Transcript Maximizing Fun & Minimizing Risk

Maximizing Fun &
Minimizing Risk
Fraternity & Sorority Life
Social Host Training - 2008
Introductions
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IFC
MGC
PHC
Drexel University Special Guests
FSL Staff
FSL Goals for Social Host
Training
Help You Answer the Question, “What is
up with all of these rules?”
Help you to be a successful
fraternity/sorority leader at Drexel University
Help you to be safe while having fun
In the “good old days”…
What Happened?!
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Tort law in the US shifted to the
plaintiff’s side of the courtroom
By 1986, men’s national fraternities
were ranked 6th worst risk in the
insurance industry
Insurance companies became
reluctant to or simply refused to cover
Greeks
(FIPG Manual, 2007)
What Happened?!
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FIPG, Inc. was formed – 1987
– Composed of nearly 50 national fraternities and
sororities
– Represents 70% of all undergraduate f/s
members
– Risk Management plan is considered the
standard for organizations & campuses
(FIPG Manual, 2007)
Why Risk Management?
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The long-term viability of fraternities
and sororities depend upon good risk
management
Keeps our members safer and reduces
loss levels and insurance costs
Improves and enhances the image &
reputation of Greek-letter
organizations
(Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, 2005 & FIPG, Inc. 2007)
What’s My Role in Risk
Management?
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Chapter President
Chapter Executive Board
– Social Chairman
– House Manager
– Risk Manager
Chapter President
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Considered to be the ultimate person
responsible for implementing a RM program
Must draft, understand, and be prepared to
administer a crisis management plan
Review national and university policies with
the chapter each term
Ensure that chapter policies comply with
federal, state, city, and university policy
Demonstrate leadership & Walk the Talk
Social Chairman
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Industrial strength partier ≠ Positive choice
for Social Chairman
Must ask “what if?”
Understand & know all relevant policies
Coordinate planning of social events with
chapter Risk Manager
Coordinate security and identification of
guests at all events with alcohol
Plan for member & guest safety
House Manager
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Vital member of the Risk Management
Team
Work cooperatively with Drexel
University Fire & Life Safety to ensure
routine evaluation of chapter house
Organize and conduct periodic
emergency/evacuation drills
Risk Management Chair
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Assist President with development of
chapter crisis management plan & chapter
risk management plan
Coordinate educational sessions for
members and pledged members
Assume leadership role in forms of risk
management
Assist Social Chairman in the coordination of
events with alcohol
Drexel University
Fraternity & Sorority Life
Social Events with Alcohol Policy
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The social component of Fraternity &
Sorority Life is highly valued by Drexel
University. All policies shall be implemented
in a way that promotes the responsible use
of alcohol. Further, each chapter is expected
to adhere to all federal, state and local laws
as they pertain to building and fire safety as
well as the consumption of alcohol and
other substances.
General Policy
Statements
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All fraternity-sponsored events must comply
with applicable law, University AND National
Risk Management policy
All chapter house event/functions where
alcohol will be present must be registered
with FSL in the time indicated on the Event
Policies, Procedures, and Request Form.
Late registration will result in non-approval
of the activity.
FSL Specifics
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No alcoholic beverage may be purchased through
chapter funds nor may the purchase of same for
members or guests be undertaken or coordinated
by any member in the name of, or on behalf of, the
chapter or on behalf of the members for a chapter
event.
– WHY? Because furnishing alcohol to guests exposes the
chapter and its officers to liability.
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No shots, drinking games or common-source
containers (e.g. kegs) are tolerated at any chaptersponsored event.
– WHY? Because these activities greatly increase the risk of
harm to the individuals involved and make it difficult to
monitor guests.
FSL Specifics
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Guests: the number of guests at a social
event/function should never exceed the
maximum capacity of the chapter house.
No open parties are allowed (must use
guest lists)
– WHY? We have potential liability for all guests
and, therefore, must monitor who is allowed to
attend the event.
– Guest List - The participating chapter(s) must
submit an original guest list at least 2 business
days before the event.
FSL Specifics
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The possession, sale or use of any ILLEGAL
DRUGS or CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES is
strictly forbidden
Advertising - Chapters may not advertise a
social event/function at which alcohol will be
present (i.e. no flyers, posters, Triangle
advertisements, Facebook ads, mass emails,
etc.).
FSL Specifics
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Social Host Training - All chapter
presidents, risk management
chairpersons and social chairpersons
must attend the Social Host Training
Session sponsored by FSL. Failure to
attend will result in suspension of
social privileges until the
aforementioned chapter officers
attend the next training.
Who Is Eligible to Sponsor
Events with Alcohol in Their
Chapter House?
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Alpha Chi Rho Fraternity
Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity
Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity
Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity
Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity
Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity
Event Registration
Brotherhood Only Event – NO guests
1:1 Invitation/Date Event – 1 guest/date per member
 Event with Non-Members - These events are by
invitation only, where non-members are in attendance and capacity
stays within the facility’s maximum occupancy of its assembly space.
One (1) Security Officer at the perimeter and one (1) at the point of
entry
 Multi-Chapter Event -
Event hosted by more than one
chapter, where non-members are in attendance and capacity stays
within the facility’s maximum occupancy of its space. These events are
by invitation only. One (1) Security Officer at the perimeter and one (1)
at the point of entry
 Alumni Event –
members only
Alumni members and undergraduate
Guidelines for Event
Scheduling
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Guest lists must be submitted in the time
specified to the Office of the Dean of
Students or to [email protected]
Each chapter may have two (2) events with
Non-Members per term with the ability to
request more.
There may be no more than three (3)
events with Non-Members on any given
night.
These events may only occur on Thursday,
Friday and Saturday, with no event starting
before 6pm and ending past 2 A.M.
