IFC/PHA Joint Social Policy

INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL AND PANHELLENIC ASSOCIATION JOINT POLICY ON SOCIAL FUNCTION MANAGEMENT

 

PREFACE

Due to the increasing number of unregistered events and illegally co-sponsored functions between fraternity and sorority chapters at Purdue University, the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association, in conjunction with the Office of the Dean of Students, have created this revised social policy in a realistic attempt to safely and responsibly monitor social functions. The Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association are American Interfraternity Conference Compliant. Our policies mirror the FIPG, Inc. and NIC guidelines. All initiated members, new members, and members in holdover states must abide by all federal, state, province, county, city, and Purdue University regulations. This policy originally became effective for all chapters on October 29, 2009 and was revised on November 2, 2021. This policy will be enforced by the Purdue University Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Association, and the Office of the Dean of Students. The individual chapter is held responsible for all the following information set forth in this policy. Any violations of the following policy can and shall be cause for disciplinary action at the discretion of the appropriate University Judicial Process. For information regarding specific sanction guidelines refer to the Bylaws of the Interfraternity Council Fraternal Judicial Board.

GUIDELINES

  1. The chapter/organization, members and guests must comply with all federal, state, provincial and local laws. No person under the legal drinking age may possess, consume, provide or be provided alcoholic beverages. Under Indiana Law, it is illegal for a person under the age of 21 to possess an alcoholic beverage (IC 7.1-5-7-7), to operate a vehicle with blood alcohol of .02g% if under 21 (IC 9-30-5-8.55), for minor to possess a false identification with the intent to violate alcoholic beverages laws of the State of Indiana (IC 7.1-5-7-3), and to provide, furnish, sell, barter, exchange, or give away an alcoholic beverage to a person under age 21 (IC 7.1-5-7-10,11).
  2. The chapter/organization, members and guests must follow the federal law regarding illegal drugs and controlled substances. No person may possess, use, provide, distribute, sell, and/or manufacture illegal drugs or other controlled substances while on chapter/organizational premises or at any activity or event sponsored or endorsed by the chapter/organization.
  3. Alcoholic beverages must either be:
    1. Provided and sold on a per-drink basis by a licensed and insured third-party vendor (e.g., restaurant, bar, caterer, etc.); or
    2. Brought by individual members and guests through a bring your own beverage (“BYOB”) system. The amount of alcohol brought by those of legal drinking age shall not exceed six (6) twelve (12) ounce beers, four (4) twelve (12) ounce beverage/wine coolers, two (2) twenty-four (24) ounce cans of malt liquor (i.e. Four Loko), or an equivalent amount.
  4. The presence of alcohol products greater than or equal to 15% alcohol by volume (“ABV”) is prohibited on any chapter/organization premises or at any event, except when served by a licensed and insured third-party vendor.
  5. Common sources of alcohol, including bulk quantities, which are not being served by a licensed and insured third party vendor, are prohibited (i.e., amounts of alcohol greater than what a reasonable person should consume over the duration of an event).
  6. Alcoholic beverages must not be purchased with chapter/organizational funds or funds pooled by members or guests (e.g., admission fees, cover fees, collecting funds through digital apps, etc.).
  7. A chapter/organization must not co-host or co-sponsor, or in any way participate in, an activity or event with another group or entity that purchases or provides alcohol.
  8. A chapter/organization must not co-host or co-sponsor an event with a bar, event promoter, or alcohol distributor; however, a chapter/organization may rent a bar, restaurant, or other licensed and insured third-party vendor to host a chapter/organization event.
  9. Attendance by non-members at any event where alcohol is present must be by invitation only, and the chapter/organization must utilize a guest list system including a time in and time out log. It is recommended that chapters keep this log in an archive for five (5) years. Attendance at events with alcohol is limited to a 3:1 maximum guest-to-member ratio, and must not exceed local fire or building code capacity of the chapter/organizational premises or host venue.
  10. Guests must either be current Purdue University students or at or over the age of eighteen (18) to be allowed to attend any event where alcohol is present.
  11. Any event or activity related to the new member joining process (e.g., recruitment, intake, rush, etc.) must be substance free. No alcohol or drugs may be present if the event or activity is related to new member activities, meetings, or initiation into an organization, including but not limited to “bid night,” “big/little” events or activities, “family” events or activities, and any ritual or ceremony.
  12. The chapter/organization, members or guests must not permit, encourage, coerce, glorify or participate in any activities involving the rapid consumption of alcohol, such as drinking games.
  13. In the event of a discrepancy between this policy and an Inter/National Organization’s Guidelines, the chapter shall follow whichever guidelines that are more strict.

