Drinking orgies have long been identified with the greek system.

This reputation is not however, without foundation. In the words of Sigma Phi Epsilon President Steve Coloia, “Insurance companies do not want to cover fraternities anymore.”

And with good reason.

Why would any insurance company want to be liable for a group of mostly-underage, single, college men?

For reasons that are probably economic, the national chapters of five fraternities on campus will no longer take out liability insurance for local chapters. This reduces the national chapters’ risks in the event of lawsuits which often stem from fraternity parties.

Open fraternity parties at NIU should be banned altogether. The parties only seem to cause problems for those who attend and the fraternities themselves.

It’s about time fraternities are forced to be liable not only for their own behavior, but also for the conduct of everyone who enters their houses. It’s too bad, however they must be forced to take this responsibility.