Friendly Reminder…
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Non-Alcoholic Social
Programming = No Events
with Alcohol
Host Responsibilities
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Register event with FSL
Events/Functions with alcohol in chapter
houses must be BYOB.
Members and guests bringing alcohol into
an event must be of legal drinking age.
There must be a closed bar area with
designated non-drinking servers to
redistribute alcohol to those of legal drinking
age. Alcohol may NOT be redistributed from
any area of the fraternity house except for a
closed bar area.
Host Responsibilities
(cont.)
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Admission is limited to chapter members
and invited guests only. A current chapter
roster(s) and a copy of the guest list must
be at the entrance to the social function at
all times.
No temporary guest lists are permitted.
“Greek Privilege” is not permitted.
The chapter(s) shall record the names of all
guests entering the event/function (name
and address). Bring list to FSL by Monday
following event.
Host Responsibilities
(cont.)
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Identification: The host chapter(s) shall require ALL
persons entering the social event/function to
provide a driver's license or other picture
identification card issued by a state or federal
agency establishing proof of age before entering.
Persons without proper identification are never
admitted.
The sponsoring chapter(s) shall have at least two
initiated members at the entrance to the
event/function checking ID and monitoring the
guest list. Social functions shall be serviced by a
single entrance.
Host Responsibilities
(cont.)
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Wristbands/Bracelets: The host
chapter(s) must provide
wristbands/bracelets to guests of legal
drinking age. Markers, stamps or other
easily duplicated means to identify
guests are prohibited.
Host Responsibilities
(cont.)
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For all events, it is the host(s)’
responsibility to ensure that any given
time the number of people within the
chapter house does not exceed the
maximum capacity.
No open alcoholic containers may
enter or leave the function.
Host Responsibilities
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Chapters are responsible for providing
non-alcoholic beverages and “nonsalty” food for the duration of any
social event/function involving the use
of alcohol.
Liability & Consequences
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So what does it mean to be held
liable?
Who can be held liable in these
situations?
What might the consequences be
when held liable?
Individual
– Be sued for damages, emotional injury,
etc. and possibly have to pay
compensation
– Your parents’ homeowners policy
– Have criminal charges pressed again you
– Go to court and possibly serve jail time
– Permanent record - will be seen by future
employers, graduate school admissions,
etc.
Fraternity
– The president, VP, and risk management
team may be called into court even if
they did not participate and possible jail
time and fines can be given
– Chapter disciplinary action
Liability
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To be liable is to be held responsible for
some act or event that causes harm or
damage to another. If you are found liable,
you may have to pay the damages that are
a result of the act or event. Damages
usually are in dollar amounts and
compensate for:
Property damage or destruction
 Physical injury; emotional pain; rehabilitation
 Legal expenses
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Types of Liability
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Social Host Liability
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Dram Shop Liability
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One assumes this liability when they host/co-host an event
where alcohol is served or allowed to be consumed. The
event host is responsible for any “injury” that occurs as a
result of an intoxicated person harmed or that individual
harming or “injuring” another party.
Obligation of licensed vendors to not serve minors or
intoxicated individuals. If they do, they can be held liable for
damages that individual caused. This can sometimes be
applicable to fraternity/sorority parties.
Proprietor Liability
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Legal duty of property owners to maintain a safe facility and
grounds for residents, users, and visitors. Who has access?
What is foreseeable? Is the property safe?
Negligence
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In order to determine if someone or an
organization is liable, a determination of
negligence has to occur. Negligence is a
claim against you or your organization that
you did not act responsibly, as determined
by the court.
Negligence (cont.)
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Foreseeable
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Is there any past history in regard to what
happened in the incident that would have been an
indication that a person could be “injured in the
future?” Did you take corrective action to prevent
a second incident?
Duty of Care
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The obligation a person or organization accepts in
protecting the safety and well-being of others. If
a safety hazard or risk is recognizable or
foreseeable, one has to put in place measures
that minimize or eliminate this risk.
MYTH #1
An individual member can’t be
held liable for an event he/she
sponsors at his/her private
residence.
Here’s the Truth:
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Most states have laws that incriminate a
social host who serves alcohol to minors. If
not, civil remedies are available to a person
alleging injury after attending an event
hosted by a chapter member. In addition,
the member’s parents may be held liable for
the actions of the member if he/she hosts a
party and someone gets hurt.
MYTH #2
If it’s not an official chapter
event, my chapter can’t be
legally liable for anything that
happens.
Here’s the Truth:
Your chapter/fraternity can be held
liable if someone would reasonably
perceive the event as a chapter
event.
Duck Theory
If it walks like a duck & sounds like a duck,
then it’s a duck
Any competent attorney will try to prove that
the event was sponsored by the chapter.
MYTH #3
My chapter is only responsible
or liable for making sure our
chapter members follow risk
management policies.
Here’s the Truth:
In the case of a function officially or
unofficially sponsored by more than one
fraternity/sorority, all groups involved are
equally responsible for ensuring that risk
management policies, as well as university, state and
local rules and regulations, are being followed by and
for all guests.
Do not assume that since the event
may be held at another organization’s facility that you
are not responsible. If your group is involved, you are
liable.
MYTH #4
If someone doesn’t drink at a
chapter sponsored event, the
fraternity isn’t responsible.
Here’s the Truth:
If someone shows up to a chapter event
intoxicated, the chapter may become legally
responsible for getting that person home
safely; if this person leaves the event
and proceeds to injure themselves,
someone else, or any property, you and
your chapter can be held responsible for the
damage.
So Now What?!
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Myth: I can never drink with my
fraternity again!
Truth: Bottom line - act responsibly!
Resources
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Fraternity Constitution & Bylaws
Chapter Bylaws
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FIPG Risk Management Manual
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Fraternity Crisis Management Guide
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