Last fall, MIT made national headlines when a first-year died from binge drinking at a campus fraternity party.

His fraternity brothers allegedly left him in the basement to choke on his own vomit, and the family is threatening to sue.

This year, the elite science and technology school is taking drastic steps to prevent another tragedy.

In a letter this summer announcing the most drastic in a series of changes, MIT President Charles M. Vest said that in the fall of 2001 all first-year students would be housed on campus.

For the nearly 2,000 MIT undergraduates who participate in the school's Greek system, the death of Scott Krueger has meant a dramatic change in their residential lives.

Summer Has Ended

Before Krueger's death, says Iido Gilon--who presided over the Institute's Inter-fraternity Council last year--fraternity life was "very social and a lot of fun--very upbeat."

But Gilon says that is no longer the case. Pressure from the MIT administration--in the form of disciplinary action--has reshaped Greek life at MIT and students live in fear that they will suffer the consequences for the actions of a few.

"Students have become aware they have to become a lot more careful," Gilon says.

MIT now finds itself struggling to redefine how students will live and spend their time, with a residential system that has a cherished history but a reputation for disaster.

Fraternities don't know how they will revamp the pledging process, but they are guaranteed a significant drop in income and it is possible first-years, no longer driven to fraternities for lack of campus housing, might choose never to pledge.

Vest's new housing plan will go into effect as soon as MIT's new $25 million dormitory is completed. The building will hold up to 350 students.

Vest said the new housing system was part of the Institute's desire to "enhanc[e] our educational community and better integrat[e] student life and learning."

The MIT president chose his words carefully, recalling the vision outlined by his own Task Force on Student Life and Learning.

Now a cliche among Institute reformers, the "educational triad" of education, research and community is a battle cry for a more integrated academic and social life--ending the traditional divide between frat and classroom.