Ohio drinking laws differ from sorority regulations
Kristin Kepplinger
Issue date: 10/9/09 Section: Campus
For many Miami University students, succumbing to boredom at obligatory sporting events or family activities is the biggest risk associated with Family Weekend. But for female students in sororities, a visit from mom and dad could create a tricky legal situation.
Ohio state law allows people under the age of 21 to consume alcoholic beverages under the supervision of parents or legal guardians, according to the state of Ohio's Web site.
However, the Miami University Alcohol Use Policy for Greek Letter Organizations states, "Alcoholic beverages may not be purchased for, served to, or sold to underage persons … at any event an observer would associate with the chapter."
In addition, each sorority governing council has policies that prohibit alcohol consumption by members under the age of 21, according to the policy.
These conflicting rules create a confusing situation when parents visit as part of a sorority sponsored parent's weekend.
Lexi Baltazar, public relations chair for Miami's chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma, said her sorority's stricter policy takes precedence over the state's alcohol law for parents' weekends.
"Kappa Kappa Gamma's national policy is that there is absolutely no drinking if you are under 21, period," Baltazar said. "It can get tricky because legally you are allowed to drink, but then you have to deal with Kappa national headquarters."
April Robles, director of Greek affairs at Miami, said although she hasn't seen any cases involving this issue at the National Panhellenic or Interfraternity Council level, members of Greek organizations must consider how others might interpret their behavior.
"If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, then it's a duck," Robles said. "If it's a group of students that appear to be a part of a (Greek) organization, it could be construed as a chapter function."
Robles said when students communicate in some way that they are members of a sorority or fraternity, such as by wearing Greek letters, they should be especially mindful of how their behavior might be perceived by others.
Ohio state law allows people under the age of 21 to consume alcoholic beverages under the supervision of parents or legal guardians, according to the state of Ohio's Web site.
However, the Miami University Alcohol Use Policy for Greek Letter Organizations states, "Alcoholic beverages may not be purchased for, served to, or sold to underage persons … at any event an observer would associate with the chapter."
In addition, each sorority governing council has policies that prohibit alcohol consumption by members under the age of 21, according to the policy.
These conflicting rules create a confusing situation when parents visit as part of a sorority sponsored parent's weekend.
Lexi Baltazar, public relations chair for Miami's chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma, said her sorority's stricter policy takes precedence over the state's alcohol law for parents' weekends.
"Kappa Kappa Gamma's national policy is that there is absolutely no drinking if you are under 21, period," Baltazar said. "It can get tricky because legally you are allowed to drink, but then you have to deal with Kappa national headquarters."
April Robles, director of Greek affairs at Miami, said although she hasn't seen any cases involving this issue at the National Panhellenic or Interfraternity Council level, members of Greek organizations must consider how others might interpret their behavior.
"If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, then it's a duck," Robles said. "If it's a group of students that appear to be a part of a (Greek) organization, it could be construed as a chapter function."
Robles said when students communicate in some way that they are members of a sorority or fraternity, such as by wearing Greek letters, they should be especially mindful of how their behavior might be perceived by others.
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