Section E
Only one beer may be served per trip to the bar, for people of legal drinking age, only. The beer must be served in a clear cup, unless otherwise specified by IFC.

Section F
The passing of beers from the bar is strictly prohibited.

Section G
View of the serving area must not be restricted.

Article X: Emergency Procedures

Section A
At no time will any entrances or exits be blocked by furniture, debris, bikes, etc.

Section B
Occupancy shall at no time exceed the limit submitted to the Coordinator of Student Organization Services, Fraternity/Sorority Life.

Section C
In the case of a fire drill or fire alarm, total evacuation is imperative and mandatory. It is the responsibility of sober members to ensure that no beer is taken from the confines of the party room during a fire alarm.

Section D
All unusual incidents: Fights, Sexual Harassment or Assault, Theft, Vandalism, drugs, etc…shall be reported to the appropriate Police immediately – and to the Coordinator of Student Organization Services for Fraternity/Sorority Life as soon as is appropriate.

Any person that is injured or transported by ambulance or by the police from a social event should be reported on an incident document Monday morning to the Coordinator of Student Organization Services for Fraternity/Sorority Life.

Section E
Each fraternity should develop its own “emergency action policy”. It should be posted at the front door. It is recommended that the policy contain ways to contact Campus Police, the Fire Department, Assistant Greek Coordinators and Taxi services.

Article XI: Education

Section A
Each fraternity must have all of their new members participate in the CHOICES program as a part of new member education.

Section B
Completion of this educational program must be approved by the Coordinator of Student Organization Services for Fraternity/Sorority Life or designee.

Section C
This IFC Executive Council will hold meetings as needed with the social chairman and risk managers of all fraternities. Attendance will be mandatory.

Section D
It is the strong recommendation of the IFC and Panhellenic Councils that all fraternity and sorority members are trained in CHOICES.

Article XII: Enforcement

Section A
Enforcement of this policy shall be the responsibility of the individual fraternities. This enforcement shall be monitored by at least two sober officials who are either IFC Executive Council members or Assistant Greek Coordinators.

The Interfraternity Council Executive Officer and Assistant Greek Coordinator on duty will be enforcing all components of the policy as listed above. They have the right to require a chapter to close a party at any time, for any violation of the policy. The list of automatic closings can be found in Article XIII.

Section B
In order for fraternities to provide inside monitoring, it shall be the added responsibility of at least five (5) sober (i.e. no drinking the day of the party) members to take charge of upholding and self policing the alcohol policy during their event.

Section C
The names of these sober brothers must be listed on the event registration form.

One sober member must be on the fraternity’s executive council.

One sober member will not be assigned to any specific post but will oversee all other sober workers.

This person shall be entitled the “supervisor”. It is suggested that the “supervisor” be the executive council member.

Section D
Sobers should be easily identifiable (i.e. wearing letters or a tie). Each particular organization must be consistent and established at the beginning of the semester. IFC must be notified of any deviation before the commencement of the party.

Section E
Members identified as sober should at no time during the day of the party consume alcohol.

Section F
Mistreatment of Interfraternity Council Executive Board members or Assistant Greek Coordinators on duty will not be tolerated and will be treated as a major violation of this policy.

Article XIII: Violations

Section A
In the case of a violation, all organizations involved will be brought up on charges.

Section B
When the violation occurs, the sober member shall be notified immediately. If a write-up is filed, the Assistant Greek Coordinator, or Interfraternity Council Executive Officer who was on duty, will contact the president of the chapter by the following Monday at 5pm and a write-up of the incident will follow within 24 hours of the chapter being notified.

Section C
Automatic Party Closings Automatic closing of a registered function will occur if any of the following are seen by the Interfraternity Council Executive Member or the Assistant Greek Coordinator on duty: *Any sober member that is believed to have consumed any alcohol on the day of or during the event they are working.

*The chapter runs out of wristbands and continues to allow guests to enter.

*There are minors observed being served over the bar.

*There is any presence of liquor, wine, or drinking games.

*There are visibly intoxicated guests or members observed being served over the bar.

*There are no alternative beverages available at the bar.

*The chapter can no longer control the safety of their event, or the Interfraternity Council Executive Officer and the Assistant Greek Coordinator on duty believe the event to be unsafe for the guests and the hosts.

*The chapter has received a prior warning and has not made any corrections.

This list is not fully comprehensive of all of the reasons a party will be closed. The closing of a function is at the discretion of the Interfraternity Council Executive Officer and the Assistant Greek Coordinator on duty.

Section D
Any hearing for a violation of this policy will adhere to guidelines set by the IFC/Panhellenic Judicial policy.

Section E
The Interfraternity Council with the recommendation of the Judicial Hearing Board and the consent of the University administration shall have the right to withdraw IFC membership from any fraternity displaying actions detrimental to James Madison University and/or the Fraternity/Sorority community.