The Black Fraternal Council, Inter-Sorority Council and Inter-Fraternity Council are attempting to improve race relations at the University through Comfort Zone, a project combining service and social events.
Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, both members of the BFC, joined ISC member Gamma Phi Beta and IFC member Sigma Pi on Oct. 19 for an afternoon of service projects and a non-alcoholic party in the evening.
The goal of "Comfort Zone" is multi-fold, Sigma Pi Fraternity President Matt Shaver said. The project aims to improve communication between Greek governing councils, improve race relations between various University organizations and serve the Charlottesville community.
"Change isn't something you can ask for," Alpha Phi Alpha President Jeff Harrell said. "We demand change by bringing Comfort Zone to the forefront."
Alpha Phi Alpha Vice President Brandon Woods said he believed Comfort Zone was a success for all groups involved.
"It broke a lot of ground and set a precedent for other organizations to pursue the same kind of activities," Woods said.
Ideas for a joint social activity developed after Alpha Phi Alpha rented out the Sigma Pi house in early September. Service chairs from the four organizations met to form ideas for a joint event, Gamma Phi Beta Philanthropy co-chairwoman Katie Little said.
Terry Dade, the interim program coordinator for the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, worked with members of the four organizations to create a budget, find philanthropy sites and acquire funds.
Sixty people participated in four different philanthropies within the Charlottesville community. An estimated 350 people attended a party held at Sigma Pi that night, Shaver said.
Dade said that Comfort Zone was the first successful joint Greek event to combine both service and social activities. In the past, joint Greek activities did not include philanthropy.
"I truly believe these events need to happen," said Aaron Laushway, assistant dean of students for fraternity and sorority life.
The four Greek organizations want to continue their goal of bringing together members of both traditionally black and primarily white fraternities and sororities with plans for a similar joint gathering to be held in the spring semester, Shaver said.
Shaver added that Comfort Zone hopes to expand the size of its philanthropy, and possibly include more fraternities and sororities as well as members of the Multi-Cultural Greek Council.
Harrell said Comfort Zone does not want to be exclusive, but hopes to attract more organizations to participate, with aims of eventually achieving Contracted Independent Organization status.
The four Greek organizations fronted the money for the first Comfort Zone event but also applied for a retroactive grant through the University's Center for Alcohol and Substance Abuse.
Last July, the U.S. Department of Education awarded CASE a $257,000 grant to examine responsible drinking within the University's Greek system. The grant was one of many awarded to colleges and universities from the federal government to be used for similar purposes.
As part of the grant, a portion of the funds will be used to go toward non-alcoholic student-sponsored activities, CASE Director Susan Bruce said.
A committee of students from Greek organizations will meet Monday to determine the guidelines for acquiring CASE funds.
Until such criteria are established, the Dean of Students Office has offered up to $500 for Comfort Zone projects.
This weekend, the Comfort Zone committee will meet to finalize their budget. Any remaining funds not exceeding the $500 budget will be applied to a joint account designated for the four organizations.
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