McKinnon Hall is packed. The beats are strong and the crowd is loud. This is the Panhellenic Conference Step Show, and it is where unity will be born April 27.
The National Panhellenic Council fraternity Phi Beta Sigma joins members of the Panhellenic Conference each year in a step show designed to foster strong collegiate Greek relationships.
[box]2nd Annual Panhellenic Conference Step Show
When: April 27 Where: McKinnon Hall[/box]
“Every time we have a Greek summit, they want us to build relationships with other councils,” said senior Phi Beta Sigma member Lamar Lee. “It’s been initiated to mingle more.”
The differences between the National Panhellenic Council, a traditionally black association, and the social sororities of the Panhellenic Conference can foster stereotypes, Lee said.
“There’s stereotypes about councils because of lack of knowledge,” Lee said. “So this is my fraternity’s step toward erasing those stereotypes.”
For the women of Elon University’s Panhellenic Conference, the step show offers knowledge and collaboration that bridges the gap between different organizations.
“I think that Panhellenic Conference organizations participate in the step show because it helps us to tangibly learn about a separate Greek council that we would not have the opportunity to do otherwise,” said junior Tri-Delta member Genevieve D'Cruz. “This is a time that we get a glimpse into National Panhellenic Council organizations and how and why they do the things that they do.”
The education between organizations is exactly what Lee said the step show is designed to facilitate — and it goes both ways. Lee said he learned a lot about the functions of Panhellenic Conference sororities, in addition to teaching them the history of traditionally black fraternities.
“The most important part is building relationships and education,” he said. “I had no idea how Panhellenic Conference recruitment works, and they broke it down for me.”
Each Phi Beta Sigma brother teamed with a sorority to train and educate. For three days a week throughout the course of three months, sorority members learned and practiced the art of stepping.
But the learning process was not without questions.
[quote]This is a time that we get a glimpse into National Panhellenic Council organizations and how and why they do the things that they do. –Genevieve D'Cruz, junior Tri-Delta member[/quote]
“There are a lot of ‘whys’ asked during step practices,” D’Cruz said. “Every few minutes, someone has a question about why something is done the way it is, which leads to an explanation and fosters a greater understanding of National Panhellenic Council.”
After answering questions and developing what Lee called a fun rivalry, fraternity members will present their teams for a showcase and competition.
Representatives from the council, senior staff of the Multicultural Center and Elon administrators will judge the step show. The winning sorority receives $500 for its philanthropy.
“I’ve had people tell me they have more fun at the step show than at Greek Week,” Lee said. “It’s extremely beneficial for us and I’d hope it is for them as well. We’re such a large community here at Elon. There’s no reason we shouldn’t get together.”