Boston officials have temporarily banned all parties from MIT’s fraternities, sororities and independent student groups that are located off-campus in the city of Boston.
The move came a month after an 18-year-old student and fraternity member was injured during a party at a Kenmore Square frat house when he crashed through a skylight and fell four stories. However, Senior Associate Dean for Residential Life & Dining Henry J. Humphereys told The Tech, the school newspaper, “The concerns around assembly numbers are not related to a particular incident.”
The decision was made after Boston’s Inspectional Services Department surveyed nine residences in the city and determined they can’t guarantee safety at homes when the number of individuals in the building exceeds the posted residential occupancy, The Tech reports.
Although Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, many of the Greek houses and living groups are located just across the Charles River in Boston. Two-dozen fraternities and other independent living groups are located in Boston, according to WHDH. Not only does this impact MIT students, but students across the river that attend other Boston-based schools.
The Tech reports that this decision will impact 19 of the university’s 27 fraternities, 3 of the 6 sororities, and 2 of the 6 independent living groups.
The email Greek life participants and living groups received on Friday informed them of this decision and warned them that it may become a permanent ban, suggesting that if they decide to have a party soon, it may be their last.
“MIT is well aware of the hardship this will pose for our Boston-based organizations,” Assistant Dean of FSILGs (fraternities, sororities, and independent living groups) wrote in Friday’s email. “MIT will support our community during this temporary occupancy restriction.” Humphreys and Dean for Student Life Chris Colombo will be meeting with IFC, Panhel, and Living Group Council (LGC) leaders to discuss options for hosting large events, The Tech reports. “Groups are able to host events outside of their facilities, and Residential Life & Dining is working with other stakeholders to identify spaces on campus for groups to use,” wrote Humphreys.
FSILGs will learn more about the situation at a meeting this Thursday evening, says The Tech.