(Maurice C. Jones/Broadside)
As Mason’s National Pan-Hellenic Council week came to a close, the winners of their annual step show were crowned on Feb. 22.
The week, which was called “Divine Habits,” showcased a different characteristic of black Greek life each day, stretching from Monday’s “Having Fun” to Wednesday’s “Educating,” all topped off with Friday’s “Stepping” and “After-Party.”
The step show brought together five Mason sororities and fraternities, as well as four from other universities, to compete. The Mason step teams in the competition were Alpha Kappa Alpha, Zeta Phi Beta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Beta Sigma and Omega Psi Phi.
“I particularly like the event because it promotes Greek unity,” said Amanda Herbert, president of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. “I know that regardless of the conflicts that happen within different chapters of organi- zations, we can all come together and have a step show that the entire Mason community enjoys.”
Though Herbert was not a part of the actual competition for 2013, it was her first year not stepping, and she was excited to to see the competition from an entirely different
“This is what black Greeks are known for — stepping and just really giving people a show that they will remember. If one of them messes up, oh, they’re going to be remembered for it. It’s the biggest thing for us.”
Aaron Anderson
perspective.
Stepping was very difficult. It was time-consuming and nerve-wracking, but it was a great experience. I know that’s how I met a lot of the other Greek people at Mason—through step. -Aaron Anderson
The step show, though a heavy competition for the Greeks, had an emphasized sense of unity. Minisha Morris, a senior and president of the Zeta Omicron chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., explained this sense of competi- tive collaboration even as she stood alongside a member from a different Greek organiza- tion, Aaron Anderson.
“In a sense, it is about winning since you want to take pride when the judges think you step better than the other teams, but overall you’re still happy for the winner, even if you probably wish it was you,” Morris said.
Anderson, NPHC treasurer and Kappa Alpha Psi Vice Polemarch, agreed with Morris. “I’m the lone neo. I’m actually the only new member [Kappa Alpha Psi] has,” Anderson said, though even a new member understands the importance of the annual step show to the NPHC community. “This is what black Greeks are known for — stepping and just really giving people a show that they will remember. If one of them messes up, oh, they’re going to be remembered for it. It’s the biggest thing for us,” Anderson said.
(Maurice C. Jones/Broadside)
This year, Morris was able to show this sense of pride the moment her sorority, Zeta Phi Beta, was crowned with the second place sorority award, while the first place sorority trophy went to Herbert’s sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.
The fraternity winners were Phi Beta Sigma in first place, with Iota Phi Theta taking second place.
Regardless of who won, all of the sorority and fraternity members gathered with other Mason students again in JC, Dewberry to cele- brate the annual Mason NPHC week as whole. Even though the NPHC is comprised of many different Greeks that may not usually associate with each other, the week is a time for all black Greeks to come together and do something with the entire Mason community.
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