Why rent a porn flick when you can catch a stepshow instead???

[Spartan 4 Life]

Ok, pardon me for being on what may seem to be a crusade against stepshows, but I believe that in order to save our organizations, some thing must be said. I took a quick trip down to yet another North Carolina Triad 2000 Homecoming to check out the stepshow--congratulations AKA and A-PHI-A for outstanding performances and for finishing 1st Place. This time, I was not amazed at what I saw; I was down right disgusted at the brothers who did everything they could to take things way too far.

There was the usual unnecessary, lewd humping of the ground, sexual gestures with canes, grabbing of crotches and lyrics informing the ladies what was in store for later on that night by ALL of the fraternities who participated, but one organization decided that all of that just was not enough to get the point across, and thus decided to make sure that they could wrap up the title as the the most trifling organization on the yard by taking things 2 D Extreme.

They started out boring us with the actual steps they had prepared--most of the audience responded by walking out of the auditorium. Choreography suffered, beats were confusing, enthusiasm was nonexistent and creativity was an unfamiliar concept--it’s amazing how the most lewd organizations seem to always be the ones with the worst shows otherwise. Just before the group began to collect the massive "boo's" which were clearly called for, they decided to take things to a different level. There were eight young “men” who stepped. Eight young “ladies” came out from back stage in silver nighties to proclaim themselves as the night's designated whores.

These young “gentlemen”commenced to perform very suggestive dance moves with these young “ladies”. Eventually these young “ladies” were laid out on their backs on the floor of the stage with their heads facing the audience. The then spread their legs just enough for the “leaders of tomorrow” to crawl up between them. Then, the “mentors of our youth” motioned for these “future teachers and business leaders” to lift their legs bald eagle as these “men”, who donate so much of their time tutoring in our elementary schools commenced to remove the panties from these “ladies of finer womanhood”, hold them up for the audience to see and then toss them off to the side.

Then, these “men of distinction” placed their heads underneath the skirts of these “daughters of alumnists of some university”, placed a towel on top and took a moment to simulate oral sex so that the 8-16 year olds in the audience would know exactly what to do when they get back to school the next day. Shortly afterwards, these “respectful young ladies” got up from the floor of the stage and dusted themselves off (after all, it’s hard work being cheap and whorish) and were bid farewell by the gentlemen of this “esteemed” organization as the brothers wiped the symbolic juice from their mouths.

I'm sorry to put it so bluntly, but a very clear message must be sent to these young "men" and young "ladies" that our stepshows are not the place to "get your groove on." When we come to these stepshows, it is because we enjoy stepping. It has been said by some organizations that they merely "give the crowd what they want to see." My response to such ignorance is if you take a butcher knife and slice your team members' faces down the middle and have the blood drip on to the stage, the crowd just may be just as amazed with your performance. As humans, we are amazed by ignorance--that doesn't mean that we have the right to it.

To the brothers of this “illustrious” organization, if you enjoy demonstrating your sexuality on stage, there is an industry for people like you, it's called the adult film and entertainment industry. Young ladies, if you have that so little respect for yourselves and you insist on making your sexuality public, please pull up to any of the local buildings which read, "Girls Girls Girls" and I am sure the management will be more than happy to allow you to "Shake it fast" as much as you wish. However, I have said it before and I will say again as clearly as I can, OUR STEPSHOWS ARE NOT THE PLACE FOR YOUR LEWDNESS AND YOUR PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF IGNORANCE!! CARRY YOUR TRIFLING BEHINDS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD PEEP SHOW IF YOU ARE THAT HOT!! IN ORDER TO GET APPLAUSE IN A STEPSHOW, YOU MUST BE ABLE TO STEP!! LACK OF SUFFICIENT PRACTICE TIME AND CREATIVE CHOREOGRAPHY IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR YOU TO COME ON STAGE AND DISRESPECT OUR CHILDREN, OUR ALUMNI AND/ OR OTHER FANS OF STEPPING. IN CASE YOU DID NOT NOTICE, BEFORE YOU BEGAN YOUR PORN FLICK SAMPLING, THE AUDIENCE DEMONSTRATED A GENERAL LACK OF INTEREST BY SITTING QUIETLY IN THEIR SEATS AND BY WALKING OUT OF THE AUDITORIUM. THIS MEANS THAT YOUR TEAM CANNOT STEP.

I am greek and I am embarrassed that our organizations are taking a turn for the worst. Who are these people joining these groups? Where did they come from? I am getting to the point where I feel that if I say I am from a Pan Hel Fraternity, people will perceive me as some kind of pervert. How long do you think celebrities of Pan Hellenic Organizations will continue to claim membership with this down-hill slope of our national images?

