It's one of the most difficult challenges on college campuses today -- effectively addressing out-of-control drinking that can lead to injury, violence, rape and even death.

The alcohol-fueled culture is making headlines again at the University of Minnesota. Three cases of alleged sexual assaults have been reported at three different U fraternities since Sept. 18.

To get serious about student safety, the frats and other venues for college drinking must redouble their efforts to tighten their rules. Because the problem is so common, other schools have confronted it, with some success.

Chad Ellsworth, coordinator of the U's Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, said policies that have worked for some other colleges include:

•Setting and enforcing strict guest lists for parties.

•Promoting peer pressure to combat the "bystander effect." The overwhelming majority of college men are not sex offenders, but too many stand by and do nothing while it happens.

•Intensifying security. Peer monitoring has been especially effective on some other campuses.

•Having a few social drinks is worlds away from downing 21 shots at a 21st birthday or chugging bladders full of beer in 60 seconds, then posting the results of beer bong competitions. Discouraging binge-drinking games that can lead to violent and even deadly behavior is critical.

•Involving parents and national fraternity leaders. As those who often control the purse strings, they can issue ultimatums and cut off funding for the beer bashes.

The U.S. Justice Department reports that at least one in five college women will be a victim of an attempted or actual sexual assault. That's probably a conservative estimate, because no one knows how many incidents go unreported. National surveys show that 44 percent of college students are binge drinkers, and crimes like date rape and sexual assault are nearly always tied to alcohol abuse.

Over half a million students are injured every year by drunken students, and 1,700 of them die. Too often at college campuses near rivers in Minnesota and Wisconsin, young people impaired by alcohol have drowned.

To its credit, the university's Interfraternity Council (IFC) of 26 fraternities approved a moratorium on the serving or consuming of alcohol when nonfraternity members are in the houses. That ban will remain in effect while fraternity presidents review their policies and practices around drinking, parties and keeping guests safe. U officials will be part of that process and will work with the fraternities to revise safety rules and improve enforcement.

The IFC is considering a long list of recommended policy changes to promote safety and reduce alcohol abuse. Among the suggestions is to limit the amount of alcohol a guest can bring to an event, restrict the number of people at parties, prohibit unsealed beverage containers and ban hard liquor altogether.

The Princeton Review's "Top 20 Party Schools" doesn't include the U of M, though universities in Iowa, Wisconsin and North Dakota did make the list. But whether a college gets that dubious distinction or not, most struggle with binge drinking and its impact and must do more to address it.