By Shanae Harris & Tomi Akinmusuru
Published: Monday, October 24, 2005
Thousands of students and alumni piled into the D.C. Armory on Saturday to view the last and arguably most highly awaited event of the Homecoming week, "The Nine Chambers: Melee at the Mecca."
The step show displayed talented stepping from all of the "Divine 9" organizations, as well as step teams from Eleanor Roosevelt High School and the 2004 ResFest Tubman Quadrangle step team. Comedian Red Grant and Interscope recording artist, Mya, hosted the event.
For the third year in a row, Alpha Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and the Krimson Kartel Step Team of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated both took the first place prizes.
The most anticipated parts of the show were the performances of the step teams of Alpha Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and Alpha Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
The Deltas grabbed the audience's attention with a White House secret agent theme including a memorable chair stunt.
"The Deltas in particular this year were more spectacular. They really amazed me with their moves," said Quinton Reed, sophomore film productions major.
The real competition appeared to be between the Deltas and the AKAs, as most members of the audience came out to see how the two sororities would compare.
"The highlight of the show was definitely between the AKAs and the Deltas. That's the reason why a lot of people came out this year- to see what the AKAs were going to do their first year back," said senior acting major, Lance Willoughby, a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated.
Proudly dressed in pink business suits and pumps, the AKAs marched on the stage with a high-stepping performance including flames, a mock-television segment, and a court theme.
Taking home the trophy for the fraternities, the Kappas thrilled the audience in a diary entry themed segment with spotlighted cane showmanship.
"Knowing that this is their consecutive win makes me even more proud of my brotherhood," said Eric McBride, a member of Kappa Kappa Chapter, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc who traveled from Alabama to participate in this year's Homecoming events.
However, some did not share that sentiment, "I think the fraternities did well this year. First place should have been given to Alpha Phi Alpha, but I'm looking forward to everyone stepping up their game for next year," said Timothy Lewis, junior International Business major, and member of Alpha Nu Omega Fraternity, Inc.
Lauren Bridges, the 2004 chairwoman of the Homecoming Steering Committee and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. felt that this year's show was better in overall planning and time management.
"I thought that it was very good because there wasn't a lot of downtime. The shows are getting a lot better and all of the organizations really stepped it up this year," said Bridges.
Like many others, audience member Steve McCraney, sophomore computer engineering major, was in agreement with Bridges, expressing that the show was better in comparison to past years. "
I was happy that more of the fraternities and sororities were from Howard," he said. "I think the judges picked the right organizations as the winners. I've been to a lot of step shows, and I was pleased with how it was run."
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Congrats Sorors! OOOOOOOOOOOO-OOOOOOOOP!