The main focus of new greek risk management policies will be on how greeks can maintain a safe risk management structure, said Diego Silva, Cal Poly’s greek life coordinator.
James Schank
Cal Poly lifted the social suspension on Interfraternity Council (IFC) chapters Tuesday, a week before fall recruitment begins on Oct. 8.
This is the first time since 2010 freshmen are allowed to become a fraternity member during fall quarter. Cal Poly announced the lift on deferred rush this past spring quarter, the result of a compromise between the greek community and the university.
The compromise included an implementation of a risk management policy, and IFC fraternities were put on social suspension until the policy was finalized and enacted, Silva said.
The suspension was supposed to be lifted more than a week ago, but it was difficult to coordinate between all the individuals involved, Silva said. It took the congruent agreement of the Dean of Students, Cal Poly’s legal counsel and Vice President of Student Affairs Keith Humphrey to finalize the risk management policy.
As part of the policy, IFC chapters will now be required, and will be held accountable, for conducting and attending five to seven educational programs regarding risk management and safety. These risks include the use of alcohol, hazing, sexual violence and bystander intervention.
“I believe this is going to make greek life better as a whole,” Silva said. “Greek organizations always thrive under self-governance.”
The main focus will be on how greeks can maintain a safe risk management structure, Silva said.
Under the policy, individual chapters will now have more control of the methods of education and risk management control they use — allowing them to fulfill the policy’s strict demands in a way suitable to each chapter.
Giving students the opportunity to create their own policies and their own governing documents that follow the university’s policies fulfills Cal Poly’s “Learn By Doing” mission, Silva said.