The Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) held their Homecoming Yard Show at Shannon Hall on Friday, showcasing their cultures and unity through ‘strolling, stepping and saluting.’ — forms of performance that are prevalent in Greek organizations.
Adhering to the theme of ‘wearing your hearts on your sleeve,’ the MGC and the NPHC gathered to compete in a friendly competition. The Multicultural Homecoming Yard Show, in partnership with the Wisconsin Alumni Association, brought together students, alumni and community members alike for what the Alumni Association called “a celebration of culture, unity and tradition.”
MGC President Solana Quezada, a member of Sigma Lambda Gamma, was one of the emcees of the event and addressed the importance of creativity.
“It brings together people from different backgrounds,” she said. “It highlights and showcases that we [MGC and NPHC fraternities and sororities] are here.”
Quezada, alongside members of NPHC leadership emceed the event, beginning the night by briefly highlighting the significance of stepping, strolling and saluting in Greek culture. Stepping, they said, is a blend of African folk and pop culture that traces its roots to a historical form of storytelling. Strolling is a performance of pride in one’s organization that emphasizes the roots of unity, culture and love. Saluting, a tradition that is most commonly used by Latino-Greek organizations, is described as a “form of poetry in motion” performed in a militaristic, synchronized way that allows members to pay respect to previous achievements, siblings and accomplishments.
The event had a panel of judges, who were alumni of Greek organizations. In addition, there were also crowd-voted awards, including “best dressed,” won by Omega Psi Phi, who delivered a performance that filled the room with cheering and excitement. With a mix of stepping and strolling, they used a '70s-style wardrobe and music, leaving the crowd giggling and amused.
Another crowd favorite was the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, who were voted this year's best NPHC performance, winning back-to-back years. The fraternity also incorporated a signature whistle, as well as both stepping and strolling in their performance in perfect coordination. Catchy rhymes, full suits and hats were their wardrobe, with their routine leaving the crowd singing “Ice Ice Baby.’’
Another two-time winner, the Sigma Lambda Gammas came away with this year's best MGC performance. Their performance was both impressive and impactful, incorporating members’ different cultural outfits, matching their countries' flags, also shown on stage, while wearing their sorority's signature colors of shocking pink and majestic purple.
One moment that garnered many cheers from the audience was when Sigma Lambda Gamma’s flight-attendant-themed showcase announced, “Now arriving in Palestine,’’ accompanied by a coordinated dabke — a traditional folk dance which celebrates community — from the group. Other parts of their performance also incorporated dances from the member’s cultures, sending the crowd cheering and filling the room with clapping and pride.
Keegan Garcia, a Spring 2025 initiate of Alpha Phi Alpha, emphasized the importance of participating in this kind of event, especially as a person of color attending a predominantly white institution, to show that they are involved on campus.
“We had practice every day for two hours. We had to sacrifice sleep, school, work,” Garcia said. “It’s just a really big time commitment and just to [perform] feels really good.”
Ozzie Matias, who is a Spring 2025 initiate of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Incorporated, also mentioned his appreciation for how the Yard show promotes both the MGC and NPHC in one show, allowing everyone to see how the different fraternities and sororities “go about performing.’’
“It's very important for everyone to see the diverse aspect of fraternity and sorority life and how every fraternity and sorority is different in their own way,” he said.
As the event ended and the votes came in, Alpha Kappa Alpha was awarded “most on-theme,” and Alpha Psi Lambda won the “crowd choice” award. There were many flower bouquets for performers from friends and family who were taking pictures with their loved ones. The final moment of the night was when the MGC and the NPHC gathered together for a “Unity Stroll,” where all of the organizations, including alumni, strolled to music in the aisles of Shannon Hall, further showing the event’s significance of coming together to celebrate each other's cultures.
“A lot of times in this big university we can get overshadowed by other things going on on campus because we lack the numbers,” Quezada said. “Its great to be able to have this time for all of us to come together, to be able to enjoy each other’s company and space.”
