Implementation of Dry Rush

The Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) passed a new policy in April of 1987 that required all fraternities on campus to have "dry rush" events. Any fraternity caught using "wet rush" events, or events with alcohol involved, would have resulted in a two week suspension of the fraternity from parties and other rush activities. The Dickinson Administration was supportive of the measure and made a point to state that it was not a policy that they forced upon the IFC. Many of the fraternities were happy with the policy, stating that it allowed for them to get to know the freshman better, due to everyone being able to meet each other while sober, but it also allowed the fraternities to emphasize the fact that membership in a fraternity was not solely based on drinking. The use of this policy reflected Dickinson's participation in a national trend, that grew within the United States during that time period, of limiting the use of alcohol on college campuses.