The Interfraternity Council at the University of California, Berkeley announced new measures over the weekend that aim to protect fellow students from sexual assault.
The new guidelines came after student leaders voluntarily suspended parties over the weekend after two women reported being sexually assaulted at off-campus fraternity events earlier this month. The ban affected all fraternities and sororities officially recognized by UC Berkeley.
Fraternity and sorority members met last weekend behind closed doors to discuss new party standards, which include giving guests consent guidelines, having at least three sober members on-call and fining members up to $20 if they’re caught with hard alcohol. Campus newspaper The Daily Californian also reports that each organization contribute to a roster with contact information of sober monitors, risk managers and presidents. Student leaders lifted the party ban after announcing the new regulations, which will affect all fraternities and sororities on campus that are affiliated with the IFC or Panhellenic Council.
This new measure reflects a wider trend of sexual assault prevention measures at universities across the nation. In September, one of Princeton’s “eating clubs” adopted a consent pledge required to enter their social events. Stanford University instituted a hard alcohol ban on campus after the controversial sentencing of former student Brock Turner. And in the wake of the now-debunked Rolling Stone article about sexual assault on campus, the University of Virginia instituted a new policy requiring three sober monitors to attend parties in early 2015.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Jane Fonda Champions Climate Action for Every Generation
- Biden’s Campaign Is In Trouble. Will the Turnaround Plan Work?
- Why We're Spending So Much Money Now
- The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To
- Breaker Sunny Choi Is Heading to Paris
- Why TV Can’t Stop Making Silly Shows About Lady Journalists
- The Case for Wearing Shoes in the House
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com