I am making a national plea to all Nine of the Pan Hellenic National Presidents as well as to the presidents of other stepping organizations (Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho, Iota Phi Theta, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Groove Phi Grove and anyone else who has members who take the stepshow stage): either take a stand or sit back quietly and watch as your organizations be driven into the mud. It is not the responsibility of the individual schools and show coordinators to keep our organizations in check. We must do it from the base. Please send a proclamation immediately to all of your local chapters indicating that they are to stop this lewdness or else have their charters removed. If you do not feel that your organization is a part of this ignorance, please appeal to them to not fall into the bottomless pit that others have stumbled into. I also as that the Graduate chapters, state & regional officers intervene as well, as our state officers did the weekend before last. Something must be done soon, or you will soon need ID indicating that you are over 21 in order to get into one of these “side shows.” Please help us to preserve the rich heritage that all of our founders have set for us. Stepping is an important part of Greekdom. We must keep it as sacred and not allow these hoodlums, who somehow make it through the screening process, turn it into something that is deplored an looked upon as shameful. I certainly welcome your comments and questions.

Please act soon!!!

[Ghostface-Killah]

Well, I have to agree with most of the things you are saying and I must admit I couldn't have said it better. A show is a show true, but I feel bad when I cannot take my parents to a step show because of its explicit parts. I am glad you brought it up, but please do not generalize. I think we all have a "funy" chapter somewhere.

I hope fellow frats and sorors ( and I do mean all members of NPHC) take your opinion into consideration.

you're right, some things should be kept more secretive.

Sisterly,
Maria,
GhostFace/Not Limit Soldier
SIGMA GAMMA RHO Sorority, Inc.

[ahhkbah]

I agree. I invited my mother up to watch my girlfriend step in our annual step show. My mother enjoyed the act until one fraternity took things a little bit far. Not to the extremes you mentioned, but enough to make my mother weary of step shows.

[PhoenixGrad]

The words of Spartan4Life should truly be heeded! Though I am not a member of PanHell organization, I am Greek, and I'm appalled to hear of ANY organization's blatant disregard for themselves,their alumni, and their community! I attended a HBCU and have witnessed many a step show. While some have exemplified the wondrous artistic and creative ability within each organization, some have (in essence) been nothing more than very EXPENSIVE strip shows!

I think a call should go out to all GLOs who step (whether PanHell, Latino/a, Asian, or Multicultural)to KEEP IT CLEAN! Remember what stepping was created to do - give honor to the organization, its founders, and their illustrious alumni. Stepping was tool of distintion and a way to humorously poke fun at other groups. It's not about Playa hatin', it's not about sexual prowess. It's about good, CLEAN fun!

And just as an aside (to whatever NC school allowed that display to take place and to whatever organization was involved) - I hope you have issued an apology to the community!

[This message has been edited by PhoenixGrad (edited October 10, 2000).]

sorry, it might be childish, but i am still laughing at the phrase "lift their legs bald eagle"

sorry, it was just funny

I SEE THAT THIS TOPIC HAS NOT GOTTEN MANY RESPONSES. ITS FUNNY HOW THOSE THAT DESERVE ATTENTION DO NOT GET IT BUT IF SOMEONE COMES IN HERE WITH SOME IGNORANCE THEN EVERYONE JUMPS ON IT. SPARTAN MADE REFERNCES TO THE FRATERNITY AND THE WOMEN TO THE POINT WHERE SOME CAN PROBALY FIGURE WHICH ONE ENGAGED IN SUCH REPULSIVE ACTS. WE CAN NOT LET THE ACTIONS OF A FEW BOG OUR OPINION OF ENTIRE ORGS, BUT I THINK THAT IF I WAS APART OF THE ORG OR ORGS THAT WERE APART OF THIS I WOULD DEFINITELY RESPOND AND TRY AND DO WHATEVER I CAN TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING. HOW COULD PEOPLE EXSPOSE THE PUBLIC WHICH INLUDES CHILDREN AND OUR ELDERS TO SUCH BULLSHIT! YUCK. BGLOS ARE ALWAYS COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW THEY ARE PORTRYED TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE MEDIA BUT YET SOME OF THEM KEEP ON INVOLVING THEMSELVES IN ACTS SUCH AS THIS AND IN HAZING. i AM NOT INA BGLO I AM CURRENTLY PURSUING MEMBERSHIP, BUT I WOULD NEVER TAKE PART IN ANYTHING SUCH AS THIS. I RESPECT THE BGLOS, BUT SOME MEMBERS REALLY NEED TO GET A REALITY CHECK AND JUST BE ABOUT BUSINESS!! BECAUSE SHIT LIKE THIS IS NOT CUTE. IT IS DIGUSTING AND UNCALLED FOR.

