University of Alberta: Myths and Misconceptions

Myths and Misconceptions

In 1978, Universal Studios released National Lampoon's Animal House. Since then, fraternities have seemed synonymous with alcohol. This image has endured a public relations nightmare—particularly in the United States when, in 1997, two Louisiana students died from alcohol poisoning while binge drinking at a fraternity house. In addition, fraternities are facing spiraling insurance costs related to serious injuries and lawsuits.

According to the National Post, a Harvard University Study conducted in 2000 suggests that 44 percent of the general student population in the United States binge drinks. Within fraternities, that number skyrockets to 60 percent.

Yet on July 1, 2000, one of North America's largest fraternities, Phi Delta Theta, took a giant step away from that image by imposing a total ban on alcohol in its houses. Adopted by the fraternity's General Council in 1997, the alcohol ban was to be globally implemented by July 1, 2000. Many chapters complied early, including the University of Alberta in 1998, lured by a US $20,000 reward from the fraternity's international headquarters.

Said then-local chapter president Michael Banner of the ban, "It was a money project mainly. We re-shingled the roof because it was leaking, redid the floors and walls, installed carpet—it's made the house a lot nicer ... and a lot of times with parties and alcohol, stuff gets damaged. We don't have that problem anymore."

Tom Balzer, spokesperson for Phi Delta Theta International adds: "Mandating alcohol-free housing was a decisive step by the one hundred and fifty-two-year-old fraternity to return to its founding core principles—friendship, sound learning, leadership, and community service—and to break away from the frat party mentality."

Phi Delta Theta will deal with violators on a case-by-case basis, but self-policing will begin with each chapter's members, their student councils, and alumni representatives.

Phi Delta Theta is not alone in its stance. Lambda Chi Alpha International Fraternity was the first fraternity to eliminate pledging and remains a leader in the fight against hazing, alcohol abuse, and other challenges facing today's college student. Furthermore, all of the women's fraternities on campus forbid the consumption of alcoholic beverages in their houses. It's not just alcohol that's banned at the women's fraternity houses either: men are banned from the upstairs of the houses unless they are helping with a move or engaged in any other G-rated activities.

More than this, the Panhellenic Council, the international body governing all women's fraternities, has a strict no-hazing policy and frowns upon houses that haze their members. Hazing is defined as any action taken or situation created intentionally, whether on or off fraternity property, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. The Panhellenic Council urges women who feel they have been hazed to report the incident to a Council member.

While instances of male fraternity members drugging or using date rape drugs on sorority women cannot be controlled by the Panhellenic Council, the Council does urge all the girls in the sorority to keep an eye on their drinks and to consume in moderation. The Council also urges the girls to go to parties and events in groups and to watch out for each other as much as possible.

Every fraternity on the University of Alberta campus is filled with unique individuals with different personalities, ethnicities, and many different goals and majors. All of the fraternities are very accepting of diversity, and though you still may get cut from the team, it will not be because of how you look or because of your net worth; it really all boils down to chemistry.