Tuesday’s meeting to discuss alcohol policy guidelines implemented by Greek Row was canceled due to one member’s illness.

InterFraternity Council President Tom Zur suffered from illness and the IFC Executive Board meeting, scheduled to discuss which guidelines would be “required” and which would be “recommended,” was canceled.

The 15 guidelines, supported by NIU’s fraternity and sorority chapter presidents, are comprised of a mixture of policies enforced by each chapter’s national headquarters, Greek Activities Adviser Jeff Cufaude said.

The chapter presidents and advisers from each house reviewed those national policies and found a list of about 30 requirements common to all greek organizations, he said.

Of those guidelines, the presidents and advisers chose 15 they thought would be most applicable and enforceable for NIU’s greeks, Cufaude said.

Violations of decided guideline requirements will be dealt with by the InterFraternity Council/Panhellenic Judicial Board, Cufaude said.

He said any violation will be dealt with independently because “if you set a punishment, people determine (whether) it’s worth the punishment.”

The judicial board has six IFC members and six Panhellenic members, he said.

Lambda Chi Alpha Vice President Gregg Bliss said, “I think it’s about time Greek Row took the responsibility to monitor themselves.”

Lambda Chi Fraternity Educator Jim Valentine said, “A good portion of Greek Row doesn’t know what’s going on.” He said it will work only if the students want it to work.

Valentine said once the “wet rush” members of fraternities rotate out of the houses and the “dry rush” members rotate into the office positions, there probably will be a decreased emphasis on alcohol use.

The 15 guidelines were approved last semester at chapter meetings from each house.

The process of determining which guidelines will be required is now at a standstill because last night’s meeting was canceled.

Cufaude said the “key is to educate people” about alcohol abuse.

He said the newly adopted policy will affect the fraternities more than sororities, since fraternities host social functions, but “we need to educate the women just as much.”

One reason the guidelines were created was liability against the greeks if someone was injured or something was damaged during a greek social function.

Cufaude said the chapters already have put into effect that each chapter must sponsor, as part of its pledge/associate member education, a program on alcohol awareness and drunk driving.

Another guideline the chapters are following is that each semester, social chairpersons must attend a bartender’s training program and an alcohol education seminar.

Kelly Ward, IFC secretary/treasurer, said the guidelines are “just a formality” since “a lot of the houses do these things already.”

Further discussion on guideline requirements are tentatively set for the Feb. 2 IFC and Panhellenic Council meetings.