Ohio University sororities and fraternities are self-governing organizations that are responsible for following policies and procedures outlined by three major entities: their own international/national organization, their respective governing council, and Ohio University.
The Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life is committed to offering its members proactive education, training and resources around health and wellness and harm reduction topics such as hazing prevention, alcohol and substance abuse, mental health, sexual assault prevention and much more.
Therefore, it is our expectation that all member organizations provide the below baseline health and safety educational programming to their members. This will be an educational requirement to remain in active standing with the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life.
- University, Council, Organization health & safety policy overview
- Provide proactive harm reduction education related to such policies
- Must carry General Liability insurance with a minimum of $1,000,00.00 in Combined Single Limit. The General Liability insurance must include Host Liquor Liability and must name Ohio University as an additional insured
- Must carry out the health and safety guidelines included below
Event Management
In any activity or event sponsored or endorsed by the chapter/organization, including those that occur on or off organizational/chapter premises:
- 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.
- 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 endorses by the chapter/organization.
- Alcoholic beverages must either be:
- Provided and sold on a per-drink basis by a licensed and insured third-party vendor (e.g., restaurant, bar, caterer, etc.); or
- Brought by individual members and guest through a bring your own beverage (“BYOB”) system. The presence of alcohol products above 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.
- 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 a duration of an event).
- Alcohol 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.).
- 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, provides, or pools money to furnish alcohol.
- 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.
- 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. 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Sorority and Fraternity Events with Alcohol
All sorority and fraternity chapters must submit individual proposals on how they plan to manage events with alcohol for their chapter. When a sorority or fraternity holds a social event with alcohol, the chapter must adhere to the following guidelines.
- Limit to 10 events with alcohol per semester
- No day-long events
- Only beer and wine can be served at events with alcohol
- Indoor and outdoor events with alcohol are limited to the legal capacity of the chapter house
- Service of alcohol at social events must follow Ohio law and be distributed by certified servers.
Event Framework
Our event framework provides a structure for a three-step process when a chapter registers an event with alcohol.
- A pre-event planning meeting with the chapter’s respective chapter liaison to discuss their plans to manage events with alcohol for the semester.
- An event assessment for each registered social
- A post-event assessment conference, as needed or at the end of each semester to follow up with the chapter liaison on strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.
All events with alcohol must be registered two weeks in advance of the intended event and must include all corresponding documents (venue insurance, guest lists, sober monitors, risk plan, etc.)
Event registration forms can be found on the Greek Bobcats page on BobcatConnect.