The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, October 25, 1989, Page 4, Image 4

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

Ste Step sho\ By OCTAVIA WIGHT Staff Writer Black greeks from all over the Southeast will be "stepping out" for scholarships at Stompfesl *89. The competition between col iiaicruuy anu soroniy leams for prizes of up to $500 takes places at the Township Auditorium Saturday. The stepshow, co-sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta sorority and USC's Black Alumni Council, will raise money for USC's Richard T. Greener Minority Scholarship. Several Southeastern colleges, including Clemson University and Winthrop College, will participate. There are many reasons for the popularity of stepshows, participants said. "They are like a social outlet for African-American students here at USC," psychology senior Pamela Martin, president of USC's Delta Sigma Theta chapter, said. The programs have been used as fundraisers for charities such as the United Negro College Fund, Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation and Afiricare, which is a sponsorship of an an African village on a national level, Alpha Kappa Alpha President Gail Barrett said. Stepshows weren't always organized as fundraising events and for sheer pleasure. "Stepshows got started as a result of shows performed by fraternities and sororities while they were on line," former national Omega Psi Phi Vice President Tyrone Gilmore said. Gilmore finished college in the mid-1960s, a time when the idea of stepping was a little premature. "It was called marching. The poAre you interested in Art, F Graphics, or just want to me Then come join PORTf Located at Russell I | MON PEOPLE WITH Ml are urgently needed to aid i Mono test kits. If you have within the past two weel $n for only 3 hours For Further Informatk SEROLOGIC 2719 Middleburg Columbi 254-6! I ssr W T-Shirts ^ *w pn?eS 2111 Greene Str , Columbia, S pping C v teams to c pular song of the day would be rhvmo/1 usifh thr? marr-Vi nf (Via nor iiijmvu ?tiui uiv uiuivii v/i uiv paxticular group," he said. ' Stepshows began to make their [ name known among black greeks t in the early '70s. Since then their popularity has grown, and today, they are not just "get-togethers," they are performances. "I think that steppin' reached its height in popularity in the early '80s. It was so different from the way it is today. Groups have added in the areas of costumes, and participant numbers have increased," Gilmore said. The practice for a stepshow can start anywhere from a month to a month-and-a-half before the date of the stepshow, Clemson University Kappa Alpha Psi member Gabriel Parks said. "Costumes can range anywhere from $150 to $300," he added. There is a reason for the high amount of costs and time. "If an organization can really step, it becomes more popular and attracts people to the organization, Alpha Phi Alpha member and USC psychology junior Jezreel Sweat said Even though stepshows are fun, some people find the acts offensive. "I think there's a misconception that people have about stepping. Some think that it's vulgar and socially unacceptable. That's not true. Stepshows can be noble and uplifting. It's a beautiful thing when done in its proper tone," Assistant Dean of Minority Student Life Ralph Johnson said. The doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are available for $6 at The Township's Box Office. A valid I. D. must be shown at the door because everyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. 'iction, Poetry, Non-fiction, et some interesting people? OLIO MAGAZINE staff. House Room 317 10? DNONUCLEQSIS n the manufacture of the Mono, or have had Mnnn <sf you may qualify for ]0 of your time. )n Call or Come By: ALS, INC Dr. Suite 105 a, SC 537 &RI0R /Jt&UV I uL-W M1&COIAP I eet 5 Points much !C 29205 more )ut in Style . n . n compete at stompjest H ^^iSpl RENEE MEYER/The Gamecock USC's Alpha Phi Alpha stepteam, this year's state Alpha Phi Alpha champs, practice a routine for an upcoming stepshow. WtlSC-FM ^Jri-City Bicycle WE Carry SCHWWMN. Bicycles Parts and Arnessnrias Bike Apparel, Shoes & Helmets Bring Your Bike In For A Service Check-Up 513 Twelfth Street W. Columbia 794-2363 Only 10 Min. From