University of Virginia Library

Potential

Although the recent initiative
undertaken by the dozen or so
fraternities that regularly support
IFC plans (such as the Keswick Day
Care Center clean-up drive attended
by over fifty frat men) is
encouraging, it is by no means
impressive when the number of
houses at the University is
considered.

According to Mr. Byron, a third
of the fraternities actively support
the IFC projects, with one-third
interested but not overly active.
Therefore, it is empirically obvious
that despite the commendable
individual initiative shown by some
of the houses, the role of the
fraternities in community services is
not yet a great one.

On the verge of what may
conceivably be a breakthrough in
Community conscienceness on the
part of the frats at Virginia, it is
essential for the twenty or so
houses actively or passively
supporting this effort to become
involved at every opportunity and
to encourage non-participating
houses.

Fraternities have a tremendous
amount of potential in an area such
as public service projects. A close
knit house of forty or so men
working on a Saturday afternoon
could achieve significant results in a
vital area and at the same time
rectify a public image-which has
been and is becoming increasingly
tarnished.

In the past, fraternities have
been probably unfairly represented
in certain media. However, this
assault was in part brought upon
themselves by a seemingly
lackadaisical concern (or rather, a
lack of concern) for areas of
potential help. A concerted effort
by the houses at the University
would do much to rectify this
situation.