Self-Imposed IFC Social Moratorium Intended to Usher in New Greek Identity

“These proactive efforts speak to the quality of character we have been helping to build in our students.”

The social moratorium enacted earlier this year by fraternity members at San Diego State University is slated to continue, as planned, into the fall 2018 semester.  

SDSU students Victor Todor and a fellow student initiated the effort, having come into leadership roles in the Greek community during a nationwide conversation created by troubling cases related to hazing, sexual misconduct, alcohol and drug use, property damage and deaths on campuses. At that time, a number of university and national chapters were imposing heavy sanctions, and some college officials began calling for bans on fraternities and sororities. 

The Interfraternity Council’s (IFC) leadership ultimately voted in March 2018 in favor of all chapters upholding the social moratorium—which restricts members from supporting and participating in chapter house events in which alcohol is in use— through Oct. 1, while also expanding preventative education for the campus Greek community. 

“When people hear ‘social moratorium,’ they think about how other institutions have imposed sanctions. But this is very, very different,” said Jacob Mahony, the incoming IFC president. “SDSU is empowering and supporting us. The university have provided its full support of our self-imposed decision.” 

This fall, the IFC’s 15 member organizations will continue to expand education and training among council executives, existing members and new members related to alcohol and other drugs, hazing prevention and sexual violence. 

“These proactive efforts speak to the quality of character we have been helping to build in our students,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Eric Rivera. 

“Our students increasingly demonstrate that they are critical thinkers, concerned citizens and active participants in their own learning, leadership development and service to others,” Rivera said. “It is one of our greatest needs today: Leaders who are attentive, careful and responsive to the shifting demands in our global society and economy.”

Building responsible action from within  

Notable about the IFC vote of 14-0-1 (due to bylaw restrictions, one chapter was not able to vote) is that the gavel did not come striking from above. Not SDSU, nor any member organizations, forced the social moratorium. 

“A number of public incidents have led universities to suspend or end their fraternity and sorority communities, and there has been a lot of discussion about reshaping communities, but these conversations are university-driven,” said Randy Timm, SDSU’s dean of students. 

“No known IFC has imposed this kind of ban,” Timm said. “It’s student self-governance at its best, and it is about a community addressing an issue rather than seeing it as an individual issue.” 

In moving forward with a social moratorium, along with other decisions to improve education about appropriate alcohol use and other positive and proactive social behaviors, Todor and others at SDSU have effectively joined a growing movement attempting to restore the foundation of the fraternal community. 

“Each fraternity has its own values, but they often align from one organization to the next,” said Todor, outgoing IFC president and Theta Chi Fraternity member. “People know that we always have the best interests of the community in mind. If we did not do anything, we would feel personally responsible.”

In doing so, they and other SDSU students are working to bolster traditional values of service and philanthropy with new expectations around educational training, individual agency and improved social responsibility. 

Expanded training, education and outreach 

The IFC is also partnering with other fraternity and sorority councils to enhance and expand outreach and engagement around awareness-building and preventative measures. 

The task force has reviewed policies and procedures related to recruitment, programming and risk management and has provided recommendations for adjustments and improvements. Also, the IFC is working in partnership to introduce in-person training sessions and a web-based alcohol awareness program that its members must complete by the end of September. 

“This is the opportunity for the communities to take hold of their responsibilities, as they have,” said Caryl Montero-Adams, assistant director of Student Life & Leadership for Fraternity & Sorority Life at SDSU. She is also among the SDSU team members supporting and advising IFC members through their decision-making and planning process. “It won’t be without its challenges. This is about culture change, but the student leaders are in a position where there is a level of sensitivity and intentionality.” 

Such plans are meant to expand existing SDSU and Fraternity & Sorority Life and initiatives, including: 

• A campus-wide working group that addresses issues of alcohol and other drugs.
• Groundbreaking model programs, such as Alcohol eCHECKUP TO GO, an interactive online tool required for all undergraduate students that provides immediate, personalized feedback about their use of alcohol. 
• ASPIRE, which provides one-on-one sessions with a counselor discussing your lifestyle and choices), provide personalized information to students in prevention efforts and intervention activities and have been deemed effective in creating positive changes in students’ behavior.
• A university policy that imposes a dry period currently active through Oct. 1. During that time, all registered student clubs and organizations are barred from serving alcohol during their events. 

Mahony believes that these and other efforts are part of a necessary approach to improve social responsibility within the IFC community while reshaping public perception about the value of fraternities and sororities.   

Speaking from his own experience, Mahony said his involvement with Fraternity & Sorority Life has lead him to more dedicated community service and stronger academic performance, due in part to the service and grade-point average requirements imposed by his fraternity.  

“I was making the Dean’s List almost every semester from the habits I was learning in my chapter,” Mahony said.

Like Todor, he wants to maintain the ability of students to be part of communities where academic excellence, community engagement and leadership development are core responsibilities. 

“There is a lot of value in taking a step back and taking a critical look at our operations to improve the way we are working,” Mahony said. “I am so proud to be part of the organization and I am proud of what we are doing, and I want to give that experience to others.”