Friday, October 17, 1997
‘Stepping’ to beat of a different kind of Greek
GREEKS: Ethnic
frats, sororities perform historical storytelling
By Michelle Navarro
Daily Bruin Contributor
Call dog: I said my brothers …
Steppers: Ya?
Call dog: We step hard …
Steppers: How hard?
Call dog: So damn hard that their
steppin’ is barred.
The UCLA campus holds a total of 10 listed ethnic sororities and
fraternities. There are six African-American and four
Asian-American Greek groups listed on campus. They are unique in
their format and history — they are smaller, some of them avoid
alcohol at their parties, and in the case of the African-American
groups, they step.
"Stepping" is a historical form of communication and
storytelling that is currently performed by several of the UCLA
fraternities and sororities that belong to the National
Pan-Hellenic Council, an organization which directs the
traditionally African-American national sororities and
fraternities.
"It goes way back to the African-American males working on the
railroad," said Daniel Craddock, a fourth-year Delta Epsilon Omega
member. "To keep up their morale and esteem and to forget about the
pain, they stepped. It was a tune that they marched to, a tune
about a story and pain. From there it just grew and evolved."
Today, fraternities and sororities perform step as a means of
sending a message to the audience. Other step routines are simply
for entertainment.
"We have step shows to convey positive messages and to captivate
the audience so they hear what we have to say. Back then, it was a
way of saying their pain so they wouldn’t get in trouble. They
couldn’t say anything negative, so it was a kind of code," Craddock
said.
Cultural elements such as these are what separate the 10
"ethnic" frats and sororities here on campus from the rest.
Several members say their emphasis on reaching out to their
respective communities and culture are what set them apart from
other Greeks.
"The projects we do benefit the African-American community right
there – like tutoring and working with children so they don’t
become another black statistic," said Mike Wilson, a third-year
economics/sociology student and Phi Beta Sigma member.
Wilson explained that the other Greek organizations generally
don’t have an "at-risk" community that needs support, thus they
don’t "need" to help out anyone in particular.
Wilson also mentioned that the importance of community service
drove him to join an ethnic frat. He figured that if he joined a
non-denominational fraternity, any effort to help out a certain
cultural community "would have to be done on (his) own."
Cultural study, on the other hand, isn’t as stressed as service
is in most of the ethnic Greek chapters.
"I don’t see too much ethnic-based activity," said Nayon Kang,
third-year student and president of Theta Kappa Phi, an
Asian-American sorority, "The focus is not so much on cultural
awareness. That’s more of a by-product. We want to see how Asians
fit in."
Others see culture as the keystone that unifies the members
together as a group.
"Everyone’s from the same type of background," said Kenny Teng,
fifth-year president of Omega Sigma Tau.
"Especially at a school like UCLA, where the minority population
is small, you need some kind of organization for them,"
collaborated Danette Dyer, a fourth-year economics student and
Sigma Gamma Rho member.
Kang felt a cultural sorority can also produce excellent Asian
role models, "especially for women."
Networking was another benefit of being a part of an ethnic
sorority or fraternity mentioned by members.
"Being in a frat in a college where about 5 percent of the
population is black, I know there is someone I can turn to if
something should arise," Wilson said. "There’s a type of
networking, it’s good to have others you know well."
The idea of having a campus group readily available to support a
specific minority is the foundation of some of these associations.
The organizations are, in fact, rooted in history. Many were born
when colleges were just beginning to integrate their campuses.
"When blacks started going to campuses, there was no place for
them. They needed some support group," said Scherrie James, a
fourth-year physiology student and Delta Sigma Theta member.
"Historically, blacks weren’t allowed to congregate as a group, it
was thought of as a rebellion against the U.S.."
Janneth Milton believes that the racial harmony and comfort
source is what attracts students to the groups.
"There’s a place on campus culturally for you," Milton said.
Perhaps this becomes even more attractive when the other
non-ethnic Greek associations appear intimidating, as one Omega
Sigma Tau member pointed out.
"Some chose to go this route because of the intimidation," said
Elliot Chun, a second-year biology student.
Although ethnic sororities and fraternities provide the
opportunity for those with a common history to develop a more
definitive sense of sisterhood or brotherhood, an underlying shadow
of segregation exists.
"I guess I do see (the separation) as having an ostracizing
effect," Kang said. "It’s a double-edged sword that kind of
deferred us from getting involved with the rest of the UCLA
community. That was not our intent or the intent of the
founder."
Kang said her sorority’s calendar is usually full of activities
scheduled with the 25 other Asian sororities in the L.A. area, so
not much time is left for other things.
"I wish we were more involved with the UCLA community. That’s
what we’re trying to do this year," Kang said.
Even just within the National Pan-Hellenic Council, divisions
between the frats and sororities are apparent. However, one member
made it clear that there wasn’t any animosity involved, just a dab
of friendly competition – which is to be expected.
"It’s segregated in a way, but at the same time not hostile. A
lot of sororities usually don’t do anything in conjunction with
each other," said Monet Moore, a fourth-year political science
student and Alpha Kappa Alpha member.
As for any obvious separations between the non-ethnic and
ethnic-specific Greeks, Wilson discussed parties, Rush Week and
housing.
"You will not find any of that (alcohol) at a black or most
ethnic fraternity parties," Wilson said, "We know that if there is
alcohol, it will lead to certain things and we don’t want to be
associated with those negative images. If you want to do that, you
can do it on your own time."
According to Wilson, the African-American fraternities and
sororities don’t hold the traditional Rush Week. Rather, the entire
NPHC holds an "informational" where all the groups get together and
give general information to students.
If a student is interested, he may sign up and attend a planned
social activity or participate in a community service project.
After, if the interest is still there, he may then go through the
organization’s own selection process – based on grades, community
service history and other similar criteria.
On housing, Wilson explained that the reason why most ethnic
groups don’t have their own designated locale correlates with the
sizes of most of the frats and sororities.
"The other Greeks have about 100 people so they can afford a
house. When you have 10 to 11 people you wouldn’t have a house,"
Wilson said.
As small as the cultural Greek groups are, Wilson said that the
recent elimination of affirmative action on the UC campuses
probably will have some effect but that "if (they) are lucky,
(they) won’t see it."
As for more internal differences with the non-ethnic Greeks,
Moore said that basically their goals and focuses are
different.
"With the other Greeks, it’s more of something that you’re only
in while at college," Dyer said, "the level of commitment that the
Greeks in the NPHC have is more of a lifetime one."SUSIE MING HWA
CHU
Members of the Theta Kappa Phi sorority.