Sprite Step-Off Update: ZTA and AKA to share 1st place

[xp2k]

Step team shares 1st in national finals after racial controversy
http://idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=74077

I dont know if this is old news but I thought it was interesting.
I wonder what the "descrepancies" were.

[als463]

Originally Posted by xp2k

Step team shares 1st in national finals after racial controversy
http://idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=74077

I dont know if this is old news but I thought it was interesting.
I wonder what the "descrepancies" were.

That's just stupid. It's 2010 and people can't get beyond race. It is stupid that a "white" sorority couldn't be seen as the 1st place organization because some people were "offended" or "upset" that they won. That's pretty pathetic in my mind. The people who made such an issue about it seem just as racist as they claim others to be. Good grief. If I was a Zeta, I'd be pretty pissed.

I'm glad that both organizations did well at this step-off, but to take away someone's "honor" because there was racial controversy says a lot about today's society.

Just "WOW" is pretty much all I can say. Oh, and FWIW (before I get flamed for my opinion) I respect all GLOs and some of my best friends are SGRhos, AKAs and Deltas. I don't really know many Zetas, but the ones I have met have been sweet, as well. I just think that in this day and age people need to see beyond color and be happy that they can share a stage and an incredible talent.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by als463

It's 2010 and people can't get beyond race.

The year has absolutely nothing to do with it. Social dynamics haven't changed.

Originally Posted by als463

It is stupid that a "white" sorority couldn't be seen as the 1st place organization because some people were "offended" or "upset" that they won. That's pretty pathetic in my mind. The people who made such an issue about it seem just as racist as they claim others to be. Good grief. If I was a Zeta, I'd be pretty pissed.

I haven't seen racism used with this, but whatever's whatever.

Correct, any organization with no real history of stepping, that won because it shocked people and that's all, can't be seen as the 1st place organization. In this instance, it was a "historically and predominantly white sorority." That is also why this news feed is reaching so many people who would otherwise not give a damn about ANY of this stuff. Therefore, it is also reaching people who have absolutely no basis for their opinions and they don't know that stepshow results that are deemed unfair are always challenged. People just have different reasons to challenge these results because they know the nature of the beast.

Sprite and MTV2 knew what they were doing--welcome to the world of race (which is not synonymous with racism). A non-NPHC org that was still predominantly Black wouldn't have received such coverage.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

The year has absolutely nothing to do with it. Social dynamics haven't changed.



I haven't seen racism used with this, but whatever's whatever.

Correct, any organization with no real history of stepping, that won because it shocked people and that's all, can't be seen as the 1st place organization. In this instance, it was a "historically and predominantly white sorority." That is also why this news feed is reaching so many people who would otherwise not give a damn about ANY of this stuff. Therefore, it is also reaching people who have absolutely no basis for their opinions and they don't know that stepshow results that are deemed unfair are always challenged. People just have different reasons to challenge these results because they know the nature of the beast.

Sprite and MTV2 knew what they were doing--welcome to the world of race (which is not synonymous with racism). A non-NPHC org that was still predominantly Black wouldn't have received such coverage.

Exactly. And within the D9, stepshow results are challenged/opinions voiced all the time when members believe scoring/judging was not fair. Race has nothing to do with it.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Correct, any organization with no real history of stepping, that won because it shocked people and that's all, can't be seen as the 1st place organization. In this instance, it was a "historically and predominantly white sorority." That is also why this news feed is reaching so many people who would otherwise not give a damn about ANY of this stuff. Therefore, it is also reaching people who have absolutely no basis for their opinions and they don't know that stepshow results that are deemed unfair are always challenged. People just have different reasons to challenge these results because they know the nature of the beast.

It's reaching me and I still don't give a damn. I'm only here for the trainwrecks.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by agzg

It's reaching me and I still don't give a damn. I'm only here for the trainwrecks.

this made me truly laugh out loud.

[SWTXBelle]

All of this discussion reminds me of some of the discussions regarding the "folk dance" part of the Olympic ice dancing competition. The Russians and their "aboriginal" dance were the most covered aspect, but there were several, um, interesting interpretations. Personally, I would have liked to see each country stick to an interpretation of their native dances - although that brings up the question of what qualifies as a "native folk dance".

So what is the determining factor that decides what is or is not an illicit appropriation of a cultural event, be it dancing or something else?

When should a group feel flattered, and when should they feel used or unvalued?

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by als463

That's just stupid. It's 2010 and people can't get beyond race. It is stupid that a "white" sorority couldn't be seen as the 1st place organization because some people were "offended" or "upset" that they won. That's pretty pathetic in my mind. The people who made such an issue about it seem just as racist as they claim others to be. Good grief. If I was a Zeta, I'd be pretty pissed.

