NPHC hosts week of events to highlight traditions

Many students walking by the library between noon and 2 p.m. most Wednesdays have probably noticed music playing and groups of students ‘strutting’ and ‘stepping.’

‘Strutting’ and ‘stepping’ are traditions that fraternity and sorority members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council participate in and pass down to younger members.

The NPHC will be hosting events each night this week to share their traditions and show the campus what they are all about, NPHC community service chair and senior nursing major Stephanie Huyen said.

This is the first time that NPHC has come together to put on events for an entire week, Huyen said. In the past, there has been a week for each organization in NPHC.

A week of daily activities provides consistency so people will know what is going on, senior broadcast journalism major Aundre Dean said. If students miss one night’s event, they are able to attend during a different night rather than miss out completely, he said.

Junior chemistry major Alex Wilson said she had been asked about a NPHC week before. In the past, it has been a part of Greek Week but NPHC wanted to distinguish the two, Wilson said.

“We want the campus to understand that all of the organizations in this council are really and truly dedicated to public service, scholarship, brotherhood and sisterhood,” Wilson said.

Each of the events incorporates one of the three ideals of NPHC, Huyen said.

All of the events are open to everyone on campus. Monday’s event was a career information session on how to get the job you want, and Tuesday night was ‘stepping 101’ during which the members of the organizations taught people how to step, she said. Tonight, the members will be strutting in the Brown-Lupton University Union.

“The stepping and strutting is what our organizations do,” Wilson said. “We come together to get away from the stress of school. Most of us have difficult majors so it is nice to take a break and do something fun together.”

The week will end with a community service trip to the Presbyterian Night Shelter in Fort Worth on Friday to pass out goods collected from the drive this week, Huyen said.

Anyone is welcome to come  work at the Presbyterian Night Shelter with the NPHC members on Saturday, she said. The group will meet in front of the BLUU at 10 a.m. and will be back around 2 p.m.

“We just want everyone to come out so that they can get an understanding of who we are, and we can get a chance to know them,” Wilson said.

Events for the rest of the week:
Wednesday 7 p.m. BLUU Commons-Hump Day
Thursday 8 p.m. BLUU Ballroom C+D-What’s your stereotype?
Friday 7 p.m. NPHC Night at Main Event (first 15 non-NPHC members are free)
Saturday 10 a.m. Meet in front of the BLUU-Presbyterian Night Shelter service

Donation Information:
Items can be donated during the day to a box in the Student Government Association offices
There will also be a donation box at each event
Items needed: toiletries, gently used clothing, sheets, sleeping bags, coats and canned food