REGISTERING EVENTS AND GUEST LISTS

Sororities are permitted to register and co-sponsor events with fraternities in accordance with these guidelines:

  1. All social events must be registered if the event involves alcohol, non-member guests, and/or co-sponsoring chapters.
  2. A Function Registration Form must be submitted by the host organization, as well as, by any co-sponsoring chapter. The forms should be submitted to the respective council by online registration through BoilerLink.
  3. Registration for functions will be due the Sunday before 5:00 p.m. prior to the date of the function being registered. Registration after this date may be fineable and is up to the discretion of the Executive Council for the respective council.
  4. Events registered and co-sponsored by more than two (2) fraternities (2-way), or more than two (2) fraternities and two (2) sororities (4-way) are prohibited.
    1. All hallway/stairwell sobers will be required to be accompanied by a sober from all co-sponsored organizations and will remain accompanied for the entirety of the function. At least one sober in each grouping may not be a New Member.
  5. If the event is not a closed event co-sponsored by agreed chapters, function attendance must not exceed a three (3) to one (1) ratio of guests to resident members of the hosting chapter. “Guests” includes members of the other participating chapters in a co-sponsored function. Fire codes may mandate a smaller ratio based on house size.
  6. Guest lists must be emailed or turned in to the Vice President of Risk Management for the Interfraternity Council and/or the Vice President of Risk Management for the Panhellenic Association at least one (1) hour prior to the start of the function. They must include the name of invited guests. For co-sponsored functions, the affiliation of the guest in attendance must be included. Fraternities and sororities co-sponsoring a function may only submit the names of 10 non-members per chapter per registered event.
  7. The Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils will pass a joint resolution each year dedicating one weekend (Friday and Saturday) of no social functions (e.g., formals, barn dances, spontaneous dances, etc) in support of a particular philanthropy or community betterment program. This is to be voted on at the start of each academic year.

EVENT MANAGEMENT AND BYOB PROCEDURES

  1. One entrance to the function area will be designated.
  2. Wristbands are the preferred method of identifying those of legal drinking age, but a unique hand stamp specific for that event is allowed, not just a marker.
  3. Co-sponsoring chapters are responsible for checking identification and issuing wristbands to their members and individuals on the guest list they submitted.
  4. Everyone brings their own alcohol. This includes members, guests, and alumni.
  5. Alcohol brought to the event by an individual of legal drinking age is for that individual’s consumption and the alcohol is not to be given away, sold, or otherwise provided to others.
  6. The number of bartenders must be equal to or greater than the number of co-sponsoring chapters.
  7. All bartenders will be required to use a Bar Blade, or another tool which is of identical use. No bartenders hand will ever reach over the top of a can
  8. Open faced containers such as red solo cups, Styrofoam cups, etc. will be prohibited at all social events.
  9. Pre-packaged Bottled Water will be the only acceptable form of hydration during functions (ie. Kirkland Signature, Target brand, Walmart Brand)
  10. Glass containers of any kind will be prohibited at any social function
  11. All bartenders must be age 21 or greater. Each co-sponsoring chapter must provide at least one (1) bartender, if so allowed by their national organization.
  12. All co-sponsoring chapters are responsible for providing sober monitors for the function. The minimum amount of sober monitors shall be one (1) for every fifteen (15) members of each co-sponsoring chapter in attendance.
  13. For those of legal drinking age, a ticket or distinguishable marking on their wristband is given for each beverage that is checked in at the beginning of the event and personalized with the type of drink the individual brought (for example, but not limited to: wristband/ticket color, labeled punch cards).
  14. When guests of a legal drinking age want one of their beverages, they turn in a ticket and/or present their wristband to obtain one of the drinks they bought. To obtain additional beverages, the guests must present another ticket and/or present with their wristband to mark off an additional drink number.
  15. It is recommended that individuals should not leave with any leftover alcohol. At the end of the function, it is recommended that the host organization immediately dispose of the alcohol left by guests.

Last modified: June 19, 2025