Greeks entertain at national competition
Alphas & Deltas champs as top Steppers
By PATRICIA SMITH-DEERING
Community News Editor
Five of the eastern region's best stepteams had a
chance to strut their stuff before approximately 1 ,200
energetic fans Saturday, March 23, at Reynolds Audito
rium for the National Stepshow Association's 1991
Championships. Stepping away with the top honors
were the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority from North Car
olina State University and the lota Beta Chapter of the
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity from the University of Vir
; !yh5e crowd reacted with intense pleasure ? clap
ping and cheering for their favorite sorority or fraterni
ty. The event was held by the Zi Eta Chapter of Alpha
Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., of Wake Forest University
and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Forsyth County.
According to Keith Belton, president of the National
Stepshow Association, approximately $1,000 was
raised for scholarships to be awarded by Big
Brothers/Big Sisters.
Participating in the competition were: the Alpha
Kappa Alpha Sorority from Virginia State University;
the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority from North Carolina
State University; the Gamma Epsilon Chapter of
Omega Psi Phi from Hampton University ? the nation
al step champs for that fraternity; Phi Beta Sigma's Eta
Chapter from North Carolina A&T State University, the
defending champions from last year; and the Iota Beta
Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at the Uni
versity of Virginia.
Commenting on the performances, Belton said
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Photo by Keith Belton
Delta Sigma Chapter of Univerfsty of Virginia's Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity took top honors in
recent National Stepshow Association Competition.
with more than a little prejudice
and pride, "I've been to
stcpshows quite frequently in the
past five years . . . and I must say
the Alpha show is probably the
second best show I've seen ever."
Led by stepmaster Len Spady,
the Alphas put on a show that
attested to their long hours of
practice.
Belton feels that the success
of the competition is also a testi
* mony to the success of the
National Stepshow Association
and its goal of turning such per
formances into fundraising
opportunities for the students
who participate. MNext year,
instead of it being people from
Greensboro and Charlotte com-,
ing, people from Nashville, Ten
nessee will be driving or from
Washington, D.C. because they
know we have the top stepteams
who are putting in and dedicating
the time," he said. He likens the
competition and the interest the
association is trying to generate
to sports competitions such as
basketball..
The resulting two scholar
ships will be awarded this fall, he
added. One will be given to an
African-American male to attend
Wake Forest University. "We're
trying to gel more black males
in," Belion explained.
Given the success of the lat
est stepshow, the NSA is consid
ering becoming a fulltime opera
tion with a director, Belton said.
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- -
Photo by Keith Belton
Alphas from University of Virginia were crowdpleasers with their
precision routines.
The future goal is threefold: providing technical assis
^ tancc to other groups and organizations who want to put
on stepshow competitions, to attract better steptcams to
those areas that already hold shows, and to enhance the
existing stcpshows through association with major cor
, poratc sponsors.
"We have to be able to market ourselves," Bclton
said. The bottom line is to make money and put the
?
money to work in the black community in the form of ;
scholarships. Belton sees the stepshows and ?
fraternity/sorority involvement as ways to make the
Greek presence more meaningful in the African-Ameri
can community. "It shows that black college students
can. make a difference . . . Black Greeks can make a
positive impact . . display a positive culture for
younger blacks."
OUR FOLKS IN THE PERSIAN GULF
By PATRICIA SMITH-DEERINO
iOirhmunity New* Editor
'$$$$ ? : % ?:
it's not often that childhood friends
can take their relationship right on through
an experience that makes the two of them
"I
?i
: we were going to kill some people," he
said in describing his reaction to the fight
ing. But, he had a job to do aid he did it,
he added.
Like so many otiieis in the war, Lester
Speas and Chuck Speas both matured as a
Photo by LB Spea* Jr.
Lester B. Sp?as III (right), who was on the U.S.S. Wisconsin,
8S *** from ,h? U-S.S. Sarato
10 *om* ,lm* OW now that they're back from
the Persian Gulf.
result of their
experience*
Of the time
from August
7 until his
ship pulled
<tTito port at
Norfolk on
March 29,
Seaman Speas
said, nl just
grew up . . ? I
learned how
to cope with
different situ
ations." Being
away from
home with
nothing but
letters and a
few phone
calls for com*
fort taught
him a lot, he
feels. He also
became aware
of the power
of the news
media and its
impact on the
troops. "They
mature adults- But, thai is what happened
to Seaman Lester B, Speas III and Chuck
; Reiiard Speas, two cousins who just
TirriVed back on shore from the Persian
Gulf
Seaman Speas feels like so many btb~
ei$ who have returned to the United Stales.
*t feel great to be home, to be alive
because I didn't even think fd be home
I afive," he said. Stationed just of? the coast
offraq on board the battleship U.S.S. Wis
consin, he was one of those who prepared
the military armament when the ground
wajrfeegan,
>1 felt kind of strange because I knew
five them (CNN) too much leeway," he
said, adding, "If the people in the United
States were seeing it, you know Iraq was
seeing it."
Since he's been hack, Seaman Speas
said he has had difficulty sleeping and gat
ing and getting his body readjusted to the
time 2one here; He said the feeling of
power that he and his fellow servicemen
and women had is somethingbe atso has to
deal with, being in a position that gave
them such an advantage over the Iraqi
furthering his education. He plans on being
an electrical engineer saying, "That's where
the money is." He is also |
keenly aware that educa
lion is critical for
African*Americans. And
he believes his own edu
cation was enhanced by
his time in the Persian
Gulf, especially what he
leanied about the history
of his own people and
himself. He said; "You
learn a lot . . . It's been
good. I can go through
anything."
At the same time
that Seaman S peas was
landing at the port ip
Norfolk^ his cousin
Chqck was pulling into
port in Florida on the U.
S. S. S ara toga , As ilfc
two, who had *been
friends and rogues in
high school, recounted
their baule stories in the
Persian Gulf, they both
laughed at one thing they
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,:^**^5v ' - v
J
Photo by L B Speas Jr.
The u.s.s. Wisconsin pulls into port In Norfolk, Va. tor the last time begfore It's retired
from service.
' * V J ' 5 J - -
welcome home
LESTtR
\ -l"vvx:^,s
^lWSI^Ss^r
Photo by LB. Speas Jr.
?ftfimtng-mtriii frnmHie Pmlm ftnlt liteawan nines I? lili ri)iatiiilll pmHi
family members (l-r): Chartlse Miller, Christina Miller, Lillian Speas, Eliza
beth Speas, and Doris Eld ridge.
shared since the time they both shipped but
to war: "Wc thought we were going on a
six-month cruise and it turned out to be an !
eight-month war," they said. ?- r
One of the most critical things they J
learned as they both agreed is that African- i
Americans can benefit from the experience
they both had in terms of what bfe&ks have
contributed to mankind* Seaman Speas
said, "Black kids today don't know any*
thing about their black history. ! teamed ft |
lot about my own people."
**********
{Editor's Note: Although the war has been
officially declared ended, we are acut&y
aware that the Persian Gulf remains an
imminent concern until the last servicemen
and women are back home with their iov&i
ones. Their families continue toneedthe
support and prayers of the community.
This column wilt be devoted
jis each returns
home.
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