Alumni bridge generation gap

Generations, old and new, came together Saturday night in the McNutt Quad Flame Room for the Neal-Marshall Alumni Club Reunion Old School Party and Unity Step Show. The apparent age gap and difference in attire between old and new school disappeared in the excitement and togetherness between the attendees.\nThe Flame Room was filled to capacity with African American students of today and yesterday, and the consensus from attendees was that the night was spectacular. \nAfrican American alumni were almost without words by the time they reached the Raise Da Roof Old School Party and Unity Step Show. The alumni had already participated in several events the previous day and Saturday, all in conjunction with the Neal-Marshall Alumni Club Reunion. The Neal-Marshall Alumni Club was named in honor of the first African American male and female graduates of IU, Marcellus Neal and Frances Marshall.\nThe event took place for all African American graduates, current students, faculty and friends. The theme for the reunion was "Building Our Dreams of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow."\nThe event was a great experience, especially for alumni, said Marlene Wright, president of the Neal-Marshall Alumni Club Michiana Chapter (Elkhart).\n"We've had a good time interacting with the students and enjoyed all the activities," Wright said. "They had a tailgate party for us, we saw a football game, heard Tavis Smiley speak, went to a banquet, and now this. It's just been wonderful."\nKatherine Barnes, an alumnus and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, expressed similar feelings.\n"This has been spectacular," she said. "And I am happy that the greeks are going to step for us."\nAside from excitement among alumni, there was unity across the board, spoken from a select group of IU undergraduates: the greeks.\nThey came together, every black sorority and fraternity, and put together one step show -- a unity step show -- for IU's alumni, faculty, students and friends.\n"I am grateful for the Neal-Marshall Center and their support for the Pan Hellenic Council," said Brandi Vardiman, a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, and a senior. "We as fraternities and sororities hardly ever get the opportunity to work together on projects outside of PHC business, which doesn't give us enough time to create the bonds we desire. This Raise Da Roof Old School Party and Unity Step Show, sponsored by the Neal-Marshall Alumni Club, gave us the opportunity to do so," Vardiman said. "This step show also sends a message to the Neal-Marshall alumni that in this new millennium, we are still holding the values they set for us."\nWilliam Diggins, a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and a sophomore, was the step-master for the unity step show, responsible for coordinating the step production.\n"I have a passion for stepping," Diggins said, "and I want it to be unity among the black greek organizations."\nDiggins said he took on the responsibility of step-master for a number of reasons.\n"The black greek organizations are seen as separate, but we're not, and I hope that this Unity Step Show will prove that," Diggins said.\nSeveral other members of the greek organizations shared the desire to show the campus there is unity among black greeks.\nThe combined show was a show of solidarity, said Brian Kelly, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and a senior.\n"I hope this unity step show breaks down the negative stigmas on black greeks and proves that we have no animosities," he said.\nLeatra Scott, a member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority and a senior, agreed.\n"The goal for the night was to show the non-greek community that we can unite, and we hope to have a good time with our alumni tonight, too," she said.\nBetween the alumni's excitement and pride and the greek undergraduates' passion for unity, the event was one for the history books.\n"It will never be forgotten," said Fernley Murray, an alumnus. "To see the young people come together like this … there is hope. It's beautiful"