U-M president: Party culture will doom fraternities

University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel said he isn't trying to kill fraternities and sororities on his campus, but if they don't change their partying ways, they will likely self-destruct.

"It's not my ambition to get rid of fraternities and sororities," Schlissel told reporters after speaking to the Detroit Economic Club on Tuesday afternoon. "There's a tremendous amount of positive they bring to our campus."

But unless "the students moderate some of the risky behavior ... they may naturally wither and people may want to stop joining them," Schlissel said. “There is a culture problem not only among students of Greek life but significantly inside of Greek life having to do with the overuse of alcohol, which really does need to be moderated.”

Greek life at U-M has been increasingly in the news, starting with the January trashing of a northern Michigan resort by a U-M fraternity. In late summer, U-M officials met with representatives from several national Greek organizations that have local chapters on the U-M campus. They pitched having "house moms" return to frats in an effort to see more experienced adults involved in the day-to-day life of campus Greek organizations. The hope is that having adult advisers around will help combat behavioral issues in the campus’ Greek life.

Schlissel met with fraternity and sorority members in September, when, according to the Michigan Daily, the student newspaper, he said the partying culture of Greek life hurts U-M's reputation.

He repeated that assertion again Tuesday.

"Parties at frats and sororities send the wrong message that the University of Michigan is a party school and not a serious research university," he said.

Schlissel also touted the good that fraternities and sororities do, from raising funds for charities to helping students connect at a large university.

"The challenge is many of them engage in risky behavior," Schlissel said.

About a quarter of the university's student population belongs to a fraternity or sorority.

Schlissel is particularly concerned about heavy drinking. Liquor law arrests at U-M rose from 202 in 2013 to 254 in 2014, while liquor law violations referred for disciplinary action increased from 1,234 in 2013 to 1,429 in 2014, according to federal crime statistics released by the university this month.

The university is stepping up its role in taking action against students with drinking problems. Earlier this year, the university announced it would notify parents when first-year students have more than one alcohol-related issue.

Contact David Jesse: 313-222-8851 or djesse@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterdavidj