By MELISSA WALKER

Staff Writer

Events and programs are being planned to bridge the gap between religious and Greek organizations.

Organizations such as the Baptist Collegiate Ministry, 419 W. Arizona Ave., and Christ Community Church Collegiate, located at 2301 N. Trenton St., are making plans for the upcoming year.

"I believe that we are all just people," Linda Osborne, director of the BCM, said.

Osborne said she first attempted to connect specifically with Greeks two years ago. Osborne said she started Greek Brothers and Sisters in Christ, which is a Bible study targeting Greeks, but open to all students.

"We had a strong core group of leadership that really made Greek B.A.S.I.C. what it was," Osborne said.

Osborne said she attempted to make Greek B.A.S.I.C. as convenient as possible.

"Greeks tend to be the most involved on campus, so we try to schedule the Bible study later at night, on a night that there aren't a lot of meetings being held," Osborne said.

Osborne also said more attention will be paid to Greek B.A.S.I.C. this coming fall by the addition of a new staff member.

Leigh Monroe, a 2004 Tech graduate in graphic design, joined the BCM staff as an intern for one year. One of her main responsibilities, Osborne said, will be to coordinate Greek B.A.S.I.C.

Osborne said in addition to Monroe, their new student coordinator, Emery Carlisle, a sophomore accounting major, will also be contributing significantly.

Carlisle said she is excited about next year. She said she and Monroe are making plans to try to unite Greeks and non-Greeks, so that there will not be such a barrier.

"We are hoping to plan things that both Greeks and non-Greeks will not be afraid to come to, despite pre-conceived ideas that each group may have about each other," Carlisle said.

"We encourage people from religious organizations to come on a regular basis to get to know the Greeks."

Osborne said she is looking to overcome past obstacles by getting feedback from Greeks and finding out what works.

Christ Community is also planning to reach out to the Greek community.

Britton Kilpatrick, a senior electrical engineering major and a youth/college intern at Christ Community, said they will be hosting a meeting on campus on Thursdays at 7 p.m.

"It will be mostly fun, with a little bit of Christ," Kilpatrick said.

Kilpatrick said that Greeks will be a target audience, although not the sole concern.

Osborne said she agrees with Kilpatrick's concept. "[Non-Greeks] can also attend Greek B.A.S.I.C. I think it would be a great way to get Greeks and non-Greeks to get to know one another."