This post was updated May 11 at 7:44 p.m.

Editor’s Note: The following article contains mentions of sexual assault.

I was dead sober at my first fraternity party.

Consequently, I heard, saw and felt everything.

I heard the spray of a water gun over the crowded floor, which I would later smell and realize was beer. I saw a glaze over people’s eyes as intoxication clouded their senses. I felt the gaze of fraternity members standing on tables, as they looked on from above.

To clarify, I was absolutely fine at this party.

I stayed with other people the whole time and got home in a safe and timely manner. But despite that, I could not shake this feeling of discomfort. Further, I was haunted by the fact that other women seemed less disturbed by these dynamics than I did.

My curiosity led me to inquire into how other women perceive interactions at fraternity parties.

I soon came to realize that given the knowledge of potential dangers, women have the right to exert their autonomy in any way they see fit and should do so with awareness of the social imbalances that fraternity parties perpetuate by nature.

Shayda Shafa, a third-year psychology student, said her experiences attending fraternity parties initially began as a way to socialize during the evenings.

“My friends and I were just looking for something to do, and a frat party was one of the only available things, and then from there on, we kind of just kept going,” Shafa said.

Shafa is correct, for the most part. Despite the numerous campus happenings during the day, there are rarely events going strong after midnight.

Mia Berbera, a first-year business economics student, also said that she enjoyed dancing at parties and often felt empowered by fellow women in attendance.

“Every time we see girls at frats, it’s a very positive experience,” Berbera said. “There’s that sisterhood there.”

While it is true that some may experience an increased sense of community among female students at such events, there are undeniable dangers and uncertainties associated with attending fraternity parties. It is imperative that party attendees are aware of these dangers.

A 2019 survey commissioned by the Association of American Universities looking at sexual assault and misconduct on university campuses found that more than 25% of undergraduate women report experiencing sexual assault, with proportions highest during the first year of college.

Further, alcohol, which is often present at fraternity parties, has both a psychological and pharmacological link to sexual assault, according to a study from the National Library of Medicine.

UCLA is not exempt from this in any manner.

In 2024, there were at least two reports of UCLA fraternity party attendees being drugged, with one being sent to the emergency room.

With that in mind, UCLA said in an emailed statement that safety and risk prevention are the top priorities of the school and the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life. This office works closely with UCPD to address any and all safety concerns.

Both Shafa and Berbera said that they have never had experiences of this nature at UCLA fraternity parties. But that does not stop them from taking precautions.

“If you plan on going to a frat, definitely make sure that you are with a group of friends,” Shafa said. “Make sure that your friends are looking out for you, and if you are in a time of distress, that they will be by your side.”

Everyone has different encounters and interactions that inform their opinions about fraternity parties. However, positive experiences do not negate the power imbalance that pervades these events.

Journalist Jessica Bennett wrote a piece for Time magazine about the power dynamics that still exist within fraternities. Although it was written more than a decade ago, her message remains relevant today.

Bennett said that fraternities may work in an egalitarian society. But because of the inequality that still exists today, fraternities perpetuate and normalize a white, male-dominated culture.

It is honestly heartbreaking that to fully participate in a well-attended social event, such as a fraternity party, women have to be prepared for anything while having multiple precautionary measures in place to stay safe.

Thus, my message to female readers remains clear: Be careful, because your safety is never guaranteed.

It is unnerving to write such words. However, this is the world we live in.

Nonetheless, it is my hope that we, as the next generation of leaders, can fix it.

In the meantime, I hope UCLA women are able to keep living their lives to the fullest. If they get that joy from attending fraternity parties, so be it. But I urge them to do so guided by a strong sense of caution.

So to the women of UCLA: Have fun, be safe and work for a future where we are not in danger by virtue of our gender.