Rutgers bans fraternity, sorority house parties after student's death

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (WPVI) -- Rutgers University has banned house parties at fraternities and sororities for the rest of the spring semester after several alcohol-related problems this school year.

That includes the death of 19-year-old Caitlyn Kovacs of Monmouth Junction. She died of alcohol poisoning after a party in September.

The probation was decided last week but announced by the university Monday.

"Rutgers takes seriously its commitment to maintaining a healthy and safe campus environment," the university said in a statement.

Greek organizations will still be able to hold spring formals and other events off campus where a third-party vendor may serve alcohol.

"It's going to change the last few weeks of school, but it's nothing. If anything it helps us focus more on the real reason why we are here, which is to work toward our philanthropy and grow as a sisterhood," said Allie Sayde.

"I see where the administration's coming from, but I just don't think it's fair to a lot of the other Greek organizations that do a lot of good for the community," said student Connor Gibbons.

The ban comes at a time when fraternities have had a run of bad publicity.

At the University of Oklahoma, fraternity members were caught on video singing a racist song; investigators have been looking into allegations that a Penn State fraternity had a private Facebook group with pictures of nude and partially nude women, some of them asleep or unconscious; there have been allegations that members of a Dartmouth fraternity were being branded in a hazing ritual; and two organizations at North Carolina State have been shut down, one over a sexist and racist book, another over sexual assault allegations.