Now that the University Unity Project has announced its theme for the school year, “Beyond our Grounds, Within our Community,” Student Council is working to reach out to students in order to facilitate involvement with the project.
“We want students to embrace a sense of ownership in the community,” Student Council President Matt Schrimper said. “Their ... well-being in the community is in our hands and is something we can address together.”
One of the project’s main goals this year, according to Schrimper, is to improve off-Grounds safety through proposed initiatives such as a free ride program for students, and the Lighten Up program, which would improve lighting in off-Grounds areas, as well as late-night free parking on Grounds.
To fund these initiatives, Schrimper said the project received a “generous donation” from the University Bookstore, and he hopes the project will receive additional grants through the University Parents Committee, as well as from student organizations such as the Inter-Sorority Council and the Inter-Fraternity Council. Schrimper also said Council would be requesting more money from the University.
Schrimper added that Council plans to reach out to graduate students through Council’s graduate representatives, as well by publicizing the project at the various schools at the University. Schrimper also highlighted the need to reach out to all student organizations on Grounds, especially non-philanthropic groups.
“We have no illusions about the fact that if we don’t proactively reach out to these groups and student organizations, this is something that could prove to be a disappointing undertaking,” Schrimper said.
Still, Schrimper noted that nothing would be required of any specific student organization.
“At no point do we ever want to mandate anything of the student body,” Schrimper said. “The main thing we want to do is highly publicize and reach out to student groups and let them know the opportunities before them and let them know how best they can contribute.”
Inter-Sorority Council President Stuart Berkeley and Inter-Fraternity Council President Taylor Richardson said the ISC and the IFC would be helping the project by donating to the “Free Ride” program, which would provide students with rides home at no cost.
“Off-Grounds safety is something that’s really important,” Richardson said. “I think it’s neat that students are taking a role in that. I think that’s one of the most important issues facing us right now, and [the project] will make a big difference and will be utilized.”
Opera Viva, the University’s student opera program, also expressed a desire to get involved with the University Unity Project; Opera Viva General Director Steven Young said the group is investigating ways to get involved in the wider University community as well as the Charlottesville community.
Some groups, however, said they currently have no planned involvement with the project.
Tea Club President John Stranahan said the project “didn’t seem well organized, [and] the essence of the project seems to be overwhelmingly rooted in a vague sense of unity, in an unspecified ‘common vision.’”
The Latino Student Union also has not planned to join the initiative; Latino Student Union President Chris Blank, said the project is not one of the group’s priorities.
“We are trying to focus more on University involvement with Latinos at U.Va.,” Blank said. “We haven’t really considered what any community outreach would be.”
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