Updated procedure for sorority and fraternity social events

Procedure updates to the reporting process for sorority and fraternity life (SFL) have been put in place to prevent underage drinking.

Sororities and fraternities now must report all of their social events to USD involved.

Laura Anderton, the director for SFL, said these changes were made to protect and support Greek life on campus.

Anderton said the reevaluation of the procedure came after she and the coordinator went to a national conference and schools across the nation talked about their similar systems. Preparing for a new university president was also considered when making the change.

“We don’t know who our new president will be, and we have been very fortunate for the last number of years to have an extremely supportive university president and an extremely supportive vice president of student services,” she said.

Anderton said the office of SFL needs to have “all of their bases covered” for Greek life programming.

“We really hope (the new president) will be just as supportive of us, but at the end of the day, we have to be willing to justify what we’re doing and show that we are not like some of the schools across the nation,” she said.

The change has been well-received by the Greek community, Anderton said.

“The important thing to note is that the fraternity community…have done a wonderful job of understanding why this change needs to happen in process and understanding that there’s sort of a gap between policy and practice and really helping us to mind that gap,” she said. “They have done a phenomenal job of being student leaders.”

The Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council declined to comment on the change in procedure.