The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) hosted the first “Ice Cream & Stroll” on Centennial Plaza, Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 8 p.m.
The event was orchestrated by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority as an act to “raise awareness about the NPHC,” said Alpha Phi Alpha member Sean Henriques.
The NPHC, a predominately African American council, came up with the idea as a way to “give students and other people an opportunity to do something different.”
Different flavors of ice cream, ranging from strawberry to cookies and cream, were being offered to any student or spectator that attended and watched each Greek stroll, hop or strut their stuff. Each fraternity and sorority performed their routines to a variety of music.
“I enjoyed the tunes that were being played throughout the event because I was able to sing and eat my favorite ice cream at the same time while enjoying the company of my friends and teammates,” said sophomore Andrea Retano.
The crowd consisted of about 40 students and other spectators that also played a huge role in the event. While “Swag Surfin’” by F.L.Y. was playing on the loud speaker, Alpha Phi Alpha members Wolfgang Bronner and Christopher Dodson began to urge the crowd to start imitating the known dance move, while being photographed and videotaped by their photographer.
During the event, Henriques mentioned that it seemed as though the people were really enjoying themselves.
Without an exact end time for the event, students and spectators just started to fade away after about two hours of eating, dancing and strolling.
“The overall turnout was great,” said Henriques with a satisfied grin on his face.
As of the beginning of the fall 2016 semester, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority lost their representation on campus due to spring 2016 graduates, as well as Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.
Even with their absence on the campus as of the current semester, the NPHC still plan on making their presence and status known through a plethora of ways on this campus.
“I see their advertising a lot on social media, but this is the first time I have actually attended a NPHC event,” junior Madison Stremler said. “It was fun and exciting.”
“There is a full semester of events planned for the student body and we hope that everyone can come out and enjoy each one,” Henriques said.
