For the past few years, sorority Lambda Theta Alpha has organized and hosted Triple S, in which different Greek organizations come together to step, salute and stroll in proud competition. This year, 11 organizations competed and more than twice as many were present in the Memorial Union Theater. Some of these organizations have active chapters here on the UW-Madison campus, including Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc., alpha Kappa Delta Phi International Sorority, Inc., Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. and the aforementioned hosts Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. Other organizations came to represent from the UW-Whitewater campus, such as Zeta Sigma Chi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. and Lambda Alpha Upsilon Latin Fraternity Inc.
Organizations competed in one or two of the individual categories and the two Masters of Ceremonies of the night, students Cassandra Coulson and Asly Warren, appropriately provided the audience with brief explanations of the historical significance of stepping, saluting and strolling. They preface that stepping comes from traditional African and Caribbean cultures, in which the emotions of pride and strength are evoked through using the body as an instrument to perform complex rhythms through stomping, clapping and spoken word. The stage shook and the audience cheered in support of each organization that presented.
Afterwards, some of us learned that to salute is to verbally declare in strong unison the founding morals and history to which members have pledged their brotherhood and sisterhood. The members literally bind their bodies together to move and speak as one. Again, the audience supported those who presented and shouted applause.
For the final category, stroll, our Masters of Ceremonies inform us that strolling involves organizations dancing around in a circle usually to music, in celebration of who they are. Of all the presentations, this category was obviously the most exciting for the audience, as it was the only section to involve a mix of hip-hop and latin music.
The energy in the space was on a steady climb, and finally peaked when the judges announced the winners. The brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. - MAD Kappa Rho Chapter were announced the winners of this year’s Triple S step competition. The brothers of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. - Gamma Theta Chapter "The Arctic Asylum" were announced the winners of the salute and the sisters of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. - KommandinG Kappa Gamma Chapter were announced the winners of the stroll, notably for the second year in a row.
Triple S was definitely an exciting time and I’m sure many look forward to next year.
