The new draft also mandates all parties with at least 200 people be registered 10 days in advance — a change from the previous threshold of 100 attendees. Parties with fewer than that number must be registered five days before the event.
Brooke Sperbeck
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All three greek council presidents have proposed a new draft of the party registration policy, which they will be reviewing in meetings with administrators Thursday, Interfraternity Council (IFC) president Domenic Hjerpe said Tuesday night.
“The three council presidents are meeting with Jean DeCosta and (Coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life) Kathryn O’Hagan on Thursday morning,” Hjerpe said. “The three council presidents are also meeting with Jean and (Vice President for Student Affairs) Keith Humphrey, because all of a sudden some time freed up in his schedule, and that will be on Thursday late afternoon.”
Notable changes in the draft released to Mustang News include a definition of what constitutes a fraternity party.
Previously, only one of four criteria would need to have been met to define a fraternity party, but the new draft requires at least two of six points be met to deem an event a party. These points include criteria such as having a designated theme, more than 50 people in attendance or being cited as an “unruly gathering” by the City of San Luis Obispo.
The “reasonable observer” clause, however, which has led to much debate among greek leaders and administrators, remains among the criteria.
Another addition includes an “amnesty policy,” which says that a greek organization that acts responsibly in getting an individual medical assistance would be given amnesty, provided the individual did not have access to alcohol at the greek event.
While the revised draft reiterates the four-hour time limit on parties, it extends the latest possible end time to 1 a.m., an hour later than the original draft allowed.
The new draft also mandates all parties with at least 200 people be registered 10 days in advance — a change from the previous threshold of 100 attendees. Parties with less than that number must be registered five days before the event.
Alcohol regulations forbidding shots and drinking games, which received national attention earlier this month, remain in the new draft of the policy.
The new proposed policy was drafted by all three council leaders and released to their respective chapter presidents, but has not yet been approved by national organizations or the administration, Hjerpe said.
Hjerpe also sent the revised draft to Panhellenic’s national organization, and each IFC chapter sent it to its respective national organization for review.
Greek Life Party Registration Policy by BrookeSperbeck
Hjerpe said he believes the draft is more “professionally organized” and eliminates loopholes.
“I believe the draft is much better for both parties,” Hjerpe said. “It includes all of the compromised points that campus previously requested.”
When asked if an agreement on the policy could be reached during Thursday’s meetings, Hjerpe said it was “hard to say.” He hopes the meetings will help get “every party on the same page.”
“Previously there has been a lapse in communication, and it is very important that in a policy of this matter that everyone is on the same page and everything is very clear,” Hjerpe said.
United Sorority and Fraternity Council (USFC) President and agricultural business junior Edward Yanez said they are “making progress,” and that he thinks a decision could be made this week.
“I feel that this week’s going to be the week we finally finish and get the policy approved,” Yanez said.
Though greek life remains on probation for the third consecutive week until further notice, Hjerpe said there has been no explanation from the administration justifying it.
“They still have not given me a clear answer as to why we are on probation,” Hjerpe said.
DeCosta referred all questions about greek probation to Cal Poly spokesperson Matt Lazier, who said there was no new information about the negotiations.