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Thursday, March 24 Round-Up
At UNC, Deltas and Zetas lead in service
The University’s Greek community continues to grow in scholarship, service and number, according to the fraternity and sorority report published Monday.The report, compiled every semester by the Office of Greek Affairs, documents grade point averages, service hours and levels of campus involvement among members of Greek organizations.
“As far as overall progress with Greek organizations goes, I’d say we’re definitely moving in the right direction,” said Jay Anhorn, director of Greek affairs.
Traditionally, he added, members of the Greek community have earned higher GPAs than non- Greek students.
Mr. and Ms Blue & White competition at Central Michigan
Detroit senior James Cooper and Belleville junior LaKishia Smith win the Mr. and Ms. Blue and White competition Friday evening in the Bovee University Center Rotunda. The competition, put on by Zeta Phi Beta and Phi Beta Sigma, was intended to celebrate the bond shared between two people.
Arkansas: Alpha Phi Alpha recognizes outstanding students, professionals
The Omicron Zeta Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. hosted its second annual Black and Gold Scholarship Ball on March 12 at the Clarion Inn in Fayetteville. The evening began with a cocktail hour followed by dinner and an awards presentation. Several local high school and college students were presented with Rodney Momon Scholarships, and Manuel Stuart Jr. received the Alpha Phi Alpha/Wal-Mart Information Systems Division’s $1,000 scholarship. Five local professionals were recognized with the Alpha Phi Alpha Torchbearer Award for their efforts to uplift the Northwest Arkansas community. They are Charlyn Jarrells Porter, Sheree Miller, Angela Monts, Gordan Morgan and Jeff Schomburger.
Murray State Alphas Host Non-Traditional Step Show
From blue men to Napoleon Dynamite, 10 teams participating in Alpha Step Show 2005 showcased their skills Wednesday in Lovett Auditorium.This year's Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity-sponsored show included the three traditional divisions: fraternities, sororities and independent teams.
In the sorority division, the members of Alpha Omicron Pi took first place, beating last year's champions and the 2005 second place winner, Alpha Sigma
Alpha. Phi Mu Alpha and Sigma Alpha Iota, the only two groups to enter the independent category, placed first and second, respectively.
Members of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity placed first in the fraternity division, and Lambda Chi Alpha came in second.
"The competition was more competitive this year." John Jenkins, sophomore Alpha Sigma Phi stepper from Dixon, said. "There were much more difficult steps."
This is the third consecutive year Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity has won the event.
"It's like our dynasty." Jenkins said, acknowledging the contribution of all his fraternity brothers.
Dancing to songs like "Lean Back," "Da Dip," "One Two Step" and the "Macarena", each group performed its routine to the four judges and the audience, which nearly packed the auditorium.
The teams started preparing their routines for the annual event early in the semester, some cutting their winter breaks short to begin practicing.
Mandy Laszewski, freshman from Nashville, said the Alpha Sigma Alpha members had to go through an audition process, and practices started nearly two months prior to the show.
The step show is always well attended, and some students were standing outside Lovett two hours before the show began hoping to get a good seat in the auditorium, Laszewski said.
Although the crowd loved the routines, many members did not agree with the judges' decisions. As the winners were announced, many fans booed and walked out.
"Where I was sitting, everyone around seemed to have the same feelings as me because everyone was shocked about the winners, there were a lot of people cheering for (Alpha Gamma Delta)," Kyle Hoffman, freshman from Evansville, Ind., said.
Alpha Phi Alpha will donate the proceeds of the step show to the March of Dimes and some other charities.
Shreveport AKAs Host Cotillion
Classical English ivy and roses set the scene for the Sigma Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Debutante Cotillion on Saturday at Scottish Rite Temple.Twenty-two debutantes made formal bows to society at the affair.
The theme "Cultural Pearls Precious and Rare."
Each debutante wore white, formal-length gowns, 16-button gloves and carried a nosegay of pink roses entwined with baby's breath and English ivy. Each received a gift of pearls from her sponsor.
As part of the cotillion festivities, the debutantes did the minuet with their fathers and escorts, a section choreographed by Luther Cox.
The evening was the culmination of months of dedication from the young women. They participated in sessions focused on education, culture, social etiquette, volunteerism and leadership.
Warner Robins, GA, AKAs help students improve reading skills
WARNER ROBINS - He leans over the story titled "Dino chick luck" that he just finished writing."It has duck feet, a chick body and a dinosaur head," said Parkwood Elementary School third-grader Daimonian Seburn, of the main character in his short story where "Dino chick luck" is chastised for being different, but in the end, saves all the farm animals. "I just thought of it."
Getting practice reading and writing should help this 9-year-old prepare for life skills and the upcoming Criterion Referenced Competency Tests, a state test to measure academic performance given to all students in mid-April.
If third-graders don't pass the reading section, they don't get promoted to fourth grade.
This concern had the Warner Robins chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha volunteering each week to help some at-risk students at Parkwood become more fluent readers.
Each Tuesday, after this group of about 10 women get off their day jobs - some as teachers and others as Robins Air Force Base workers - they head to Parkwood.
Central Michigan Sigma Gamma Rhos Host Money Management Seminar
Dr. George Ross, vice president of Finance and Administrative Services, speaks to students and members of Sigma Gamma Rho about money management Tuesday evening.
Vacaville, CA Deltas Teach Teens About HIV/AIDS
The prescription for success often includes a dose of reality. And about 75 young students got just that Saturday at the HIV/AIDS Awareness Teen Forum at Solano Community College.A personal appearance by an AIDS sufferer, a video of a 15-year-old who is HIV-positive, and several workshops brought the facts and figures of the diseases closer to home.
"If we reach one person today, it was valuable," said volunteer Denise Johnson.
The five-hour forum was all about education, said Eva Coley, president of the local Delta Sigma Theta, one of the event sponsors.
"We feel we can make people more aware of what's going on by helping the young people make proper decisions," Coley said.
HIV/AIDS is typically a topic students won't discuss with parents, she added.
"It's not an easy subject to talk about," Coley said.
Students needed to realize they aren't immune, added Renee Smith, health educator for Solano County Health and Social Services.
"Young people don't ever feel like they are at risk for anything," Smith said. "And it's important that they're not walking around in an 'I don't know world' today. They have no excuse not to have the information. In order for them to make better choices, they have to be informed and it's our responsibility to give them that."
"They think it's OK to have unprotected sex, that they'll live forever," Johnson added. "That nothing is going to harm them."
It helped having AIDS victim Deborah McCartney speak Saturday, said Coley. McCartney caught AIDS from her ex-husband, and speaks openly to adults and youth.
"I think it helps to hear it from someone who has the disease," Coley said. "I would hear kids going up to her and saying, 'Your story was awesome.' They pay attention."
The students came from throughout the county, said volunteer Valerie Roberts-Gray, who sent announcements to various middle and high schools and churches.
Donneisha Menisee, 13, learned that AIDS "doesn't discriminate. It doesn't care if you're black, white, fat or skinny. It doesn't matter."
Chris Efe, 16, walked away with a better understanding of the disease.
"I learned that you can get it no matter what sex, color or weight you are and that the best way to avoid it is abstinence and using proper judgment," Efe said.
Posted by Rashid on March 24, 2005 5:55 AM