Fraternity members arrived at the Sigma Nu fraternity house
early Sunday morning, tired-eyed and sleepy, but ready to clean up
their messy neighborhood.
They were taking part in Operation Clean Sweep, a citywide
program in its fourth year at UCLA that aims to bring together
fraternities and community members to clean up Westwood.
Sponsored by the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works, the
event attracted about 100 members from 16 of the 18 fraternities,
one sorority and two non-student Westwood residents.
President and founder of the North Village Improvement Committee
Shelly Taylor was one of the two residents.
Taylor founded the North Village Improvement Committee, she
said, after she realized that basic community services do not get
done unless someone calls, asks, and follows through on requests to
perform tasks such as painting signs and picking up bulky
items.
Taylor was disappointed by the low turnout of non-student
residents, saying, “It’s horrible.”
“Most people don’t want to get involved with the
neighborhood,” she said.
She was, however, pleased by the level of commitment
fraternities showed.
Members of the fraternities, though, were undeterred by the low
community turnout.
“Students should take charge of the community, then the
residents may follow,” said Jeff Hollis, a third-year
political science and history student and a member of the Sigma Chi
fraternity.
Many students were at the semiannual cleanup for the first time
and hoped that future events similar to it would help change the
perception some have that fraternities and sororities are all about
partying.
“This can be nothing but positive for the community and
fraternities. Anything to turn the image of fraternities around
would be good,” said third-year cultural studies student Jack
Seidman.
Community Service Director of the Inter-fraternity Council Chris
Isola put together the event that brought in three tons of trash
including common bulky items such as refrigerators, sofas, desks
and chairs. This amount was down from last year’s five
tons.
Isola had been involved in previous years and felt that
Operation Clean Sweep was a good way to give back to the
community.
All supplies and equipment necessary to pick up trash and safely
remove graffiti were provided under Operation Clean Sweep, a
program that can be used by any community or service organization
that seeks to improve their neighborhood.