2008 Woodie Awards
BSU hosts step show to expose students to black culture
Julie Wootton, News Editor
Issue date: 11/21/06
Last Updated: 12/26/07
Synchronized steps, arm movements, dances and chants are only part of what make fraternity and sorority step shows unique. Pride in their organizations and the desire to share their organization's mission with the public makes the lasting impression.
Last Wednesday, the Black Student Union hosted a step show with performances by three traditionally black fraternities and one sorority from Eastern Washington University. About 40 people, mainly Whitworth students, attended the hour-long event
Senior Delia Orosco, the ASWC cultural events coordinator, coordinated the event as a part of Cultural Awareness Week.
"The theme of the step show is our representation of black American culture and to bring this culture and tradition to the Whitworth campus," said senior Tiffanie Beatty, president of the Black Student Union.
One of the goals of the BSU is to establish connections with EWU and Gonzaga University, Beatty said.
"The step show was a huge success," Orosco said. "It not only was an opportunity to share with the Whitworth students a small part of black culture but also an opportunity to bring college campuses together from this part of the state."
EWU has nine-traditionally black national fraternities and sororities that make up a part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council Inc. (NPHC). The NPHC, an organization founded in 1930 at Howard University, is an organization that encompasses nine traditionally-black fraternities and sororities with chapters at colleges all over the world.
The fraternities and sororities that performed were: Zeta Phi Beta sorority, Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
The members of the fraternities and sorority worked songs and facts about their organizations into their stepping routine. The crowd was actively yelling out in encouragement and were dancing and chanting in the side aisles. The performers held a question and answer session to conclude the performance.
"Although it appears that our organization is solely focused on stepping and strolling, from the outside, Zeta Phi Beta Incorporated is not your average sorority," said Jameeka Scott, a member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority. "It is a non-profit, community service, action-oriented organization and we take pride in the community service and the charitable events and informationals we host throughout the year.
Scott was happy to have the opportunity to perform.
"We feel it's really important to raise awareness on issues that affect our culture on an everyday basis and speaking to the audience allowed us to attack some of the stereotypes of historically black Greek organizations," Scott said.
Last Wednesday, the Black Student Union hosted a step show with performances by three traditionally black fraternities and one sorority from Eastern Washington University. About 40 people, mainly Whitworth students, attended the hour-long event
Senior Delia Orosco, the ASWC cultural events coordinator, coordinated the event as a part of Cultural Awareness Week.
"The theme of the step show is our representation of black American culture and to bring this culture and tradition to the Whitworth campus," said senior Tiffanie Beatty, president of the Black Student Union.
One of the goals of the BSU is to establish connections with EWU and Gonzaga University, Beatty said.
"The step show was a huge success," Orosco said. "It not only was an opportunity to share with the Whitworth students a small part of black culture but also an opportunity to bring college campuses together from this part of the state."
EWU has nine-traditionally black national fraternities and sororities that make up a part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council Inc. (NPHC). The NPHC, an organization founded in 1930 at Howard University, is an organization that encompasses nine traditionally-black fraternities and sororities with chapters at colleges all over the world.
The fraternities and sororities that performed were: Zeta Phi Beta sorority, Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
The members of the fraternities and sorority worked songs and facts about their organizations into their stepping routine. The crowd was actively yelling out in encouragement and were dancing and chanting in the side aisles. The performers held a question and answer session to conclude the performance.
"Although it appears that our organization is solely focused on stepping and strolling, from the outside, Zeta Phi Beta Incorporated is not your average sorority," said Jameeka Scott, a member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority. "It is a non-profit, community service, action-oriented organization and we take pride in the community service and the charitable events and informationals we host throughout the year.
Scott was happy to have the opportunity to perform.
"We feel it's really important to raise awareness on issues that affect our culture on an everyday basis and speaking to the audience allowed us to attack some of the stereotypes of historically black Greek organizations," Scott said.
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