The Multicultural Greek Council held its annual yard show Friday night, in which MGC fraternity and sorority members represented their organization’s core values through stepping, strolling and saluting performances.
A large stage was constructed on the UC front lawn for this semester’s yard show. A disc jockey played upbeat music as the lawn overflowed with students, standing and sitting around the stage in hopes of getting the best view of the performers.
The participating MGC chapters were Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity Inc., Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc. and Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority Inc.
“Each semester, the event becomes bigger and more and more people come up to us afterwards eager to learn about our organizations,” said Morgan Fletcher, ’15, in regards to the turn out at the yard show.
Before each performance, Ralph Jean-Noel, ’15, introduced a brief history of the organization and encouraged the crowd to cheer loudly and dance along. Jean-Noel hosted the spring yard show and was asked to host for a second time on Friday.
“I think this event is important because all of the MGC groups have certain traditions and cultures and it is something that is fun and has a lot of historical ties to it,” Jean-Noel said. “It’s a great way to educate and introduce themselves to the Lehigh community every year.”
Students interested in joining a multicultural organization were able to speak with chapter members to discover how they can get involved. The yard show is an opportunity for students to learn more about multicultural organization’s core values and see first-hand the traditions that make each chapter unique.
A series of performances ranged from fraternity and sorority members stepping, strolling and saluting.
Gladys Castellon, ’17, is Mu Sigma Epsilon’s chapter president and the MGC representative for Greek Week. Castellon helped plan the yard show and explained the significance behind each dance form.
“Stepping was a way that a lot of slaves communicated, so it plays homage our organizations’ ancestors,” Castellon said. “Strolling is the line-dance that people get excited about and is more hype. I know for my organization specifically, we salute in all different languages to, again, pay homage to the different cultures that encompass MSE.”
The fall yard show was different from past events because it was a part of this year’s Greek Week. Castellon explained that MGC held the event but wanted to include the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council to ensure everyone was represented.
“Between the councils I feel like there has always been this unspoken separation, and this event educates chapters and really brings the Greek community together,” Castellon said.
Lilly Shields, ’17, agreed that the yard show is important because it breaks down the barriers that separate students in differing grades and organizations on campus.
“I feel like a lot of times we get caught up in our own little world and our own bubble and different organizations don’t really cross paths,” Shields said. “A lot of the people that we saw at this event we’ve never met before, which really sucks. So I feel like these kinds of events really bring people together.”
After every performance, the crowd of students roared with cheers and applause. Numerous attendees said they enjoyed the yard show because of the feeling of excitement in the crowd. MGC members considered the yard show a success and were pleased with the audience turn out and overall positive reaction.
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