In response to the recent alcohol-related death of a University of Iowa student, Iowa State is reviewing all university policies that deal with alcohol.

Tom Thielen, ISU’s vice president for student affairs, called for the review in light the Sept. 7 death of Matthew Garofalo, 19, a pledge at Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity on the Iowa campus.

“I’ve asked to have a good look taken at all of our policies related to alcohol to make sure we’re doing what we say we’re doing,” Thielen said. “Certainly it’s a tragic thing and something that could happen anywhere.”

Garofalo passed out and vomited into his lungs after drinking a large quantity of alcohol, said Victory Edwards, assistant Johnson County medical examiner. The vomit caused the lining of Garofalo’s lungs to swell and produce fluid, depriving his body of oxygen, Edwards said.

A medical examiner’s report showed Garofalo had a blood-alcohol content of 0.188 percent. Motorists are considered intoxicated at 0.1 percent.

Garofalo attended a party at the Lambda Chi Alpha house the night before his death. He was found dead about noon the next day.

Though Garofalo was a member of Iowa’s greek system, Thielen said alcohol abuse is not endemic to fraternities. He said it is a societal concern and “certainly an issue” at ISU as well.

“It probably could be more of an issue for fraternities because they are more active,” Thielen said, “but I think it’s a campus-wide problem.”

Jamie Smith, president of ISU’s InterFraternity Council, said Garofalo’s death has served as an eye-opening experience for council members and all greek students.

“It’s certainly brought [alcohol abuse] a little more to the forefront of our minds,” he said. “We’ve refocused our energy. It’s a reminder that we need to continue following the policies that we do have. We’ve always been really strict, though.”

Smith said IFC has an umbrella policy that requires fraternities to follow all local and national laws. Chapters cannot condone alcohol abuse, he added.

Jim Kaucher, IFC’s vice president for risk management, said fraternity parties or “after hours” are subject to strict scrutiny. All fraternity-sponsored parties, he said, must be held on a BYOB (Bring Your Own Booze) basis, and no chapter funds can be used to purchase alcoholic beverages.

Alternative food and beverages must also be provided, he said. Party-goers must be at least 18 years of age to enter, 21 to drink, and, Kaucher said, IDs are checked at the door.

“I’ve seen people turned away in several cases,” he said.

According to IFC regulations, those of legal drinking age must turn in their beer at the door of a party in exchange for tickets that can be redeemed at the bar. Kaucher said the fraternity members working the door and the bar remain sober and will prevent those who have had too much to drink from consuming more alcohol.

“Fraternities also have two members of their executive council that have to stay sober at a party,” he said.

Members of IFC’s Party Evaluation Team are present at fraternity parties, Kaucher said, to point out to organizers possible violations of IFC regulations. If a party is found to have violated IFC rules, fines are issued by the Standards Board. More severe violations carry stiffer penalties.

Kaucher said any myths about out-of-control fraternity parties at ISU are unfounded. He said Garofalo’s death is an isolated incident that isn’t likely to occur at ISU.

“I don’t think that could happen here,” he said. “Our members are more educated than Iowa’s. We have a close-knit greek system.”

Social chairs from ISU’s 36 fraternities will undergo training this week at IFC’s Social Chair Round Table. All fraternity parties, Kaucher said, will be under tighter scrutiny.

Pending the outcome of a University of Iowa investigation into Garofalo’s death, state Board of Regents President Marvin Pomerantz said the Regents themselves may re-examine alcohol policies at Iowa, Iowa State and Northern Iowa.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report.