I'm glad that both organizations did well at this step-off, but to take away someone's "honor" because there was racial controversy says a lot about today's society.

Just "WOW" is pretty much all I can say. Oh, and FWIW (before I get flamed for my opinion) I respect all GLOs and some of my best friends are SGRhos, AKAs and Deltas. I don't really know many Zetas, but the ones I have met have been sweet, as well. I just think that in this day and age people need to see beyond color and be happy that they can share a stage and an incredible talent.

Just Wow at your comments. Just because you object to something doesn't make you a racist. Sure some people may have those feelings but the majority have legitimate issues with this whole production and the way things were handled, and not just regarding ZTA.

If anyone is to blame it's Sprite and/or MTV and they are just trying now to save face although it's really too late. Many errors and wrong doings occurred during this event even in the regional competitions. My sorors for example, competed against other D9 sororities coming in last place in Chicago when it was obvious that they should've come in 1st or 2nd. Sprite then reviewed the scoring sheet and changed the decision and gave my sorors 2nd place, although some still believed they should've gotten 1st. Errors like this occurred throughout the entire competition from what I hear and everything was very disorganized. Scoring sheets were reviewed several times because of discrepancies. It became obvious to many that Sprite was really only interested in capitalizing on the popularity of the D9. Many also thought that this was only a D9 competition since the D9 was used mostly for advertising and promotion. Many members were shocked to learn eventually that the competition was not a D9 event.

Oh and ZTA's "honor" has not been removed. If Sprite wanted to take away their win and therefore their "honor," they would disqualify the team for doing all D9 steps and for booty popping at the end of their performance, something that D9 orgs were told not to do or they would be disqualified.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by als463

That's just stupid. It's 2010 and people can't get beyond race. It is stupid that a "white" sorority couldn't be seen as the 1st place organization because some people were "offended" or "upset" that they won. That's pretty pathetic in my mind. The people who made such an issue about it seem just as racist as they claim others to be. Good grief. If I was a Zeta, I'd be pretty pissed.

I'm glad that both organizations did well at this step-off, but to take away someone's "honor" because there was racial controversy says a lot about today's society.

Just "WOW" is pretty much all I can say. Oh, and FWIW (before I get flamed for my opinion) I respect all GLOs and some of my best friends are SGRhos, AKAs and Deltas. I don't really know many Zetas, but the ones I have met have been sweet, as well. I just think that in this day and age people need to see beyond color and be happy that they can share a stage and an incredible talent.

Whenever someone says some of my best friends are...they immediately lose credibility with me.

[Kappamd]

^^^Agree 100%

[AXiDMeesh]

From what I've heard, the discrepancies seem to be that ZTA copied AKA's routines, therefore being unoriginal which is not acceptable in any kind of competition, really. And apparently none of the judges were Greek so some feel that they weren't qualified to judge such performances.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by AXiDMeesh

From what I've heard, the discrepancies seem to be that ZTA copied AKA's routines, therefore being unoriginal which is not acceptable in any kind of competition, really. And apparently none of the judges were Greek so some feel that they weren't qualified to judge such performances.

Actually, it's a good thing that AKA kept it classy. The nerve of one group to compete against another using their steps. In D9 and BGLO world this is a no no for sure. Those outside of the D9 who want to step are welcome to but don't just do the steps, learn about the tradition and the stepping culture. If you respect others, then others will respect you. Has nothing to do with race, at least not from my point of view.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Has nothing to do with race, at least not from my point of view.

Race did three things here:

1) Made people, in general, pay closer attention to the competition and THIS team. That had a social-psychological impact on damn near everyone who was paying attention to this;

2) added insult to injury regarding the results;

3) and; provided a historical reminder of days not too long gone.

[Kappamd]

And those are "the discrepancies" that will likely be used to "justify" this decision.

[AXiDMeesh]

Originally Posted by AXiDMeesh

From what I've heard, the discrepancies seem to be that ZTA copied AKA's routines, therefore being unoriginal which is not acceptable in any kind of competition, really. And apparently none of the judges were Greek so some feel that they weren't qualified to judge such performances.

Originally Posted by Kappamd

And those are "the discrepancies" that will likely be used to "justify" this decision.

They seem like pretty valid discrepancies to me. Put yourself in the AKA's shoes - lets say your school does/did Greek Sing or some kind of talent competition for Greeks to showcase their skills. You and your sisters have pretty much trademarked something that EVERYONE knows is Kappa material, be it steps, the music, costumes, or whatever. Some other sorority, whether they are new or not or NPC or not, uses your material(s) and wins first place, and you don't. Would you not be highly pissed off? I know I would be.