UNC’s African-American fraternities and sororities are honoring their heritage with a proposal for a garden of plots in SASB Plaza.
Plots are monuments to the historical aspects of National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations. Michael Morrison, the president of UNC’s National Pan-Hellenic Council, the organizations’ governing body, is leading the effort by writing the proposal. He said he hopes to get approval by the end of the year.
“We’re behind the curve. A lot of schools in the area already have plots and they are PWIs (Predominantly White Institutions), and there is no reason we should be without,” he said.
Over the summer, the group worked on an official proposal explaining the importance of plots.
“There has been a lot of progress this summer in terms of moving forward with plots and just continuing to make sure it’s a priority,” Morrison said.
The proposal is going through its final stages of review before going to Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Winston Crisp for approval.
“Our job right now is kind of being the foot soldiers and the workers of what’s going on, and present to him a document that encompasses what we’re trying to do and offers up the best strategy to achieve it,” Morrison said.
Ion Outterbridge, assistant director of the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life and Community Involvement, said the biggest problem hasn’t been support, but timing.
“The biggest obstacle is just making sure we do it the correct way and appreciate the process,” Outterbridge said. “I think from the students’ perspectives, it’s understanding that this is not going to happen in a year.”
