BIG-C faces big challenges across Penn

Facing dwindling numbers and a lack of exposure on campus, the Bicultural InterGreek Council is struggling to find ways to increase its visibility. The BIG-C -- the umbrella group representing nine historically African American and Latino fraternities and sororities -- has struggled for the past few years with very low membership and a lack of building space. The organization is currently using Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs space to conduct its business, and none of the BIG-C chapters have houses. Perhaps representative of that trend, College junior Everett Sands -- the BIG-C's newly elected president -- must, for now, carry on a nearly century-long tradition by himself. He is currently the lone member of the University's chapter of the nearly 100-year-old Omega Psi Phi fraternity. Although the BIG-C has an illustrious past, counting Bill Cosby, Martin Luther King Jr., Betty Shabazz and Michael Jordan among its alumni, Sands says he suspects that most students at the University have never even heard of the BIG-C. In fact, while more than 3,000 students, or about one-third of all undergraduates, are Greek, the nine Greek organizations of the BIG-C only have of a total of 31 members. That represents about 6 percent of Penn's black and Latino population. And the number of members in BIG-C chapters has sharply declined in the last two or three years. But Sands has big plans for his one-year term in office. He said he wants to increase the body's as well as change the attitude on campus toward Greeks in general. "I'd like to double [the number of members] by the time I'm done," Sands said. He added that he thinks the BIG-C could possibly "become a household name." But all minority students cannot be expected to join the Greek system, said Larry Moses, OFSA's BIG-C adviser. "We want all students to make an informed and educated choice," he said. To increase student knowledge about the BIG-C, Sands hopes to market the group extensively, in addition to increasing its resources. Also, Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum, a Delta Sigma Theta alumna, has helped the group develop its goals for the future, Sands said. Sands is also planning theatrical shows and community service activities for BIG-C members. The latter includes an after-school program already started by Delta Sigma Theta which helps supervise and tutor students at West Philadelphia High School, according to Sands. And Moses, while pointing to the lack of sufficient exposure in past years, said he is not worried about the prospects of the organization under Sands' leadership. "I am very confident that the numbers will start to increase," Moses said, adding that the BIG-C must try to attract students by informing them about the BIG-C's rich history and the benefits of brotherhood and sisterhood. In fact, Sands said the initiation process includes learning about the important alumni of the particular fraternity or sorority -- in his case, learning the poems of Langston Hughes. College junior Cesar Leon said he joined the BIG-C because of the sense of brotherhood and family atmosphere created by the smallness of the organization. "[To increase our visibility] we have to show support for each other whenever there is an event," said Leon, a member of Lambda Upsilon Lambda. He also stressed the need to "let the community know about us." But the BIG-C has other problems besides attracting members. One such problem, which may actually worsen if the BIG-C grows in size, is the organization's lack of office and social space. Additionally, as Sands explained, the closing of Houston Hall in May will further decrease the BIG-C's already limited facility space for social events. But Sands said he believes that with continued backing from OFSA and the the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life, the BIG-C may obtain a house to live in and conduct events. Moses said the BIG-C may be able to secure such a space soon.