Greeks team up for step program

[TSteven]

FYI: Epsilon Chi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha is celebrating their 40th Anniversary (04.01.65) at The University of Kentucky.

Greeks team up for step program
By Jenisha Watts
Published: Thursday, April 7, 2005
©2005 Kernel Press, Inc.


Media Credit: Jenisha Watts
C.J. Carter, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, teaches Delta Zelta sorority sisters steps for tonight´s first annual Step-a-Palooza.

Amid the sounds of stepping, Delta Zeta, Alpha Delta Pi and Alpha Omicron Pi are just a few sororities the audience will see at 6:30 tonight at Memorial Hall.

The Epsilon Chi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha social fraternity is hosting the first annual Stomp-A-Palooza stepping competition for various Greek organizations at UK.

In the past, predominantly white and black fraternities and sororities have had little or no integration.

Stomp-A-Palooza was created to bridge this gap between historically black and white Greek organizations, said Brian Johnson, an Alpha Phi Alpha member and marketing senior.

For the past month, members of the Epsilon Chi Chapter have volunteered to teach various sororities and fraternities dance steps for the competition.

They've also been teaching the other Greek organizations the history behind stepping.

"Stepping is indigenous of Africa," Johnson said.

"Blacks were not allowed to be in white fraternities or sororities. Since they were not allowed to chant, they picked up stepping."

Alpha decided it would teach steps to some of the predominantly white Greek groups on UK's campus.

"They are catching on quickly," Johnson said of the sororities.

In addition to the seven sororities and one fraternity, Fiji is involved in the event.

"We extremely appreciate all of the hard work that Alpha Phi Alpha has put into their first annual Stomp-A-Palooza," said Brandy Fisher, a Delta Zeta member and sociology junior.

However, some people are opposed to teaching historically white Greeks this tradition, said Samuel Gaines, an Alpha member and marketing finance junior.

"It's vital for them to understand the importance of stepping," Johnson said.

Although the Epsilon Chi Chapter members are teaching the sororities steps, stepping is not the only trademark of Alpha or any other black Greek organization.

"Stomp-A-Palooza gives fraternities and sororities of different ethnic backgrounds the opportunity to interact with each other," Johnson said.