Reciting the Greek alphabet, acknowledging your big sisters or big brothers, and the public announcement of new members are all a part of the "coming out" ceremony for new members in "The Divine Nine."

 There are nine historically black Greek letter organizations that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Collectively, these organizations are referred to as "The Divine Nine."

 As the semester draws to an end, the Pan-Hellenic fraternities and sororities welcomed new members into their organization in the form of a full-out show.

 This show includes masks covering the faces of new members upon entrance, intensity, stepping, dancing and humor all under the same roof.

 “When I took off my mask and revealed myself to the crowd, it was a relieving feeling,” said Skye Dawson, senior, general studies major, minor in art, and member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

 “We were showing off in front of the crowd for our brothers, and it felt good seeing everything we went through finally pay off,” said Dawson.

 Many Greeks attend these shows, especially those of that sorority or fraternity that the probate is for and their sisters and brothers from other schools as well as their own.

 According to Gaius George, coordinator of fraternity and campus life, in the past there have not been as many probates at the university.

 However, more recently the amount of probates is starting to increase since the population is increasing for Divine Nine organizations as a whole.

 “I definitely enjoy these shows. It gives the black organizations the ability to showcase their new members to the campus and to the community,” said George.

 The power and intensity level on these types of Greek shows are very high. That is mostly due to the fact that these individuals have been putting in long hours of time and work to prepare for this moment.

 “The stepping and strolling didn’t just happen overnight, we put a lot into it, but finally when the big day did come, we felt ready to show what we had been working on,” said Chandan Prasai, first year, mechanical engineer major and new member of Omega Delta Phi.

 For some people finally revealing themselves as a new member is like a lifelong dream coming true.

 “My feeling before the probate was man, at last, after I have been wanting this for so long, I am finally really about to do this,” said Mark Filus, senior, supply chain management, finance double minor, and member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

 Others take pride in the shows because their parents or relatives were also a part of the same fraternity or sorority.

 “Being the in the same sorority as my mom makes it all more special to me. I feel like I am carrying on a legacy,” said Jessica Smith, senior, journalism major and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

 According to George, the day before dead days was the last day for any Greek programming so students will have to wait until next semester for an opportunity to see another probate.