In an ongoing effort to establish a space on Grounds for black fraternities, the brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. painted a rock outside Minor Hall last week to remind students of their fraternity's existence and to promote their contributions to the Charlottesville community.
Since no fraternity in the Black Fraternal Council has official housing, the rock will serve as a representation of the fraternity on Grounds and act as a permanent fixture, BFC co-chair Brandon Green said.
Last spring, KAP created a chalk display outside Minor Hall to bring attention to the absence of black fraternity housing.
KAP brother Jimmy Larkin painted the 200-pound rock in crimson and cream, the official colors of KAP. The rock displays the Greek letters of the fraternity and the years of the fraternity's inception and the Eta Sigma chapter charter.
"The rock was meant to be a stable thing that we could control," Green said.
University landscaping informed KAP that the rock is a safety hazard, Green said. He added that the fraternity is still unsure if they will have to relocate the rock.
"They are concerned that this rock would be kicked in front of the amphitheatre as a University prank, but a prank has never been pulled on one of our fraternities," Green said.
Despite the rock's potential move, KAP brother Addison Sears-Collins said it will be present on Grounds somewhere.
The Black Fraternal Council represents nine historically black fraternities at the University. BFC members are working to gain recognition for black fraternities, said Green, who also is president of KAP.
"We are not the cliché fraternities -- our focus is on the University and Charlottesville communities," he said. "We help out kids in predominantly black high schools through mentor-related programs."
With nine brothers, Green said KAP is the largest BFC fraternity.
Sears-Collins said he is enthusiastic about his fraternity's new emblem.
"We've gotten great feedback from people who have seen the rock," he said. "It's perfect timing because our 30th anniversary is this next week. Visiting alumni will be able to see it."
KAP is planning events for next week to highlight its presence at the University, Sears-Collins said. The brothers have prepared social events as well as career forums so that students can talk to alumni brothers who have found success in their careers.
"Our sheer numbers don't allow us to be everywhere like fraternities in the IFC," Sears-Collins said. "Also, we are service organizations first."
Green said even with memberships of less than 10 people, the BFC fraternities influence the community in big ways.
"We are overlooked because we are small, but we still have impact," Green said. "If we had the numbers that the IFC has, and all members were of our dedication, then we could do even more."
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