Clomp, clomp, clap, clap, clomp — those were the sounds coming from the PMAC Saturday night during the Greater Baton Rouge Pan-Hellenic Council Greek Variety Show.
The “Old School,” alumni members of eight NPHC sororities and fraternities served as the evening’s performers.
“Once we graduate, we remain active,” said Evelyn Jenkins, Sigma Gamma Rho alumni president. “We support the undergraduates and help mold our younger sorors [sorority sisters] and fraternity brothers.”
Phi Beta Sigma national president Arthur Thomas and Wilford Johnson put their act together in one week, even as Thomas was flying around the country in his role as national president.
“We had to go back and recreate our steps from 1971,” said 51-year-old Thomas. “One of the advantages of being national president is that I get to see everyone step. We make it a little different, more our own.”
The crowd enjoyed their performance and gave them a standing ovation during their performance, which included songs by Nelly and the Jackson Five.
“The Old School shows the younger people how to do it,” said mass communication senior Alicia Duplessis, a member of Delta Sigma Theta. “It’s fun to watch the older people who crossed in ’81 or ’71.”
Tresslyn Neff, a 2002 Southern graduate and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, said the night was very inspirational.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for all the greek fraternities and sororities to come together and celebrate a fun-filled night,” she said. “I truly enjoyed myself.”
Besides the step show, the night also included the presentation of the first Polaris Award winners: Edna Crockett, Thomas Daigle, Jr., Mercedes Broussard, Ruth Williams and Roger Geistsinger.
The award, named after the North Star that guided travelers for centuries, is given to men and women who lead the community by example.
Jenkins said the money raised from the Greek Variety Show will go toward scholarships and community fund-raisers.