Soda may actually be the beverage of choice for the next generation of fraternity members.

Sigma Nu and Phi Delta Theta are making history as two of the first major national fraternities to ban alcohol in their chapter houses. National officials for both fraternities made the announcement earlier this week. More fraternities are expected to follow.

Sigma Nu and Phi Delta Theta officials hope to have the policy in place by the year 2000. Until now, the only national fraternity that prohibited alcohol in its chapter houses was the Kansas City-based FarmHouse Fraternity.

The goal, fraternity officials say, is to reinvent the traditional binge-drinking image of the fraternity member. It is hoped the new image will be of a college student who is more interested in his college education than slamming a golden brew.

“They’re coming to school to get an education, and they need a family and some friends. They want a clean, safe house where they can study and hang out,” said Phi Delta Theta spokesman Robert Pasquinicci.

So far, 11 Phi Delta Theta chapters have already adapted the alcohol-free policy. ISU’s Phi Delta Theta chapter hasn’t yet made the conversion.

ISU’s Sigma Nu chapter went dry last year.

Fraternity officials cite many alcohol-related problems, including deaths, as reasons for the ban.

During the 1995 fall semester, freshman Matt Garofalo of a Lambda Chi Alpha chapter at the University of Iowa died of alcohol poisoning. The U of I chapter lost its charter as a result of the incident, and university officials imposed a moratorium on alcohol at greek parties.

Garofalo’s death also prompted ISU officials to do an extensive review of all of ISU’s alcohol policies.

Already with three dry fraternities — Sigma Nu, FarmHouse and Alpha Sigma Phi — ISU may be ahead of the pack.

Ty Henderson, president of ISU’s FarmHouse chapter, said in banning alcohol at the chapter house, FarmHouse “wanted to be a pioneer and leader in that respect.”

Henderson said the policy is an asset when recruiting members and from risk management and insurance standpoints. “By choosing to live in a substance-free house, you don’t choose to ignore that alcohol is part of the American culture,” Henderson said, adding that the policy doesn’t mean FarmHouse members don’t go to bars.

Other local greek reactions to the Sigma Nu and Phi Delta Theta announcements were mixed.

Lydia Hove, a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, said, “I think it is a great idea. I think it will override the stereotype that fraternities are all about parties and drinking.”

ISU Theta Chi President Jason Drake said his chapter will remain “wet.”

“This is nothing that we will attempt until our nationals say for us to do so. I think that [the policy] is limiting to older guys in the house,” he said.

Matt Hanson, a senior in advertising and former member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, said, “For me personally, I don’t think that this would have affected going into a house as much because I did not see beer as a big part of college life then.”

Hanson said he does not think the trend toward dry fraternities will necessarily cut down on alcohol consumption, but rather result in “side-stepping” of the rules.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report.