The the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association decided to pause events until March 24. (Devan Ridgway, WTIU)
Indiana University fraternity and sorority events, including parties, are back on campus after a three-week pause to address “health and safety concerns.”
The concerns of the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association, which initiated the pause, weren’t explained in detail.
About two dozen IU fraternities have been disciplined this year for hazing, sexual harassment and endangering others.
The IFC and PHA said the pause showed their accountability. But neither group would discuss what made them comfortable with resuming Greek events.
Read more: All fraternity, sorority social events on hold until March 24
The university didn’t respond to requests for information on the disciplinary process and preventative measures in place from the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life. Although that office advises the IFC and PHA, it did not make the decision to pause events.
This spring, the IU Police Department responded to reports of sexual battery and rape at Greek Life houses, including one reported during the pause.
In 2021, the PHA paused events because of increasing cases of sexual assaults in fraternities, and the association demanded the IFC take action. The next year, the two councils passed new health and safety regulations after sorority women “have long called for additional safety precautions,” the Indiana Daily Student reported.
Hannah Skibba, IUPD public information officer, said sexual violence is an issue on college campuses generally.
“IU is definitely not the only campus experiencing these same trends,” Skibba said.
Zoe Peterson, IU professor and senior scientist at the Kinsey Institute, said research shows a relationship between Greek life and sexual assault risk.
Men in fraternities are more likely to perpetrate sexual assault than college men who are not in fraternities, Peterson said. Men and women in Greek Life are more likely to be victims of sexual assault than those not in Greek Life.
Not all fraternities have the same risk. Peterson said fraternities with higher risks tend to promote attitudes such as disrespect toward women, sexism, sexual competition among the men, blaming victims of sexual assault and dismissing the significance of rape.
“Those kinds of all-male groups seem to be very high-risk environments for perpetration,” Peterson said.
Alcohol also increases risk, Peterson said.
Read more: IU’s Kappa Alpha Psi disbanded, can return in 2027
“Also the fact that so much of the socialization is controlled by the men,” Peterson said “The fact that it happens on the men's terms, that it happens in the fraternities where the men are in control of the environment, often in control of the transportation, in control of who gets to come and who doesn't.”
At the same time, Peterson said men can help by standing up against sexual assault and calling out bad behavior.
“All-male groups can be high risk environments, but I also think all-male groups can be protective environments,” Peterson said. “I actually really see a role for the for the Greek system and helping to prevent sexual assault and sexual violence.”
Generally, sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes. It’s difficult to know if an increase in reports of sexual assault means that it’s happening more often or if more people feel comfortable coming forward, Peterson said.
“What we're seeing in reports is always just the tiny tip of the iceberg,” Peterson said.
Read more: The ‘red zone’: Half of college sexual assaults occur during fall semester
Skibba said IUPD works with campus partners such the Title XI office and confidential victim advocates. Victims don’t need to press charges, Skibba said.
“We take all reports of sexual violence and sexual assault very seriously,” Skibba said. “Here at IU Police Department, if you are a victim, we are a safe place for you to come forward to, and we will get you connected to the resources that you need.”
Peterson said most approaches to stop sexual assault focus on teaching potential victims how to avoid sexual assault or teaching third parties how watch for risk factors and intervene. There needs to be more research on how to effectively stop perpetrators, she said.
Skibba said safety is everyone’s responsibility on and off campus.
“If you see something happening that kind of makes your stomach turn, you realize it's not right, if it's safe to do so, step up and say something,” Skibba said. “If it's not safe to intervene, go ahead and make the call to the IU police department, or just call 911.”
