College Council approved funding Monday to pave and redesign the pathway in front of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity house overlooking Mad Bowl.
Proponents of the sidewalk argued that the current pathway is unsafe to walk on, especially at night when students — many intoxicated — use the path to cross from Madison Lane to Rugby Road, and during inclement weather during which the path becomes muddy and slippery.
The project was originally proposed by Student Council, but was rejected by a vote earlier in September. Though the majority of Student Council agreed safety was a concern, many members felt the fraternity should bear financial responsibility for the project, rather than Student Council. Whether the land in front of the Phi Psi Fraternity House belongs to the fraternity is unclear.
“When [Student Council] came to our old President last semester with the project idea, it was under the assumption that it would be fully funded by StudCo,” Phi Psi President Stephen Scipione, a third-year College student, said in an email. “That is why they approached us with the idea, independent of us coming to them.”
The current pathway is a mixture of dirt, gravel, and larger rocks that stick out of the ground, and is in many places not level. It is also prone to pooling large puddles, making the path muddy when it rains or snows.
The issue was brought to light when concerned students posted on SpeakUpUVa, an online forum for concerns to Student Council.
Chris Collins, a fourth-year Engineering student and Building and Grounds Committee representative, brought up the item before Student Council along with Representative Body Chair Abraham Axler, a second-year College student.
“The proposal was for paving that area in brick that would complement the existing architecture and improve the safety of that path,” Collins said.
The proposal was rejected by Student Council after executive review during the budgetary process.
College Council President Daria Winsky, a third-year College student, said the proposal was not sold well in Student Council.
“It all came down to the way it was proposed in the meeting,” she said of the original Student Council proposal. “People started to think it wasn’t a University issue.”
Student Council and College Council both have a limited yearly budget that comes primarily from Student Activity Fees, paid by all University students.
“It is hard to prioritize what proposals get that money and which proposals don’t,” Collins said.
After continued communication, Collins brought the issue before College Council, who approved the project Monday.
Though College Council also debated the ownership of the path, they ultimately agreed to fund the project due to the overarching safety concerns.
“It doesn’t matter who walks this path, whether they’re in the College or not,” Winsky said. “Safety is paramount for every student.”
The agreement to fund that reconstruction of the path has come with a few stipulations.
“They have to make sure there are lights on the path,” Winsky said. “We want to make sure it’s lit all the way through. Ideally, it would be handicap accessible.”
The sidewalk will be constructed by William Lamb of American Masonry. Lamb has agreed to do the project for a reduced cost of $5,600 in return for future showcasing in the Greek community at the University. A project of such size would normally cost between $8,000 and $10,000.
Scipione said the proposal calls for a "5-foot wide, 4-inch thick concrete slab from the pavement on the Madison side parking lot to the staircase leading down to the Rugby side parking lot. An overlay of Virginia brick pavers, matching the traditional University style masonry around Grounds ... and a reconstruction of the three staircases in front of the Phi Psi house.”
The funding for this project by College Council will not come from new Student Activity Fees, but from a separate budget derived from rollover funds from previous years.
“A part of our budget is allocated for long-term projects that will benefit the College and University as a whole,” Winsky said. “This is different than our annual budget.”
College Council is also hoping to see a return on some of the funding. Some members proposed to raise money through the sale of an engraved brick in the new sidewalk.
Winsky said she hopes the project will create a partnership between the community and College Council.
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