There is no specific mandate against sororities throwing parties, but the NPC policies and procedures for college Panhellenics mandate that Panhellenic events be alcohol-free.
Maria Zelada
Special to Mustang News
Regardless of what happened with the greek life party registration compromise passed this week, there is one group that wouldn’t be hosting parties either way: Panhellenic sororities.
“None of the sororities are allowed to throw parties,” Panhellenic President and business administration junior Danielle Durante said. “That’s actually an NPC rule — which is National Panhellenic Council — and it’s really just for liability reasons. You know, with alcohol, there is just a very slippery slope.”
There is no specific mandate against sororities throwing parties, but the NPC policies and procedures for college Panhellenics mandate that Panhellenic events be alcohol-free.
Sororities and fraternities are run independently of one another, and the groups have different standards. These differences, Durante said, might be beneficial to sorority members.
“I think some women might find it inconvenient, but at the end of the day, it really does protect all sororities from taking on that liability that comes with underage drinking and even excessive alcohol amounts,” she said. “But I do understand why some people would be frustrated that the men and women are different at the standard level.”
Sociology freshman Irene Ouyang, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, said she doesn’t have a problem with not being able to host parties, but it might be a good thing if they were allowed.
“It doesn’t make a difference in the party scene, but I definitely think that girls could throw parties and still keep it classy,” she said. “It could also be beneficial for girls if they could have a party at their own house.”
Hosting their own parties could make sorority members feel more secure, said Jerusha Beebe, a psychology senior and president of Triota, Cal Poly’s national women’s honor society.
“I understand why you would have that rule, but I feel like parties happen all the time, so why not have them available for sororities to throw?” Beebe said. “Having the ability to throw parties would probably make them safer, just because the women are kind of in a women environment. It’s their space. They are comfortable there.”
Durante said sorority parties could be a warmer environment, but they could present an exclusivity issue.
“The women would hold themselves to higher standards, especially since their nationals are involved,” Durante said. “They wouldn’t be able to throw inappropriate-themed parties as often, or even at all. But I think it would still be pretty limited to sorority women, so it wouldn’t really be the same type of parties that are occurring with the men.”