The Lion’s Roar /Ian Fischer
Members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (top), Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (center) and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (above) do their step performances in front of a fully packed Student Union Theater on Feb. 24, 2015. Stepping is a percussive dance the National Pan-Hellenic Council choreograph to showcase their fraternities and sororities. Other NPHC organizations recognized during the showcase were Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Iota Phi Theta Sorority, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Sororities and fraternities from the National Pan-Hellenic Council honored their history and black history month by “stepping” it up in the Student Union Theater.
The annual showcase went from 7-9:00 p.m. and featured unique acts from each of the performing organizations belonging to the NPHC. The greek organization represented their letters by doing a step-dance performance which involves clapping, spoken word and stepping to create a rhythmic sound. The spoken word portions of the performance informed the audience of the histories of their organizations, ethics and to honor important and founding members.
“I had a lot of fun,” said Vice President of NPHC at the university, Nicala Edwards who represented Sigma Gamma Rho. “Its a lot of hard work to practice and do all of these steps and to keep up with scholarships. We were founded on standards: scholarships, sisterhood and service. For the boys, brotherhood. Strolling and stepping comes second.”
Racial equality was a theme during many of the performances because organizations within NPHC were founded when Jim Crow laws were still in practice.
“All of our organizations had different forms of struggles to get where they were,” said Edwards. “Especially since before our organizations there weren’t too many auxiliary groups for African-Americans.”
Edwards mentioned her organization as an example. She said that when it was founded, police officers had to escort members to class.
Members of NPHC used Wednesday night as an opportunity let the campus know who they are.
“The purpose of the showcase is for the National Pan-Hellenic Council is to showcase what their organizations are about because not that many people know about us on campus or in general,” said NPHC President Jimecia Williams, who was in the second performance with Theta Phi Beta. “That was our goal, to show them who we are and what we stand for.”
Williams said they had been preparing for Tuesday night since the beginning of January to put on this showcase.
The turnout was surprising to alumna returning to campus to support their fraternities and the NPHC.
“I’m really proud how greek life has came about because of Steven Gallagher, we call him Kyle,” said Kristopher Green of Iota Phi Theta, who graduated in December with degrees in industrial technology and occupational, safety, health and administration (OSHA) and also performed Tuesday night. “He did a great job of getting people from other councils: CPC, IFC.”
Green was happy to see more energy and life in the performances than in previous showcases.
NPHC was founded at Howard University in Washington DC. on May 10, 1930. It’s made up of nine organizations referred to as the “Divine Nine.” Eight of those organizations operate at the university.