Rutgers bans fraternity and sorority house parties

Rutgers University is reining in Greek life at its largest campus in reaction to several alcohol-related incidents that have brought criticism and scrutiny to the school.

The university last week banned house parties at the 86 officially recognized fraternities and sororities on its New Brunswick campus for the rest of the year - a moratorium intended to ensure "the health and safety of our students," a spokesman said.

"Rutgers takes seriously its commitment to maintaining a healthy and safe campus environment," E.J. Miranda said Monday in a statement. "In light of a number of alcohol-related incidents this year involving Greek organizations, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs has placed a moratorium through the end of the semester on parties in fraternity and sorority houses."

Greek organizations can still host formals and other events where licensed third-party vendors serve alcohol, but they will not be allowed to themselves serve alcohol or host the parties at their houses, Miranda said.

The fraternity and sorority office "is taking this step out of caution and concern, and will use this time to continue and reinforce its dialogue with the leadership of the university's 86 recognized fraternities and sororities about Greek life at Rutgers and their responsibilities to the campus community at large," he said in the statement.

Fraternity and sorority leaders learned of the moratorium at a meeting Wednesday, Miranda said. Chapters breaking the ban will be placed on probation.

About 4,500 students at the New Brunswick campus participate in Greek life, Miranda said, about 13 percent of the undergraduate population. The fraternity and sorority houses are privately owned or leased.

Rutgers has taken actions against individual chapters in the past, but this is the first systemwide ban in recent years, Miranda said.

The move comes after incidents in which one student died and another was hospitalized related to drinking, and amid a climate of increased scrutiny of fraternities and sororities nationwide.

In September, sophomore Caitlyn Kovacs, 19, died of alcohol poisoning after appearing in distress at a party at the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity house. Rutgers later suspended that fraternity.

Five other Greek chapters are under review at Rutgers, Miranda said.

Last month, Sigma Phi Epsilon's national headquarters shut down its Rutgers-New Brunswick chapter after a drunk underage member was hospitalized earlier this year.

Erin Kearns, president of Rutgers-New Brunswick's Panhellenic Association, told nj.com, which first reported the ban, that fraternity and sorority leaders appeared willing to accept the ban.

"It kind of became the idea of, what are we willing to risk our community for? Is it really worth it for the last three weeks of our semester?" Kearns told the newspaper.