Concerns about sexual assault linked to all-male fraternities have prompted some universities to reconsider the structure of their Greek life systems. Wesleyan University, under the leadership of its president, undertook significant reforms beginning in 2014 aimed at reducing risks associated with single-sex residential fraternities.

During the early 2010s, Wesleyan confronted a pattern of disciplinary incidents tied to its all-male fraternities. Reports indicated excessive alcohol use at fraternity parties, with some students requiring medical attention. Additionally, accounts of sexual assault surfaced, leading to increased scrutiny. A campus survey revealed that nearly half of undergraduates felt less safe in fraternity settings compared to other social venues. Correspondingly, members of these fraternities were found to violate university regulations at twice the rate of nonmembers.

In response, the student government passed a resolution calling for all residential Greek organizations to either become coeducational or disband. Faculty and students echoed concerns that single-sex fraternities fostered environments inequitable and unsafe for women, while some alumni and fraternity members argued that these groups’ positive community-building efforts were being overlooked.

Drawing on evidence from social psychology about group dynamics and the effects of hypermasculine cultures, university leadership explored various options including banning Greek life or requiring improved self-policing. Ultimately, President of Wesleyan decided to allow residential Greek organizations to remain open only if they admitted members of all genders.

The university also implemented a comprehensive bystander-intervention program designed to empower community members to act in situations of potential harm, addressing the tendency within tight-knit groups to avoid intervention. This initiative aimed to disrupt "bro culture" that may encourage harmful behaviors, such as the incident at Cornell University involving a Snapchat invitation to exploit an intoxicated woman.

The policy shift at Wesleyan sparked considerable debate. Some fraternity members resisted the changes, while others acknowledged that the exclusionary practices of fraternities had evolved over the decades and admitting women was a necessary progression. One fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, was closed entirely following a party that resulted in serious injuries. Delta Kappa Epsilon challenged the university’s policies through litigation, which was eventually settled in 2022, leading to the fraternity’s house being vacated and the organization transitioning to a nonresidential club. Meanwhile, Psi Upsilon agreed to admit women and has since reported increased diversity and active engagement with the campus community, including coed leadership and social events.

Since these reforms, Wesleyan has observed a decline in reported sexual violence and an improvement in campus safety and equity. Although sexual violence persists nationwide and campus-specific challenges remain, the university credits these changes, alongside broader cultural shifts and heightened awareness of consent, with fostering a safer environment. The president emphasized that while ending all-male fraternities is not a universal remedy for sexual assault, requiring Greek societies to be inclusive of women, transgender, and nonbinary students may be a meaningful step toward reducing harm on campuses where fraternities play a central social role.