Dec. 2,1988 The News Argus PAGE 11
features
Black designers stage Winston-Salem benefit
GREEK
CORNER
They put wow into wool, weave class into
cotton, and add sass to silk. Now, some of Ameri
ca's top black fashion designers wiU pull out all
stops in Winston-Salem to benefit Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity Inc., in "Fashion for Mist Behavin'," a
showcase of black fashion designers sponsored by
Canadian Mist.
"Fashion for Mist Behavin"' is Canadian
Mist's second annual salute to black fashion
designers. Wearing
the fashions of
Kevin-Robert, Ster
ling Capricio,
Zulma, Reginald
Thomas and others,
local models will
high-step across the
stage of Williams Auditorium on Jan. 7 at 8 p.m.
Proceeds from the show will benefit the fraterni
ty’s pubhc service programs in Winston-Salem's
black community.
"We are very pleased to have the opportunity
to work with Omega Psi Phi," said Ack Willets,
vice president and brand director for Canadian
Mist. "The Omegas have a proud heritage in this
community. Canadian Mist hopes that, through
our affiliation, we can make an already strong
organization even stronger and able to reach out to
a few more people."
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., was the first
black fraternity founded on a black college cam
pus. The Winston-Salem chapter of Omega Psi
Phi was incorporated in 1932, and currently has 75
members whose energies are channeled toward
several national and local projeas. Among them
are a national fundraising telethon coordinated
with other local chapters; an endowment fund at
Winston-Salem State University; scholarships to
local high school seniors pursuing a college edu
cation; and The Omega Camp, a summer camp for
young men from single-parent homes.
"As an organization of professional, college-
educated men, we believe that Omega Psi Phi has
a responsibility to provide positive examples of
black manhood in our communities, and to
encourage young men to achieve their fullest
potential," said Robert McCollum, basileus of the
fraternity. "'Fashion for Mist Behavin'"will help
us fund local programs that wiU inspire and teach
local youths to succeed in education, job training
and other endeavors. As the sponsor of the show,
Canadian Mist is investing in Winston-Salem's
future - and it couldn't have made a better invest
ment."
Anytime, anyplace is the ruie for "Mist Behavin'." But when some of America's hottest designs by today's top
biacit designers are featured in "Fashion for Mist Behavin': A Showcase of Biacit Fashion Designers," ali ruies
are broken. The show, sponsored by Canadian Mist, is held to benefit non-profit organizations that work in the
blacl( community. "Fashion for Mist Behavin'" visits seven cities during the 1988-89 season.
In 1987, the fashion show featured in Mobile
and Birmingham, Alabama, where nearly $20,000
was contributed to the Gulf Coast Ch^ter of the
Sickle Cell Disease Association and the Birming
ham Urban League.
This year, the show travels to six cities in
addition to Winston-Salem; Jackson, Miss.; Birm
ingham, Ala.; New Orleans, La.; Philadelphia, Pa.;
Chariotte, N.C.; and Memphis, Tenn.
Additional designers featured in "Fashion for
Mist Behavin'" are Barbara Bates, David Byrd,
Danita Carter, Martin Elliott, Greg Gonzon, Keith
Kendall, Carlos Lewis, Dexter Luroi, SPY, Faye
Sowell, Eugene Stevens and Willie Smith.
Tickets for "Fashion for Mist Behavin'" are
Omega Psi Phi outlines pledging
By Keith James
Fraternities attract attention on all college campuses. How
someone joins a fraternity is a process some don't understand.
Omega Psi Phi fraternity was founded by four individuals
in 1911 at Howard University on Nov. 17. The founders were
Dr. Earnest E. Just, Edgar E. Lx)ve, Oscar J. Cooper and Frank
Coleman.
For those men interested in pledging Omega Psi Phi, the
first step is to attend the interest meeting, according to one of
the brothers. Then he must attend what is called a smoker,
where he learns about the Cardinal Principles of the fraternity -
- manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift.
The third step is to attend a personal interview hosted by
one of the brothers. During the personal interview, the young
man being interviewed will find out whether or not he has
"made line."
If he has made line, the pledging process begins.
Pledging last four weeks. While on line, the pledges are
not allowed to walk on the grass, to eat sweets or to drink soda.
Everyone on line has to be in by 11 p.m.
One thing that really confuses those involved with fraterni
ties is the brand. Often referred to as "hits" by fraternity mem
bers, brands are burned into the skin with a hot clothes hanger
molded into the design of two horseshoes.
The brother interviewed emphasized that brands are given
only by choice.
Some outstanding athletes are brothers of Omega Psi Phi -
former UNC-Chapel Hill standout Michael Jordan, who is now
a member of the Chicago Bulls basketball team; Ed "Too Tall"
Jones of the Dallas Cowboys; and Cedric Maxwell, a former
forward with the Boston Celtics. Other famous Mothers -
known as "Q Dogs" - are Count Basie, the musician; poet
Langston Hughes; and actor, writer, producer Bill Cosby.
Keith James is a senior majoring in mass communica
tions.
$10 per person. For more information, contact
Omega Psi Phi at 725-1165.
Canadian Mist Whisky is the number one
Canadian Whisky in America and the fourth-
largest distilled spirit. It is produced and marketed
by Brown-Forman Beverage Company, the con
solidated wine and spirits division of Brown-For-
man Corporation in Louisville, Kentucky.
Phi Beta Sigma
helps during election
The Crescent Club of Phi Beta Sigma
Fraternity Inc. participated in the voting drive
sponsored by the N.C. Democratic Party Nov.
8.
In Winston-Salem the drive's headquar
ters was at Emmanuel Baptist Church on
Reynolds Park Road.
Fraternity members went door to door in
various precincts asking registered Democrats
to vote.
Phi Beta Sigma is a national fraternity
with more than 85,000 members. TTie fraterni
ty functions under basic high ideals; Brother
hood, Scholarship, and Service; and sponsors
three national programs; Bigger and Better
Business, Social Action, and Education. The
fjroject undertaken on Election day was a part
of the Social Action program and is one of the
requirements of Phi Beta Sigma's national
pledge program.