<p>The usual:</p>
<p>U.Va</a>. alcohol warning for fraternities and sororities | WJLA.com</p>
<p>Yes, it is for their own good. All colleges should follow. Otherwise, some lawyers might have a lot of work to do.</p>
<p>This was a very scary incident that happened a few weeks ago on girls ‘bid night’ following sorority rush. Changes were immediately made for boys ‘bid night’ following fraternity rush that followed a couple of weeks later. There are some other articles on this that are more up to date, as this is dtd 2/1/13. I’ll try to grab the links and post them.</p>
<p>Edit to add additional article from the local paper. I was incorrect, it is not more current, dtd 1/31. I apologize for that. It does have some additional information so I’ll post if anyone is interested.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/article_debb95a6-6c7e-11e2-94c7-001a4bcf6878.html[/url]”>http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/article_debb95a6-6c7e-11e2-94c7-001a4bcf6878.html</a></p>
<p>Two students on life support and 6 others hospitalized and the first question the Dean of Students had for the heads of the fraternities was “what are you going to do”? Well my question to UVA is what are THEY going to do? Who is running this show? Just another smear to the reputation of a fine institution.</p>
<p>This is heartbreaking to me. I was in a sorority in college, and these things did not happen at sororities then. Chapters need to get more alumni involved.</p>
<p>“Who is running this show?” It is the responsibility of the adults in the frats and sororities to modify their behavior. No university should be acting as the parent of a child regarding off campus behavior. Sanctions should only be called for if the groups won’t/can’t behave as adults. It was good of the University to make those in charge of their behavior take responsibility for modifying it. If the Greeks can’t change then they lose status, but they have the first responsibility. Handing down orders from above is not the way to expect mature, adult behavior. Better to make those involved do the brainstorming and present a plan.</p>
<p>^^^
I think it is pretty clear from the circumstances that although technically of age, we are not dealing with “adults” here. The safety of these incoming students should be paramount. Issuing warning after warning clearly has not been effective and now you have 2 students on life support. Sorry, if that were my child I would expect the University to do a lot more than ask the Greek organizations what they are going to do. These things are happening on the UVA campus. Further, I believe that UVA has a responsibility to protect their reputation. This type of press is very damaging.</p>
<p>This is an educational matter. Alcohol-related blackouts - the kind that sent 240 UVA students to the ER last year - result in permanent, irreversible changes to the brain that make it less likely that students will learn effectively. Quite simply, the students leave the university stupider than when they entered.</p>
<p>Maybe they should give the students who end up in the ER SATs the day after, and if they don’t perform as well as when they entered, the university should kick them out. After all, they are no longer the students who had been accepted.</p>
<p>^This is actually a really good point.</p>
<p>At a time of rising involvement in Greek life by students, it is imperative for parents to make sure their kids understand the problems with drinking, and also the very real danger of alcohol overdose. Alcohol overdose is the single largest drug overdose, bar none, and alcohol is the dirtiest most dangerous drug to the body. The legality of drinking aside, alcohol is very toxic, deadly drug when misused.</p>
<p>All that said, I am having a challenging time figuring out how schools are avoiding lawsuits regarding recognized institutions on their campuses. If they recognize the organization, it implies a level of oversight and responsibility, and I would imagine that soon someone will successfully make this case.</p>
<p>My heart breaks for these families. So sad.</p>
<p>Oh, there are hundreds of lawsuits every year. All settled out of court.</p>
<p>I’m wondering, though, is there any way to prove CRIMINAL liability. I suppose it’s too much to ask.</p>
<p>Well, money follows “civil” liability. There would have to be a prosecutor who goes off the reservation to find out.</p>
<p>I suppose we await the inevitable tragedy befalling the progeny of the well connected.</p>
<p>Until then, parents, help your children to understand that alcohol is a drug, not unlike heroin, except that heroin ODs are less frequent.</p>
<p>Heroin detox is also much less dangerous.</p>
<p>UVA… where a CC poster (from a different school) drank himself to death. Seems par for the course in Charlottesville; the UVA social scene is not really a secret. Some kids want that. I’m sure it’s not that different than many other colleges.</p>
<p>A drug and alcohol course should be mandatory before applying. If you make a B or better on the test, you can join.</p>
<p>The students all recovered.</p>
<p>Dstark, thank you. I am glad to hear that.</p>
<p>What really saddens me is that these new Freshman pledging fraternities/sororities are the most vulnerable students on campus. They are new to college, coming with dreams and expectations. Acceptance by their peers is high on their list - and in some ways necessary for survival, now that the campus is their home. I think even the most level headed and intelligent of students is at risk in this type of environment. They are easy prey. The University has a responsibility to even the playing field and make their code of conduct more than something to just be scoffed at. I still am at a loss as to what the Greek system, in it’s current state, adds to a University.</p>