Cabrillo 408
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
1 Grand Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA 93410-2500

January 23, 2014

Dr. Jean DeCosta
Dean of Students & Title XI Coordinator
Student Health Center, Room 188
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA 93410-2500

Subject: Party Registration Policy and Guidelines Concerns

Dear Dr. DeCosta,

As a first year student here at Cal Poly, I realize that partying and drinking is an immense part of the college culture. Being away from the restraints of parents and having the freedom of an adult allows a college student to experiment new things and do whatever he or she pleases. Unfortunately, many college students exceed their limits resulting in severe consequences such as alcohol poisoning and even death. The majority of these incidents do happen at Cal Poly’s Fraternities and Sorority parties, so I understand that it is best for the safety of our fellow Mustangs to reduce risky activities.

Evaluating the new Party Registration Policy and Guidelines, I see how this policy was written for the best intentions of preventing dangerous activities during affiliated parties and I completely agree that our school needs to action. However, I feel that this policy is too restricting and is unfair in the Greek system’s favor. Some of the requirements to hold a party are impossible to control and there are too many details that can be overlooked. Even though these rules are mandatory, the affiliated organizations are not going to sign this which shows that the efforts made by admin were useless. If this policy was established, how is the school going to manage all house parties at all the fraternities and sororities? Also, they are going to find ways to sneak around the system which can lead to worse situations that will be counterproductive to the administration’s goals.

Although there are a lot of technicalities to consider when creating a guideline for Greek social events, there is so many rights that the school is taking away. These rules are restricting the freedom of legal drinkers’ choice of alcohol. In the policy, it states, “No kegs, hard alcohol, no drinking games, and drinkers over the age of 21 may bring one pack of beer or one bottle of wine. If the school is going to be the bartender of the house parties, people would rather drink freely in their own residence which doesn’t relieve the problem.

If the affiliated organizations were to sign this policy, how will the school be able to monitor these parties? Unlike other college campuses, Cal Poly has satellite houses sprinkled everywhere around the city which is more difficult to control. The campus would have to hire a separate staff to drive around to each house every weekend which costs more money for the school that can be use more efficiently. The policy states that a social event would need a preapproved guest list but how are students going to consider the fact that some people may sneak in. There will be a need for hired security which will cost more money.

The most likely outcome to this policy is that some of the Greek members would host underground parties in obscure locations away from the school’s rules. College students will do their best to try to party as hard as they can in that limit amount of time causing more accidents to happen.

Although the policy has many flaws, there are some good rules that are fair to both the administration and the Greek organizations, such as not allowing people under 18 to attend these social events and having to review the alcohol education program. In the policy I think there should be compromises so the fraternities and sororities do not feel completely smothered.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and your dedication to Cal Poly.

Regards,
Cal Poly Student