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October 20 Round-Up
George Washington University AKAs host fourth annual "Miss Freshman Pageant"
Toochi Ngwangwa was crowned Miss Freshman 2005 out of a group of 11 contestants Sunday night during a pageant ceremony emphasizing students' academic achievements, community service participation, creativity and personality.
The Miss Freshman Pageant, which focused on the theme "Excellence: Unified through Purpose and Poise," was hosted by the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and was open to all freshmen. At Sunday's final ceremony in the Marvin Center Ballroom, students involved in the event were judged based on their talent performances, interviews and evening wear presentations.
Prior to the pageant, participants attended workshops on ballroom dancing, etiquette, professional development and money management. The contestants accumulated points by participating in these events and by making bag lunches for two local shelters and fundraising through advertisement sales.
Ngwangwa, who received a $1,000 scholarship for first place, garnered enthusiastic applause during her performance of an original poem, and the crowd cheered when, during the interview portion, she said her most prized possession was her identity. Despite taking home the crown, Ngwangwa said all of the contestants should feel proud of how far they came since the start of pageant preparations.
"We all win," she said. "We practiced hard every day and every night, and we came together. We share this crown."
Freshman Macy Jenkins was first runner-up, and freshman Nadia Sesay came in as second runner-up. They received $500 and $250 scholarships, respectively. Freshman Teiko Akufo's enthusiasm and positive disposition during the pageant were recognized by judges, and they gave her the title Miss Congeniality.
This year's contest was the fourth Miss Freshman Pageant at GW. The pageant is a tradition for the GW chapter of Alpha Kappa and was revived this year because of the chapter's return to campus last year.
Although the participants competed against each other for the crown, most said they had a great time together and enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of the pageant.
Contestants and organizers alike agreed that the pageant was far from ordinary.
"People usually think pageants are all about beauty, but this has nothing to do with that," freshman and participant Ivie Guobadia said. "At least not with outward beauty; it's more about inner beauty and the hard work that all of us put into this."
Other contestants said they enjoyed the workshop component of the event because they were able to learn new skills.
"I did think that they were very beneficial. In the one about etiquette I learned what to do in an interview, which was helpful," freshman Ursula Anderson said. "It will be good to know when I'm trying to find a job in the future."
Friends and family of the contestants and sorority members gathered in the Marvin Center ballroom decorated with pink, silver and black balloons. Several groups of students were there to support their classmates, and one group held a sign saying, "We love our ladies."
The Hilltop - Campus
Issue: 10/20/05
Ubiquity Replants After Damaged Tree Cut Down
By Keirsten Murrian
Ubiquity is a non-Greek, Afrocentric fellowship at Howard University
Members of Ubiquity, Inc. have planted a new tree where their old tree used to stand before it was knocked down by a severe thunderstorm over the summer.
Ubiquity planted the new tree earlier this week, not as a replacement for the one they lost, but as a part of their membership intake process. Discussions of a tree paid for by the University are still underway.
"I think the University should give them a tree," said senior psychology major Sheria Andrews. "It wasn't their fault that a storm came and knocked down their tree."
The loss of the tree that has stood for so long was a shock to members of Ubiquity. Some members even remember exactly where they were when they noticed or were told that their tree was being cut down.
Senior political science major Alisa Gilmore, member of Ubiquity, was on her way from class this summer when she saw the tree being cut down.
"When I walked out of my planetary sciences class in summer school, I watched them while they were cutting it down," said Gilmore. "The roots were still in the ground."
A fellow Ubiquitarian told Morgan that after the storm the tree was still standing.
Gilmore believes that the tree being cut down is a deeply rooted issue.
"Swygert didn't want it there," she said. "The tree was a problem during graduation because it got in the way," she said. "People in the bleachers sitting next to the tree were unable to see."
Senior television production major Asia Sutherland said whatever the reason, it was wrong to cut down the tree.
"I think it's wrong that they took down the visual representation of their organization," she said. "It's not as well known as the other non-Hellenic organizations."
Adam Wynn, senior public relations major, thinks Ubiquity is entitled to another tree just like Sigma Gamma Rho.
"If they gave the other organization a tree, they should give them a tree," he said. "They should be fair about it.
In September, there was a meeting between Ubiquity and Student Activities to discuss what could be done about the tree. According to Ubiquity members, there is talk of putting a sculpture in its place.
"We have mixed feelings about the sculpture or the tree," said Morgan about Ubiquity members.
Founder of Ubiquity, Donald Temple does not have a problem with the statue and said that he would pay for it himself. The tree was a very important aspect of the Ubiquity trial process.
"We have a rights of passage and the tree is used," Gilmore said. "It's nice to have a statue, but the tree can't be replaced," said Gilmore. "We knew we wouldn't get anything without a fight."
She along with other members of Ubiquity hopes that the statue that may stand in its place of the tree will be there by the end of the semester.
Several attempts were made to contact Steven G. Johnson, director of Physical Facilities Management, about this matter, however he was unavailable for comment.
Posted by Rashid on October 20, 2005 6:35 AM