NPHC Step Show brings history and culture to Lovett Auditorium

Story by Brianna Willis, Staff writer

Roll calls were made throughout Lovett Auditorium Saturday night. Strolls were performed, and the audience danced. The annual National Pan-Hellenic Council Step Show creates an atmosphere of participation.

DJ Stump encouraged the audience to get on their feet and dance. Chants, music and laughter filled the room in anticipation of the performances to come.

Zeta Phi Beta Incorporated, or Zetas, won first place for the sororities, and Western Kentucky’s Iota Phi Beta, or Iotas, won first place for the fraternities.

The lineup started with Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated, or Deltas. Next came Phi Beta Sigma, then Sigmas Zetas, leaving the Iotas to finish off the performances. Each organization had a central theme to their performance, such as the Deltas’ Greek history museum theme and the Zetas’ mental asylum, “I’m not crazy” theme.

The emcee of the evening was Rick Daniels, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

He said he considers Murray State his second home because Daniels has been the emcee for step show for five years.

“I feel the Greek community here has a true love and respect for what it means to be Greek,” Daniels said. “That is the reason why I love coming back to the show no matter what.”

The show included a video about the history of stepping, as well as honoring the history of desegregation at Murray State.

“When it comes to stepping and strolling, it is us,” said Antwan Dawson from Western Kentucky. “It is not just for entertainment or to win a trophy. It’s to continue your organization’s legacy.”

Ryan Jones from Western Kentucky  said stepping was important to him because these are the strolls were passed down from brother to brother.

“We looked up to them and now we can do what they did,” Jones said.

This manifested itself when alumni got involved during intermission and short breaks throughout the night. Alumni from various chapters including Murray State’s, participated in strolls with students, cheering on members of their respective organizations. 

Songs were played from various decades to encourage a richer experience for every member of the audience.

History matters in their strolls, their roll calls and the reasons they went Greek in the first place, said Sydney Warfield, member of Zeta Phi Beta Incorporated.

“When you see Zetas and do research on the founding women, you see they are confident and unafraid to be themselves,” said Warfield.

Daniels wants students who plan on coming to step show to keep one thing in mind: its purpose.

“Come and have a good time but know that what you’re seeing is more than entertainment,” he said. “Its about love and respect.”