2008 Woodie Awards
Step Fest celebrates Institute's anniversary
Keir Bristol
Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: The Inside
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Step Fest 2008 was one of the many events that collectively made up the John D. O'Bryant African-American Institute's 40th Anniversary Celebration and Black Alumni Reunion. It was organized by Northeastern's Iota Gamma Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. The Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority was founded in 1908 and also celebrated "100 years of service" with the event.
At Step Fest, African-American fraternities and sororities came together and put on a show for Boston community members, displaying precision, organization, attitude and their respective histories in the routines. Many put together drills in which they yelled out when and where they were established.
The groups competed and were judged by a panel of mostly student judges. The winners of Step Fest 2008 were the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.
Richard O'Bryant, director of the African-American Institute, said many African-American Greek organizations started on historically black college campuses in the early 1900s. Step Fest and other similar shows have been around for many years.
"What's great about it is that it's not just targeted toward Northeastern students, but folks in the community come out and have a good time, so it bridges the gap between the university and the community," O'Bryant said.
The show proved a hit among students and non-students.
"I think the community loved it. I think Northeastern students loved it," said Tawana Hinch, a senior pharmacy major and a member of the Iota Gamma Chapter. "The step show is always a positive way for Greeks to come together and show what we do."
The fraternities and sororities emerged in matching outfits, including heels for the girls.
"Some of you guys can't even walk in heels!" said host Joe Clair, comedian and previous host of BET's Rap City. "They step in heels!"
Each group of Greeks put together a routine, often incorporating a theme from popular culture. The Phi Beta Sigma fraternity used the movie "I Am Legend" as a theme. A brother dressed up as Robert Neville, the character played by Will Smith in the film, and compared the other fraternities to mutants who needed a cure.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Joe Brown
posted 4/07/08 @ 2:54 PM EST
Actually, the "I Am Legend" theme was performed by Alpha Phi Alpha.
Douglas Slaughter
posted 4/07/08 @ 3:03 PM EST
The canes were used by Kappa Alpha Psi...not ALPHA PHI ALPHA.
Joe Brown
posted 4/07/08 @ 3:05 PM EST
Article Correction:
Alpha Phi Alpha performed the I Am Legend Theme and DO NOT use canes (that is Kappa Alpha Psi).
twophrozen04
2PhrozeN04
posted 4/07/08 @ 3:09 PM EST
Article Correction:
Alpha Phi Alpha performed the I Am Legend theme and DID NOT use canes (that was Kappa Alpha Psi).
A correction would be much appreciated. (Continued…)
Sadistic Ape
posted 4/07/08 @ 3:24 PM EST
In addition , Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. was founded at Cornell University and not a historically black institution although many of those institutions are where much of its early growth occurred. (Continued…)
JazzyFizzle
posted 4/07/08 @ 5:37 PM EST
Actually, the show preformed by those Divastating members of Delta Sigma Theta was a satire based on "People's Court". Barbie placed Delta Sigma Theta on trial, accusing them of being too service oriented, and setting the standards for undeniable sisterhood, scholarship and flyness, above the "legal" limit. (Continued…)
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