In the interview, Smith articulated some of the problems caused by underage drinking. He said, “First of all, it’s against the law.” He stated that whether one agrees or disagrees with the law, or believes it to be fair or unfair, “it still is the law.” He also said that the results of underage drinking are often problematic, naming physical assault, sexual assault, property destruction, and a potential for drunken driving as possible outcomes. According to Smith, none of the recent incidents involved sexual assaults or drunken driving.
The Dean said that underage drinking is “a problem on any college campus, but through education, responsibility, and accountability, I don’t think it has to be a problem.” He said that amongst new plans to help curb underage drinking incidents, there will be a stronger education component and steps will be taken to ensure that this effort has a presence in residence halls. He stressed that underage drinking is not a greek issue, but rather a college one and that he felt the rules of the IFC and Panhel are “strict enough as written.”
Smith said that the Rensselaer County Underage Drinking Task Force “will continue its operation,” and that it’s not controlled by RPI. He pointed out, “we won’t know when [it will operate] or [its] duration,” and that when students are arrested, there can be implications for their careers.
Of the houses suspended, three that were placed on emergency suspensions late in the spring, following underage drinking incidents, are being given a chance to have the suspensions rescinded until judicial inquiries held in the fall are completed. In order to have the suspensions lifted, Smith said that the chapters would need to articulate a plan that can assure that there will be no underage drinking at any events held by the chapter.
According to Smith, while a chapter is suspended it “cease[s] to exist as an organization for that time period.” It can not hold rush activities, sponsor any events, and members are barred from displaying their letters.
Smith said that reaction to the letter from the greek community has been mixed, but that it’s “been more positive than negative.” He said that most of the response so far have been to the general tone of the letter.
The letter stated, “Contrary to the age-old rumor, Rensselaer has no intention of ‘reducing the number of fraternities or dissolving the Greek community’ on its campus,” and Smith said in the interview that the letter was “intended to empower the chapter and students to determine their own destiny.”
Smith said in the interview that the focus of greek life should not be on drinking but rather that the positives – philanthropy, academics, and community service – should be at the front and center of what greek life is about. He also said that members should ask themselves if the risks in serving alcohol are worth jeopardizing “the welfare of their own chapters.”
To this end, his letter concluded by rhetorically asking, “That having been said, since over 80% of our undergraduates (as well as 80% of those on all neighboring campuses) are under twenty-one years of age, is it not time for the greek community to consider not serving alcohol at fraternity events? If the pattern that triggered this letter is not enough of an incentive, then what event is it that the system is waiting for?”
A member of one of the suspended fraternity chapters who did not wish to be named said that his chapter is “as of now, not very interested in the plan that’s been handed out,” referring to Smith’s offer to allow them to have the emergency suspension rescinded. He said that they think it may not be that much of an advantage to have it lifted and that it may be better to just allow the suspension to continue until the inquiry is completed, adding that they might also consider some other plans proposed by DOSO.
The member also said that Smith’s use of the phrase “eliminate underage drinking at any chapter event” in the letter made him worried about the severity of consequences to any subsequent violations. After his chapter is reinstated, he sees them being “a little more careful, but still business as usual.”
Noting that many of the brothers in his chapter do not drink, the member went on to say that Smith’s notion of not serving alcohol at chapter events was “kind of ridiculous.” He said similar activities have been going on around the campus for fifty years and that the crackdown now is some sort of reaction to what was experienced by prior generations.