Campus NEED EXTRA j CASH??? EARN $120 A MONTN \ WHILE VOII STUDY ^w J ; By Donating Plasma You Will Be Saving Lives And Earning _ udbu rui muse cAiia ^\\ \ College Expenses. A' GIVE LIFE GIVE PLASMA v ____________________ BAXTER, HYLAND PLASMA CENTER 1620 Gervais Street Columbia WITH STUDENT I.D. I RECEIVE $20 FOR YOUR FIRST I J DONATION THIS SEMESTER | \ Eggs go ini over stabbi By SCOTT PRUDEN Staff Writer Pickled eggs on a stick. Let's ponder that thought for a moment. The thought of someone, presumably a pretty down-to-earth person, taking an ordinary egg and boiling it Fine. But then this person goes out of his way to do something definitely out of the ordinary. He takes this plain old boiled egg, a perfectly innocent egg that wasn't bothering anyone ? ready to be eaten with a liule salt and maybe some Tabasco sauce, or maybe chopped into a chef salad ? and he mercilessly plunges it into a jar full of some vinegar concoction. But the evil egg molester doesn't bother to stop there. In an effort to perhaps push the outside of the egg experimentation envelope, he subjects the poor little spheroid to the ultimate indignity. He puts it on a stick. Yes, an ordinary mini-tongue depressor or popsicle stick, to be sold to some famished, but no doubt, deranged State Fair goer. While intelligent humans are out shouting down those who test cosmetics on bunnies, there are those in the world who spend their days dilligently immersing helpless eggs in pickling juice and then ramming wooden sticks through their white little bodies. And imagine, that's only one of my more pleasant memories of the Slate Fair. I suppose when you refuse to go on fair rides or you are too cheap to shell out the two bucks a pop for the game where you try to be the first Bcatle to get squirted to the top of the pole it's tied to and would rather spend time watching people strolling by looking inbred, eating is the only obvious alternative. Fair food does have its own particular appeal, though. The mixture of smells is . . .well, unique in itAWESOME ALTERNATIVE 90.6 r:*r S 610 Harden S ! New Arrivals o $13.00 ? STORE HOURS: Mond 252-8' ^ (over runs and ' SUNGLASSES BY BAUSCH & LOMB The world's finest sunglasses V SALE ^ Large Metal I Reg, Large Metal II Reg, Outdoorsman I Reg, Outdoorsman II Reg. Wayfarer Reg. All Other Rayban ? Only G-15 Lens-no o SUNGLASSES 5 Pts. Next to Groucho's 256-3507 Follins Vision Center Bo S.C. largest Ray-Ba to a pickle incfQ at fair Lll^U W W X Ull Scoft Pr Udell's Lifestyles self. There are only certain places in the world where you can smell the distinctive odor of funnelcakes, com dogs, french fries, polish sausage and, of course, pickled eggs on a stick, all swirling together on the chilly October breezes. And the truly bizzarre thing is that it actually smells good. I went to the Southern 500 in Darlington this year and smelled the same thing, and as smells have a way of doing, it conjured up vivid memories of a cool October night at the fairgrounds. How a jillion redneck race fans grilling steaks can smell like funnel cakes and pickled eggs beats me, but the similarity was amazing. What really amazes me, however, is that with all that greasy air, the walls of Williams-Brice don't become impregnated with fair smell. Then again, I've never strolled up to the superstructure at the stadium and given it a good, hard sniff. Either I'd end up with permanent nasal damage or pick up the faint, lingering odor of a polish" sausage smothered in onions and peppers. Or I could discover that snorting Williams-Brice dust has a powerful hallucinagcnic effect, and either football games would be a lot more fun or absolutely everything would be banned there. Maybe someone at the fair was' doing Brice dust when they; thought up the idea of strapping a' John Lcnnon doll to a poll and having people try to shoot him to the top with a squirt gun. It's amazing what some people will do to win a giant inflatable sheep. * .* > ftp ? ? HE ? OOPS! i Company f t./5 Points : f Men's Pants 19.00 * ay-Saturday 10 to 6 734 irregulars) > ' Ai: v: JGLASSES I . 64s5 $3987* . 68? $42"* 7495 $47"* . 7495 $49"* . 59? $37"* Styles 30% off ther discounts. i & THINGS Outlet Pointe Mall 772-9798 ozer Shopping Center in Distributor Jiscounted i