Penn State IFC Cancels All Socials for Two Weeks

The chapter presidents of Penn State’s Interfraternity Council determined Tuesday night that all IFC socials this weekend and next are canceled. This decision comes two days after Penn State administrators announced that nine of the 82 Greek organizations violated the new regulations set in place last month.

“It was the decision of the Interfraternity Council chapter presidents that all social events will be canceled for the next two weekends,” IFC vice president for communications Michael Cavallaro said in an email. “Our chapters plan to use this time to continue their philanthropic efforts, to reflect on the values of the Greek community, and to consider any necessary changes that need to be made.”

In February, Penn State said that all Greek socials must be alcohol-free through the remainder of the semester and in the future socials may only serve beer and wine to attendees of legal age. The university then handed down a series of other restrictions that will be in place. The new regulations came after the death of student Timothy Piazza, who died from injuries suffered in a fall down the stairs at Beta Theta Pi fraternity house during a bid acceptance party. Police have said excessive drinking and hazing may have played a role.

Administrators held true to their promise to complete “compliance checks,” and as President Eric Barron wrote in his open letter earlier this week, they noted violations or behavior to avoid receiving violations, such as serving liquor upstairs.

“The drinking was excessive and was not restricted to beer and wine,” Barron wrote on his blog. “There was no third-party licensed server. The party was open to anyone and people with no formal association roamed freely in and out with access to handles of liquor. Those roaming in and out included some who were underage.”

Barron also wrote that he predicts an end to Greek life at Penn State if similar situations continue. Though the IFC didn’t specify why its presidents voted to cancel socials this and next weekend, it is likely that the information about the violation of the new regulations had some impact on that decision.