The Black Fraternal Council held elections for its executive board and directors Tuesday night. Members voted fourth-year College students Kevin Stokes and Andre Williams to the co-chair positions.
The BFC this year plans to improve the organization's communication capabilities and to work more closely with other Greek governing councils.
Stokes, a member of the Iota Phi Theta fraternity, said he hopes to develop a "great working relationship with the new Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life," created this summer through the Office of the Dean of Students.
Included in the BFC are nine historically black fraternities and sororities, all of which are community service-oriented rather than strictly social organizations. These organizations work together to offer service projects, forums, and step shows at the University and in the Charlottesville community.
"We think their organizations are extremely important to the mission of the University," said Assistant Dean of Students Aaron Laushway about the BFC's fraternities and sororities. "We support ideals of service, scholarship and excellence."
Although Stokes does not see a specific need for organizational improvement, new publicity director Michael Dunkley, a third-year College student, would like to see communication become "a little more professional. It's been mostly word-of-mouth in the past." He hopes to keep the BFC's Web site updated, available as "a resource for first years and anybody else that might be interested."
The new BFC officers' plans for the year also include working more with other Greek governing councils, especially during Greek Week.
The BFC will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2002 and plans to create a history book for the event. The BFC also will work on developing its network of alumni, as well as producing flyers to publicize events.
New service program director Michelle Green of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority said she is focused on the fraternities' and sororities' unifying ideals of service. Green acknowledges that each of the member organizations meet community needs individually, but she wants to demonstrate that "Greek organizations can come together for a common goal. Large-scale [involvement] is even more wonderful."
BFC Vice Chairwoman Consuelo Kendall, president of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, said she would like to see the BFC support community service organizations. Kendall said she hopes to develop "wide-scaled open service projects at least once a semester so the campus can see what we do." She also aims to help the member fraternities and sororities promote sisterhood and brotherhood, especially in the black community, and offer forums for self-empowerment.
Other new officers include Treasurer Elisa Dobbins, recording secretary Kelly Garnes, Corresponding secretary Zudayyah Taylor, social program director Christine Boschulte and Greek multicultural representative Micheline Diakite. All positions became effective immediately after the election. All new executive board members and directors are third years, with the exception of Williams and Stokes.
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