Are Fraternity Parties Safe?

Whether you’re a high school senior looking forward to your first semester in college or a college senior, ready to start your professional career, chances are that at some point in your college career, you will be invited to a fraternity party.

An exciting proposition, you may be wondering though, are fraternity parties safe?

While American fraternities have gained a rather stereotypical reputation, more and more of them are enacting safety measures to rid of outdated traditions and stereotypes. Nonetheless, it is better to be safe than sorry.

So, below, not only will we look at just whether or not frat parties are safe, but we will also be looking at what steps you can take to ensure your own safety, and what steps fraternities are taking to make themselves safer.

What is a Fraternity?

A fraternity is an organization, social club, or fraternal order that is traditionally exclusive to males. Typically, a fraternity is formed around shared and common goals and aspirations. These men will make a commitment to one-another for life and these shared bonds typically last a lifetime.

The students who share a fraternity share their efforts, friendship, and knowledge. Together they learn, grow, and make the fraternity a stronger organization.

Similarly, a fraternity is distinct from other social organizations in that the members are freely associated as equals for a mutually beneficial purpose rather than because of a religious, governmental, commercial, or familial bond.¹

In college specifically, fraternities are typically divided into one of four different groups: social, service, professional, and honorary.

What is a Fraternity Party?

Although fraternity parties have gained a poor reputation, the initial purpose of a fraternity party was meant to mark the end of a semester, celebrate individual or fraternal accomplishments, or simply enjoy the end of the week.

However, a fraternity party is distinctly different from other college parties in that many of them contain copious amounts of alcohol, revelry, silliness, and even debauchery.

And while not every fraternity party will contain those themes, many of them will acquiesce to those themes and occurrences. As such, many people believe that fraternity parties are dangerous and advise against attending one.

However, it is important to note that while some fraternity parties do contain those themes, a large number of American fraternities are looking to move past those stereotypes and have begun to implement safeguards to ensure the safety of fraternity members and guests.

How to Get Into a Frat Party?

While, for many high school seniors entering college and college freshman, getting into a frat party may be on their bucket list, not all frat parties are open to all college students on campus. Rather, many frat parties are exclusive events, requiring an individual to either be a current member of the fraternity or to know someone who is.

However, if you are looking to get into a frat party, there are a few different ways to do so.

• Join the fraternity – the easiest and most simple way to be able to attend a frat party is to simply join the frat. While joining a fraternity takes time, doing so ensures you have unlimited access to any and all parties the frat house may throw.

• Know a member of the frat house – in addition, if you know someone who is currently a member of the frat house, chances are you will be admitted access. However, be sure to be on friendly, name-first terms with the member as they will likely be brought out to confirm friendship.

• Pay an Admission Fee – many times, frat parties require a payment to gain admittance. Typically less than $20, the admission cost helps to pay for party games, drink, and food which may be served at the frat party.

• Bring a Group of People – frat parties typically like to throw excessive parties. Bringing along a group of both men and women with you to a party can increase your chances of being granted admission to the party.

• Just ask nicely – lastly, many times, frat parties are looking to throw a party for likeminded students on campus. A fraternity is a group of likeminded and ambitious students and if you can convince the fraternity brother that you are someone who would make a good member, they may just let you in.

How to Stay Safe at a Frat Party?

Before you’ve gotten into a frat party, there are some general steps you should take to ensure your safety and the safety of the friends you plan on going with. And while the chances of something poor happening are low, safety should always be top-of-mind.

• Eat and drink water before you go to a party – if you decide, and are of a legal age, to consume alcohol, be sure to eat and drink beforehand. Doing so will ensure you have the energy needed for the party and will help to mitigate the negative side effects of alcohol.

• Always use the buddy system – before heading out to a college party, buddy up with a trusted friend. Doing so ensures that no one gets left behind and that everyone is accounted for at the end of the night.
• Never leave your drink unattended – whether you’re drinking alcohol, water, or soda, never leave your drink unattended. Many substances dropped into drinks are odorless, colorless, and tasteless. An unattended drink is at risk of being manipulated with. If you happen to leave your drink unattended, be sure to spill it and order a new one.
• Never accept drinks from someone you don’t know – similarly, accepting drinks from someone you don’t know can be a dangerous proposition. You should never accept a drink from anyone you don’t know and firmly refuse to accept one.
• Charge your phone before you go – your phone is your lifeline and should be used when you feel unsafe or in a dangerous situation. But a dead phone is useless. That’s why you should charge your phone before heading out so that it is fully charged and will last the full length of the party.
• Let your friends and family know where you are going – similarly, be sure to let someone know where you are going before going to a college party. These individuals will be able to do proactive checkups to ensure your safety and you will have better peace of mind knowing someone is aware of where you are.
• Consider sharing your phone’s location with a trusted individual – in addition, consider sharing your phone’s location with a trusted individual. That individual will then be able to track your location in the event of a mishap, accident or emergency situation.
• Always carry the essentials with you – be sure to bring your ID, your phone, your keys, and any cash or credit cards that will fit snugly in a pocket. You don’t want to get stuck somewhere without the money needed to get home or a way to contact help.
• Set a speed dial contact – further, consider setting up an individual contact as a speed dial. Doing so will ensure you are able to contact that individual as easily and as quickly as possible and can be make all the difference in an emergency.
• Don’t give into peer pressure – A good way to stay safe is to stop and think about what you’re doing or what you’re being asked to do, and make sure that those actions don’t go against your core values. If they do, don’t be persuaded by others. Don’t be afraid to firmly say no if something is making you feel uncomfortable. Additionally, if possible, speak out if you witness suspicious behavior or a concerning situation at a frat party.
• Know your surroundings – before entering the frat house, try to have an understanding of where you are and where your dorm is. In addition, be sure to understand all the exit routes inside the house in case of an emergency.
• Don’t walk home by yourself in the dark – be sure to walk on well-lit, common paths and leave the party with your buddy. Doing so will be safer for both you and your friend.
• Never leave with someone you don’t trust – be sure to trust your gut. If someone is pressuring you to leave with them, avoid doing so and rush back to your buddy. The best advice is to leave with the same people that you originally came to the party with.
• Don’t be afraid to use Uber or Lyft to get home – as a college student, you may not have too much disposable income. But when it comes to your safety, money should be no concern. If you’ve drank too much or simply feel unwell or unsafe, order an Uber or Lyft to take you back home or to safety.

How Are Frats Implementing Safety Measures?

With many fraternities appearing in the news for extreme hazing measures, excessive partying, and general debauchery, some have begun to implement safety measures to ensure the safety of their members and guests.

Here are how some fraternities are implementing safety measures in their houses.

• Hiring a dedicated ‘risk manager’ to ensure safe parties
• Banning, or limiting, alcohol beverages
• Prohibiting hard liqueur
• Having a cutoff system when a guest had had too many drinks
• Checking ID’s at the door and prohibiting access to anyone under the age of 21
• Having a strict party end time, wherein the lights will be turned on and guests will be asked to leave
• Removing problematic individuals from the party
• Ordering an Uber or Lyft for guests who have had too much to drink

Conclusion – Are Fraternity Parties Safe?

While fraternity parties can be unsafe, many of them are looking to turn over a new stone and provide a space where fellow students can relax and unwind after a particularly stressful week. However, you should take steps to ensure your own safety and the safety of others.

Most importantly, if you see something, be sure to say something.

In addition, trust your gut and don’t get into any situations which can be compromising.

And lastly, be sure to utilize the buddy system and check in on your buddy frequently throughout the party.