From the Washington Post
Well, and the fact the National panhellinic rule forbid alcohol at sorority functions held at sorority functions and limit those held in other places.
When I first joined my sorority, we could have parties with alcohol if the state law allowed the majority of members to drink. We could have 3.2 beer, but houses in other states could have liquor. Before the drinking laws had even changed, panhel rules did, and no alcohol was allowed in houses. I think it was about 1978.
Never has the law of unintended consequences been so fully in effect.
It’s simple. National Panhel forbids it. Old news. Nothing to see here. Nothing uncovered.
“Many sisters feel that because the fraternity brothers control the parties, the brothers determine sororities’ tiers on campus and perpetuate a culture of exclusivity,” she said. “As in, ‘That chapter is hot — they’re invited; that chapter’s prude, so they can’t come in.’ It’s completely disempowering that the women are strongly encouraged to interact with the fraternities by attending their parties.”
No. What’s disempowering is chasing after a bunch of guys who don’t want you. If some guy doesn’t think my sisters and me are “hot enough” for his liking, then why would I want to ingratiate myself with him anyway? Your loss, dude.
As a sorority member, I had no problem with this. The fraternities suffered the effect of this- they were frequently dirty, there was occasional property destruction and they never seemed to lose that distinct “morning after, stale beer smell”.
My sisters and I could attend parties, then go back home to a beautifully decorated, clean and quiet house and sleep. We never had to worry about keeping our rooms locked, either. To me, we had the better end of the deal!
We were allowed (or at least we did) alcohol in the individual rooms upstairs if we were legal age.
Exactly. Why would I want a lovely, gracious home with nice carpeting, draperies, furniture, baby grand piano, nice woodwork, etc. trashed? If the frats wanted to live like pigs with that stale beer smell, that was their problem.
S’s frat house was torn down (as part of an overall campus renovation) and they moved into another house in the fraternity quad which had been a frat in the past, then a dorm and was now a frat again. As part of the quad, it had lovely old architectural bones. Arched doorways, woodwork, etc. I had high hopes they’d keep it nice. Well silly me. I think it’s gross how pig-like the guys keep their places and see no reason that sororities “should” have to throw big, messy parties.
Anyway, here’s a concept. You can actually socialize without going to frat parties. No one prevents people from hanging out in smaller groups, going to the movies, out to eat, etc. They aren’t so wonderful and special that sororities should have to mimic them.
“Why Frat Bros can Throw Parties but Sorority Sisters aren’t Allowed to”
- This is a question to the administration of the specific college. I do not see how it is a general rule.
No @MiamiDAP At my school, sororities were not on campus. The alcohol rules are national. Of course we could have parties but without alcohol. That pretty much limited us to rush events and wedding showers for older members.
No, it’s not, Miami. The National Panhel rules apply regardless of where the chapter is or whether they are housed in or off campus. If it’s something you don’t have experience with, it’s best not to speculate.
That distinct “morning after, stale beer smell” is a strong marketing plot to 18 year males. It smells like home.
When did “prude” become an adjective used in place of prudish? I’ve heard this several times recently (along with bias instead of biased). Both make me nuts. Sorry, back to the topic…
Not necessarily for all 18 year old males.
In my case and those of many males around the time I was 17-18, a home-like welcoming residential/social institution like a frat would include the aromas from fine recent dinners/BBQs past.
Instead of focusing solely/mostly on alcohol, why not include gargantuan BBQs heavy on the ribs, hamburgers, etc…or fine multi-course dinners composed of fillet mignon, a large suckling pig, 30+ Ib turkey/goose, lamb chops, fine birds ranging from chickens to pheasant/grouse, fine desserts, and as for the spirits…beers are fine though please, have more variety than mass market light beers like Budweiser or Coors.
Maybe sororities should consider the above suggestions to attract a large/larger crowd than the frats without having to put up with the boring aroma of the “morning after, stale beer smell”. It’ll also attract more males who are, after all, still growing and need all the sustenance they can get. 
- In some sumptuous sauces which would do a Michelin 3+ star establishments proud.
My kids’ sorority throws parties. They are just not at the house. They rent a venue and invite fraternities they want to come. They prefer it that way anyway, no dirty house to clean up afterwards.
It’s actually a distinction between national and local sororities. I believe at one house at Dartmouth recently de-affiliated in order to go local and be able to host parties where they are in charge.
My kids’ sorority is a national sorority, and they are in charge when they throw a party off premise.
I understand that the party/alcohol rules governing sororities are national, but it galls my D that the frats operate under different rules. At her school she and her friends have to take a shuttle or walk a pretty long way to the frat parties. That of course leaves the girls getting themselves home late at night and any drinking is done on the guy’s territory. She has enough sense to call it a night before it gets out of hand, but some party on and then are at risk of not getting home safely. D feels the number of problematic situations could be reduced if some of the parties were thrown in the sorority houses as well as the frats.
Seems in this day and age those rules should be re-visited.
I wonder if the rules have not changed because most women do not care to have parties at their house.
When my kid goes to sorority approved fraternity parties, they have designated soberer to make sure their sisters do not get too drunk and there are assigned brother drivers to get them home. Once they spotted some drivers drinking at the party, they stopped having socials with the house.
But perhaps there could be a different type of party thrown at the sorority house. Invite only and maybe a smaller gathering with wine and beer - something the girls might enjoy more than the typical frat party.
^^^Agreed. That maybe nice.