Black Sunday, a block party hosted by campus fraternities, used
to welcome UCLA students back to school on the first Sunday of fall
quarter.
Last October, UCLA fraternities lost the privilege of holding
Black Sunday when the Interfraternity Council, which governs the 20
national and international fraternities on campus, suspended the
event.
Black Sunday will not occur for two years, and its return will
be discussed by the IFC after that time, said Chris Hauck, former
president of the IFC and member of the Associated Students of UCLA
Communications Board, which oversees Student Media, an organization
which includes the Daily Bruin.
The decision to suspend Black Sunday temporarily was made due to
the problematic history associated with the event.
“For the risks that were taken that night “¦ it just
wasn’t worth it anymore,” Hauck said.
He said the event was beyond the control of the IFC, no matter
how much security was present.
In 2001, university police shut down the parties on the 400 and
600 blocks of Gayley Avenue because the 2,000 to 3,000 people
standing on the street were obstructing traffic. The crowds were
difficult for university police to deal with even though they
assigned extra staffing for Black Sunday.
“At times, there were more people in the streets than
could be handled by public safety officials,” said Nancy
Greenstein, director of police community services for the UCPD.
Student offenses during Black Sunday have included underage
drinking, vandalism, occasional fights and sexual assault, she
said.
Even though problems arose during Black Sunday, some fraternity
members want the event back.
“It was a good introduction into the part of UCLA that
wasn’t about studying,” said Eddie Bonin, Sigma Nu
social chairman.
Students who were not members of the fraternities were able to
take part in the event.
“From what I remember (the atmosphere) was really chaotic,
but it was really fun,” said Yinon Bak-Shir, a fourth-year
political science student.
Though he wishes the event had not been suspended, Bonin
understands the IFC’s decision because he witnessed the
massive crowding on the streets.
Students might miss the event, but some community members will
not be upset to see the end of Black Sunday.
In the past, neighbors have called in complaints about the
parties on Black Sunday, Greenstein said.
She said some of the complaints the UCPD received were related
to noise, crowding and invasion of private property.
But some UCLA students who live near the fraternities said they
did not mind the parties as much as other North Village
residents.
UCLA Extension student Emily Rude remembered living on
“Frat Row,” the area along Gayley Avenue lined with
fraternity houses, for four years as a student.
“Black Sunday didn’t really bother me when I lived
there,” Rude said.
Although Rude did not choose to attend the parties, she was not
opposed to the event occurring in her neighborhood, she said.
With Black Sunday out of North Village, students who want to
explore the social scene at UCLA will have an alternative: the
Welcome Back Concert.
According to Campus Events Commissioner Jason Gaulton, while
other campuses have ceremonies to welcome their students back on
campus, UCLA has only freshman convocation.
Gaulton, Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kelly Wynn and Associate
Director for Student Programming Kenn Heller, conceived of and
organized the Welcome Back Concert.
“It just seemed like a dream of ours to have a concert in
(Pauley Pavilion),” Gaulton said.
The IFC became involved in the planning process for the concert
after the temporary suspension of Black Sunday.
“We realized that it was a great idea to include them as a
partner,” Heller said.
The organizers saw the fraternities as a vital part of the
campus, Gaulton said.
The IFC planned to hold an event to replace Black Sunday but
joined the concert organizers to plan for the Welcome Back Concert
instead.
“At the point that we decided not to have parties on that
Sunday before school, we wanted something to fill the void,”
Hauck said.
According to Gaulton, the concert organizers were more than
willing to include the IFC in the planning process.
Organizers knew that the IFC was looking for a forum to which
they could send their constituents, he added.
Because the fraternities will not host Black Sunday, the IFC has
been keeping them informed about the Welcome Back Concert.
The concert lineup opens with underground hip-hop group Zion I,
and Bad Religion will follow as the main act.
The Undergraduate Students Association Council will also be
working at the event, bringing information about voter registration
to the students outside Pauley Pavilion.
Because Black Sunday will not take place, many are hoping the
Welcome Back Concert will be a success.
“I’m hoping this will be the new alternative,”
Hauck said.
The concert will only be open to students, who are allowed
one guest each. Tickets are available at the Central Ticket
Office.