The Interfraternity Council implemented a party patrol system last semester that will be reinforced this semester.

Steve Sliga, IFC’s vice president of activities, said “the party patrol went well (last semester) and got people thinking about alcohol awareness.” Sliga said improvements are still needed in the party patrol system.

Patrols will begin Thursday night and continue on Friday and Saturday nights. Each patrol consists of one IFC representative and two additional members from any of the IFC fraternities from different NIU chapters.

Patrols must go to each party registered in the Office of University Programming and Activities. Parties must be registered by 4 p.m. the day of the party.

On Thursday night, the patrol goes once through each fraternity house having a party and then takes “a general walk of Greek Row,” Sliga said.

Two different patrols check the parties on Friday and Saturday nights and walk through Greek Row. One group goes out at the earliest possible starting time (the time parties begin) and the second group goes out an hour later, Sliga said. Starting times vary.

The patrols are responsible for checking after hours/parties and mixers to ensure all IFC policies are being enforced. The monitors have a checklist to fill out and turn in the following day.

Items on the checklist for mixers include food and an alternative (non alcoholic) beverage must be available at all times, grain alcohol cannot be served as the main beverage, there must be at least one sober monitor, dispensing of alcohol must comply with the guidelines and people who appear to be drunk should not be served.

The checklist for after hours/parties has a few items in addition to the mixer guidelines. Party patrol members must check to see if the chapter is using a ticket system, if the chapter is charging money for the event, if the numbers of the late night ride service and the Huskie 3 & 4 bus routes are clearly posted, and if anyone but the bartenders are serving alcohol.

When policy guidelines are violated, the checklist is reviewed by the IFC judicial board, who can decide the appropriate action to take. The most common disciplinary action is a monetary fine.