Parties Gone Wrong

This is the time of year when many fraternities and sororities plan them parties. Whether Halloween parties, or mixers, the themes that are chosen say a great deal about the sponsoring organizations. Choose poorly, and your chapter's bad judgement could show up on YouTube or Facebook.


The following are not policies, rules, or punishable restrictions. They are simply suggestive measures and guidelines to help you and your chapters think about the way you represent yourselves to the larger campus community.

Before you party, ask yourself:

• Does this event rely on stereotypes of certain groups or encourage offensive dress?
• If both men and women are invited, or event if they are not, does the event/title stereotype one of those genders?
• Not sure if a theme is sexist? Try interchanging the word/them with a racial word/theme.
• Is your theme centered on "making fun" of a particular people/culture/campus group? Even if it is not, will people "go there?"
• Would you be willing to send photos of your event to your parents, your inter/national office, the campus newspaper, or your college/university president?

Adapted with permission from the Party Themes Resource Guide, developed by the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors; check it out.

Willis North America offers this educational information to provoke thought and discussion and it should not to be viewed as a mandate or requirement. We view part of our role as an insurance and risk management professional to anticipate your needs and educate you in an effort to complement the organization’s loss prevention and control efforts, not replace the decision making autonomy of organizations. We hope you find this educational piece to be of value and stand ready to discuss it further with you or any of your constituents.