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Swine flu fears could spoil college party fun

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By Dave Larsen, Staff Writer 8:26 PM Sunday, November 1, 2009

The rules of beer pong and other college drinking games could be changing because of swine flu fears.

Beer pong, a game that involves drinking from communal cups of beer, has been the subject of warnings and bans this fall at U.S. college campuses including Cornell University and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, both in New York, due to H1N1 virus concerns.

Nearly 8,900 new cases of flu-like illness were reported at 270 U.S. colleges and universities for the week of Oct. 17-23, according to the American College Health Association. The ACHA has observed nearly 56,000 cases of flu-like illness this year among 3 million college students.

Drinking games are not condoned at area schools, including Miami University.

Miami and Ohio State’s Greek chapters hold rush week during winter class sessions, according to school officials.

About 3,500 students are involved in Greek chapters at Miami, which saw more than 330 students with flu-like illness during the first five weeks of fall classes.

Miami will have a heightened awareness about the spread of germs during rush week, said April Robles, university director and advisor to the Interfraternity Council.

“We’ll have to monitor the contact and how well people are doing and how much rest they’re getting during that busy time of recruitment,” Robles said.

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