NO I AM NOT JUST SOME UNREGISTERED PERSON WHO IS AFRAID(AS SOME ALWAYS SAY ON HERE) TO REGISTER. I AM PRETTYGYRL. MY COMP IS OUT OF COMMISSION UNTIL I COMPLETE MY MOVE NEXT MONTH AND I DO NOT MEMORIZE MY PASSWORD FOR LOGGING ON PURPOSES. BUT IT IS ME PRETTYGYRL!!! AS SOON AS I AM SETTLED I WILL BE BACK ON HERE PUTTING MY 25 CENTS IN WASSUP TO ALL THOSE I AM COOL WITH. WASSUP EVEN TO THE HATAS!

[darling1]

prettygyrl, i hope you get your computer back on line. i always enjoyed your posts, even the ones i didn't agree with. i am also perplexed as to the lack of response to this post. this falls under the category of "things that make you go hmmmmmmmmm"

[Shelacious]

Originally posted by DISGUSTED:
SPARTAN MADE REFERNCES TO THE FRATERNITY AND THE WOMEN TO THE POINT WHERE SOME CAN PROBALY FIGURE WHICH ONE ENGAGED IN SUCH REPULSIVE ACTS.

Although ultimately it doesn't matter, actually, I am not aware, based on the post, which organizations he/she is referencing. Of course this is very questionable behavior, and I have seen all 9 BGLO's go for the "sex sells" theory when creating step routines, from showing underwear with the sorority's call embroidered on them to women stepping to "the thong song" (and winning the step show) to men getting buck-naked on stage to men licking whipped cream off a chair...it goes on and on. Society as a whole is far more tolerant of such behavior, so it is no surprise that our fraternity and sorority members are falling into the same offensive behaviors.

Point A: until, as Spartan said, the NPHC and individually its resident members take a stand (i.e. write that those types of routines will not be tolerated) and suspend members for such behavior and ban those members from participating in step shows...? Based on the call from Spartan, those in BGLO's are to go back to our local, state, regional and national representatives for such discussion and regulations to be put in place. Frankly, there is nothing else to discuss about it--this will indeed change only by mandates from the respective national offices, which I hope many are indeed doing.

Best,
Shela


------------------
Finer Womanhood: the "Cat's Meow" Since 1920

[MIDWESTDIVA]

Ditto everything Spartan 4 Life said.

[DoggyStyle82]

The problem is that these types of performances frequently get rewarded either with victories or crowd response. Many of us have seen how the crowd(especially females) respond to a certain step team's whip cream routine. They have certainly won their share of shows. The responsibility ultimately lies with the sponsors, organizers, and judges. If you are stopped mid-show and disqualified when you swear, strip, or become overly provacative, this nonsense will stop. PRETTYGIRL: for the record, I have seen many shows and performed in a few others and I have never seen anything that SPARTAN refers to. It does not stain all Greeks. Just that yard and whatever school allowed that B.S. to go on.

[darling1]

DoggyStyle,

I will have to disagree with you where state that the responsibility falls on the sponsors, organizers and judges. The responsibility falls on the sponsors-for making sure that their product is not being attached to something so negative; the organizers for having the respect for themselves and the audience not to allow such repulsive behavior to be apart of a step show and to develop rules that will prevent such negative, disgusting behavior;the judges-for enforcing the rules established by the organizers. The organizations within the NPHC have a responsibility to set an example wherever they go. From what I have read and have learned, there was a time where sorority and fraternity members were looked to as the epitome of academic and social excellence and grace. NO I AM NOT SAYING IT DOESN'T EXIST, but with society's moral standards changing one has to wonder. It is true that such behavior doesn't exist everywhere but it's prevalent enough where someone felt the need to address the issue on this forum and judging from the way Spartan's post was written, he has been a part of the scene for a little while. I think sometimes we don't realize that the world is small and the greek world is smaller(so I've been told). Just recently I was reaquainted with a woman who I hadn't seen in 2 years but remembered me from a party given by a mutual friend--do you know how? She remembered that I went to a particular university. My point is, the actions you do can ultimately harm you in the long run. They can also have a negative effect on someone. On many occasions there are impressionable young men and women who's first experience with Greekdom is a stepshow. If XYZ org. is out there shaking their behinds and other inappropriate things, how is that org to be taken seriously? To me it is a contradiction.


There is nothing wrong with having fun, but there are limits. I think the younger folks get, the worse it will be until people aren't going to be willing to sponsor shows because the interest isn't there. It's like Spartan said, why go to a step show when you can rent a porno...I'll take it further, why go to a step show when you can get on the internet, if ya get JUNO its free????

[Teva7]

-I will first congratulate at being totally
disgusted at this disrespectful show of
indecency.

“ladies of finer womanhood”
Was this statement declaring that these women are members of Zeta Phi Beta Inc.
You must well know that these is a frequent phrased used by them?
I do not pretend to claim which organization you are in although I have my reservations but in any org you must be truly an asset.