Noise in Superblock causes stir

African American student leaders said this week that Superblock residents complaining about noise "single out" black organizations. In the most recent incident, a group of about 40 students gathered for a Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc., sorority event early Monday morning -- a long-standing tradition, according to members -- and sang for about 20 minutes. Students living in the high rises, however, complained about the noise generated by the event at which University Police and Allied Security were present. And within minutes of the disturbance, debate ensued on the electronic newsgroup upenn.talk. According to AKA members, however, the event is one of many that creates noise in Superblock. Wharton junior Trista Bridges, president of the BiCultural InterGreek Council and AKA member, said last night that the complaints that prompted the subsequent story stemmed from misunderstanding and unfairness. "There's many other instances when the groups have made noise --other organizations -- and people have said nothing," she said. "It seems that we consistently are the brunt of people's complaints when we're outside and when we're singing." But College junior Keith Keller, a High Rise North resident who posted to the newsgroup Monday, said color and culture is not an issue. "[It's] whoever is making noise, it doesn't matter what race they are," he said. Last year, over 100 students called University Police during Spring Fling when black students held a block party. But students said other Fling events received no complaints. "Students only complain when it's certain groups," Black Student League President and College senior Robyn Kent said. "Then it becomes an issue and makes the front page of the DP." College junior Onyx Finney, a member of the BSL, said the problems may stem from misinformation and lack of tolerance. "I just think that people don't take the time to understand other people's events," she said. "I think people need to realize, I guess the black Greek system is much different than the [InterFraternity Council] and Panhel." The event Monday was one of a number of traditions that have been celebrated in the Big-C for years and are sacred, according to members. "We just ask people to respect that tradition," Bridges said.

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