Editorial
Paper-Thin Policy

It looks like it's finally over. The treaty has been signed, reparations will be paid and everyone will be able to leave the table with a modicum of dignity and self-respect. Unfortunately, rarely do words on paper have the final say and the new and improved Greek Social Code is no exception. The new code suffers from the same blind spots and lip service that previous policy did even though it seems miles ahead-or at least, miles longer-than its 2002 predecessor.

The version approved by the Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils last week lays out very specific security requirements for parties depending upon the number of attendees. It officially establishes a chapter of Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol that checks in on registered parties and coordinates with university officials and the UC Police Department, if necessary. It also sets up a rating system that softens security requirements for smaller parties and should make it easier for Greeks to register them.

But what neither university nor Greek officials mention is that most of the changes supposedly written into the code already exist. GAMMA was adopted over the summer and most of the regulations are already practiced by Greeks when they do register their parties.

Aside from being little more than a formalization of current practices, the Greek Social Code is hamstrung by its own assumption that most Greeks will willingly register all their parties. All of the new code's detailed instructions for parties apply to registered parties, and the university hasn't formulated any effective policy for dealing with the unregistered ones. The councils have done their best to encourage individual houses to register parties in keeping with the new guidelines, but without an incentive, there is no reason for them to do so.

But with these changes now on paper, the university isn't really expecting more of Greeks nor is it getting any more involved than it has to. As IFC President Andy Solari boasted, "It allows us to regulate ourselves, and that's exactly what we want to be doing." No kidding-the Greeks get to do exactly what they were doing before the moratorium. Now that's real change.

Of course the university wants to wash its hands of the matter. But it has left too many issues unresolved. It has yet to deal with the fraternities not associated with either the Interfraternity or Panhellenic councils. That's a pretty sticky issue given that the nonaffiliated Kappa Alpha Psi's out-of-control ferry party contributed to the moratorium.

But the university has taken care of its business: It has a written document that it can point to and hide behind when the next fraternity-related fiasco comes around.

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