IFC sponsors buses for Hillsborough Hike
Annie Albright
Senior Staff Writer
Buses will be provided as safe transportation for students during the Hillsborough Street Hike on Thursday, March 4th.
Peter Barnes, President of the Interfraternity Council, said although free parking will be available in Dan Allen Deck, the IFC will provide buses as a safety precaution.
“Basically the IFC wanted to promote business on Hillsborough, but in order to do that with responsible means we decided to sponsor buses,” Barnes said. “We just want to make sure we are being responsible members of the community.”
Johnny Townsend, Vice President of Programming for the IFC, said the main goal was to provide a service to the students.
“I know that we wanted to do something for the students and to be able to give them safe rides,” Townsend said. “We want to promote students to be safe without having to pay for a ride or a cab, and also not be tempted to drive.”
The buses will run between 10 p.m. and 2:30 a.m., Barnes said.
“The route will run every 20 minutes down Hillsborough Street and reach all the way down Dan Allen, Tryon and Lake Wheeler,” Barnes said. “This will basically pass by all the major apartment complexes.”
Townsend said the route would cover popular apartment complexes such as Village Green, University Woods, Campus Crossings, the complexes off of Avent Ferry and also campus.
“We wanted everyone to be able to have a good time without having to worry about driving or having to risk driving while intoxicated,” Townsend said. “I know we have the wolf prowl that allows students to go downtown, which is a great service to students, and so we wanted to do something like that.”
Several supporting Hillsborough Street businesses will remain open and participate in an additional event of Bar Golf, Barnes said.
“Bar Golf is basically a game put together by the Hillsborough Street businesses,” Barnes said. “It is basically to help encourage patronage of the Hillsborough Street businesses with any purchases made, whether it be an alcoholic, nonalcoholic or food purchase at any of the participating businesses.”
Barnes said students can pick up scorecards at any of the participating businesses. He said a portion of the proceeds of the event will be donated.
“Five percent of the proceeds of the Hillsborough Hike, after paying for the buses, will go to a cause benefiting the economic development of Hillsborough Street,” Barnes said.
There are to be two prizes for the winner of the competition, Barnes said. One will be for a member of the Greek community and one for a non-Greek student.
“It was split up to promote patronage by Greek and non-Greek students to increase participation,” Barnes said. “It will also create more of an opportunity for people to benefit from the Hike.”
Townsend said while they could not officially partner with the Hillsborough Street businesses for the Hike because of the focus on alcohol, providing buses was the IFC’s contribution to boosting the Hillsborough Street economy.
“I think that the Hillsborough Street businesses wanted to do something with the Greeks because they knew the population was pretty big, knew their involvement and wanted to do something to boost their profits,” Townsend said. “Considering the current economy, they looked to the Greek community.”
Barnes said he emphasized that the IFC is not promoting drinking with their involvement in the Hike.
“We are not promoting drinking whatsoever,” Barnes said. “We are merely providing transportation to Hillsborough Street and a safe ride home. We are just promoting patronage.”
Patrick Arzonico, sophomore in accounting, said that as a member of the Greek community he respected the IFC’s involvement in the Hike.
“The Hike is always really popular among both Greeks and non-Greeks,” Arzonico said. “I am glad the IFC is providing a safe way home for students to help eliminate stupid decisions like drinking and driving.”
