NPHC steps for unity, tradition

Every year during homecoming week, University of Southern Mississippi student organizations host traditional events. One of these events is the National Pan-Hellenic Council Step Show, which will be held Friday evening at the Lake Terrace Convention Center.

The theme for the event this year is “Keep Calm and Step,” according to NPHC’s public relations chair Eryka Wallace.

“Students will really get their money’s worth,” Wallace said. “It is something that we take pride in and that we put a lot of time and effort into in order to better serve our campus community.”

The show, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and last until around 9:30 p.m., will feature eight on-campus NPHC organizations. There are 1,000 tickets available, and about 700 had been sold as of Wednesday night.

Taylor Booth, president of NPHC, said the show is closely tied to homecoming week at Southern Miss.

“Homecoming is special at Southern Miss,” Booth said. “NHPC has a very strong alumni background, and we get excited for homecoming because our older members come back and we get to have fun with them.”

The show is also centered around Greek unity, and Booth described the importance of that oneness.

“NHPC is like a big family,” Booth said. “It’s great because all of the Greeks now and the ones that graduated years ago get to come together and reunite.”

Each year the step show also features a host, this year’s being DUKK, a comedian who got his start on YouTube.

“My favorite part is the host,” Wallace said. “We really just like to bring entertainment to make the show more interesting. I’m not a stepper myself, I just like to see the talent NPHC can do.”

Booth also said the combination of a good host and entertainment make the show unique.  

“I feel like those two things together are going to create a very successful event,” Booth said. “The step show is so much fun because Greeks get together and have a good time.”

Wallace said proceeds from ticket sales will benefit NPHC fundraisers and programming.