'Sober Monitors' to Now Patrol UVa Frat Parties

No kegs, strictly enforced guest lists, and at least three "sober and lucid" monitors is the new normal for fraternity and sorority parties at the University of Virginia. President Teresa Sullivan yesterday announced the changes to the university's Fraternal Organization Agreement and said the school would lift a ban on social events—but only if groups agree to the new safety regulations, the AP reports. Each chapter has until Jan. 16 to sign off on the new regulations, adds the Washington Post.The university had instituted the ban after a November Rolling Stone article (since found to have "discrepancies") alleged that a student had been raped at a 2012 frat party and that university response had been lacking, Reuters notes.

The new rules maintain that one of the sober monitors—all of whom must wear a label identifying them as such—must be posted where alcohol is being served, while another is required to keep tabs on any staircases leading to bedrooms and have "immediate key access to each room" of the fraternity house, the Post notes. Premixed drinks or any other "common source of alcohol" (including kegs) is prohibited; beer can be doled out in unopened cans, but wine can be poured and served only by a sober monitor. And that's if guests make it into the party: Under a section titled "Eliminating Discomfort and Chaos: Entry Management" is a mandate for a hired security guard at the entry door to check guest lists during "Tier I" events (larger parties); a frat member can monitor the list during smaller "Tier II" events. (A Slate columnist came under fire for linking rape to women's drinking.)