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The deaths of at least four fraternity pledges this year have helped fuel a re-examination of Greek life at US colleges, which have long struggled with how to crack down on hazing and alcohol abuse without disbanding the organizations. (Nov. 22) AP

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UCLA students have placed an indefinite ban on fraternity events involving alcohol, citing an effort to better follow the school's ethical standards.

The UCLA Interfraternity Council (IFC), which includes 22 fraternities, unanimously adopted the self-proposed restriction on Tuesday.

In a statement, the organization did not provide specifics on why the decision was made. However, it attributed the ban to "a collective effort" on behalf of IFC leadership to "provide an environment where UCLA's True Bruin Values are upheld." True Bruin Values are ethical standards including respect, accountability, integrity, service and excellence.

Read more: 'Collateral damage': How fraternities can continue to thrive after pledges die

While both the school and the IFC did not immediately elaborate, both of their statements emphasize the need for safety.

"The IFC is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of those present at IFC chapter activities," read the IFC's statement, sent out on behalf of its executive board. 

The ban involves those events involving alcohol held at IFC facilities.

The university said it supports the ban, calling it "a step in the right direction to strengthen the safety within the community." 

Read more: Greek life suspensions keep coming on college campuses. Here's all of them from 2017

The university's statement said it wouldn't discuss student conduct cases, adding the school and authorities quickly respond to inappropriate behavior, "which includes, but is not limited to sexual violence and sexual assault."

UCLA becomes the latest school with a ban on fraternities or fraternity activities. Over the last year, four fraternity pledges have died in schools across the country. In response, universities or the fraternities themselves have placed broad restrictions on Greek activities. Other schools have adopted their own changes for a variety of other reasons, including sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse.

Fraternity hazing deaths 2017
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Timothy Piazza, 19, of Readington Township, N.J., died
Timothy Piazza, 19, of Readington Township, N.J., died after being fed 18 alcoholic drinks in less than 90 minutes at a Penn State fraternity, stumbling and severely injuring himself.  Courtesy of Patrick Carns
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A bicyclist rides past Pennsylvania State University's
A bicyclist rides past Pennsylvania State University's shuttered Beta Theta Pi fraternity house Nov. 9, 2017, in State College, Pa.  Gene J. Puskar, AP
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Maxwell Gruver, 18, of Roswell, Ga., died of alcohol
Maxwell Gruver, 18, of Roswell, Ga., died of alcohol poisoning after being coerced to drink 10 to 12 "pulls" of a 190-proof liquor.  Courtesy of Gruver family
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Maxwell Gruver, 18, of Roswell, Ga., had hoped to become
Maxwell Gruver, 18, of Roswell, Ga., had hoped to become a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., but died Sept. 14, 2017, after ingesting too much alcohol.  Hilary Scheinuk, The (Baton Rouge, La.) Advocate via AP
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Andrew Coffey, 20, of Pompano Beach, Fla., died while
Andrew Coffey, 20, of Pompano Beach, Fla., died while attending a fraternity party at Florida State University in Tallahassee.  Florida State University
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This Nov. 3, 2017, photo shows the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity
This Nov. 3, 2017, photo shows the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house near the Florida State University campus in Tallahassee, where pledge Andrew Coffey died Nov. 3, 2017, after a party the previous night.  Joe Rondone, Tallahassee Democrat
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Matthew Ellis, 20, of Humble, Texas, died Nov. 13,
Matthew Ellis, 20, of Humble, Texas, died Nov. 13, 2017, hours after he attended an off-campus social event with members of Phi Kappa Psi, which he was pledging.  Courtesy of Ellis family via KVUE-TV, Austin
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Fraternity pledge Matthew Ellis, 20, of Humble, Texas
Fraternity pledge Matthew Ellis, 20, of Humble, Texas had been at an off-campus party with members of Texas State University's Phi Kappa Psi chapter the night before he was found dead Nov. 13, 2017, in his apartment. The Phi Kappa Psi house in San Marco, Texas, is shown in this June 2015 photo.  Google Street View
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