“Our Founder’s Day program helped remind me of how important it is to stay true to the commitment I made to the sorority,” senior Aeiress Duhart, chapter president, said.

The evening began with an inspirational prayer by junior Crystal Hampton, the chapter chaplain, and followed with a dedication song by sorority members. The members also lit candles in commemoration of the sorority's 22 founders.

The featured speaker, Jo Thompson, a member of the central Arkansas alumni chapter, focused on the importance of sisterhood and solidarity in the sorority.

“You are always your sister’s sister, no matter where you go,” Thompson said.

Senior Meghan Robinson, who organized the program, attributed the large crowd to the university's support for Greek organizations.

“The love from the UCA students and other UCA Greek organizations was heart-warming and really made the program worth it,” Robinson said.

Delta Sigma Theta will host Jabberwock Week next week as part of Black History Month.

At about 11:15 p.m., Faulkner County sheriff’s deputies working private security at the Alpha Phi Alpha party at the Conway Expo Center and Fairgrounds called Conway Police Department to assist them in stopping the fight. At least 40 people were involved but there are no reports of injuries or arrest.

According to a report from the Conway Police Department, the Omega Psi Phi fraternity started the brawl shortly after they arrived at the party. The police report from the sheriff’s office was not available Friday.

The purpose of the party was to celebrate Alpha Phi Alpha’s return to campus after a two-year suspension for hazing. The party attracted between 700 and 800 people. Attendance was limited to UCA students, Alpha Phi Alpha members and their families.

According to witnesses, the fight began when a member of Omega Psi Phi pushed a member of Alpha Phi Alpha who was attending the party from another campus. The fight then quickly escalated into a brawl.

“The Theta Psi chapter (UCA chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha) was not involved in the altercation. Rather we were trying to break the fight up between Omega Psi Phi and other chapter members of Alpha Phi Alpha,” said Nick Farr, president of the UCA chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. “In the future, we will reassess the chapter members that we invite to social events. On campus, the brothers of Omega Psi Phi and Alpha Phi Alpha have a common bond and get along well.”

It was captured on a cellphone video. Take a look.

Sigma Kappa held their 26th annual Greek God competition in Ida Waldron Auditorium last night. The cost was $5 for students to get in, and the proceeds from the competition are being donated to Sigma Kappa's philanthropy, Alzheimer's Research.

This year, 11 male contestants were sponsored by various Greek sororities and fraternities. There were three rounds in the competition.

The first round was the letter and toga round in which contestants were asked to come up with a creative way to introduce themselves and the organization that sponsored them. The second round was the personality round in which the contestants did everything from dancing to stepping to rapping. The third round was the formal round. The contestants were escorted on stage in formal attire and they were asked one on-stage question.

There were five awards given out to the contestants. The winners of these awards and their sponsors were:

• Winner - Nick Farr - Alpha Kappa Alpha
• Runner-Up - Jared Santiago - Phi Sigma Kappa
• Best Smile - Brandon Eidson - Phi Lambda Chi
• Best Body - Paul Lee - Sigma Kappa
• People's Choice - Colby Loftis - Delta Zeta

There was also a dance competition for sororities. Dance competitors included Delta Zeta, Alpha Sigma Tau, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Alpha Sigma Alpha, and Sigma Kappa. The winner of the dance competition was Delta Zeta.

There were also door-prize givaways and a musical performance by Jay Turpin.

The step show is put on by Students for the Propagation of Black Culture (SPBC) and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). Over the last couple of weeks, the students have been selling tickets for $10. It will cost f$15 at the door tonight. It is open to the public.

There will be eight acts performing. They are:

• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
• Delta Sigma Theat Sorority Inc.
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.
• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
• Phi Mu Alpha Fraternity

There will be a winner for each fraternity and sorority division and an overall winner for the show. The best sorority and fraternity teams will receive $500 and the overall winner will receive $1,500.

Eighteen teams entered the tournament and several hundred people watched the games during the two-day event. The Alpha Sigma Alpha team won the women's division. Team Jared won the men's division. Each team received a $150 prize. Alpha Sigma Alpha donated their prize to the S. June Smith Center, and Team Jared donated their money to the NAACP.

Alpha Sigma Alpha won the sorority banner contest. The donation to St. Jude's was made in their name.

Greg Brooks, a member of Pi Kappa Alpha, and Alan Neal, a member of Omega Psi Phi both said they were pleased with the tournament.

"This was a monumental time for both fraternities," Neal said.

The two fraternities are hosting the inaugural "Basket-Brawl for a Cause" today and tomorrow at the Pi Kappa Alpha house at 439 Western St. Today's games begin at 4 p.m. and continues until 6 p.m. tomorrow.

So far, 18 teams have registered and paid the $40 fee to compete in the tournament. Each team has the regulation five players and there are men and women divisions. The winner of each division will receive a cash prize although the amount of the prize hasn't been determined yet.

The tournament includes a contest among sororities to produce the best banner for the game. The name of the contest winner will be used on the donation to St. Jude's.

Omega Psi Phi members Justin Stokes and Stanley Williams said they are excited about the tournament and hope it becomes an annual event.

"Anything for a cause is always good," Stokes said.

"And the winner is ... Marilyn Manroe," the judges announced.

Actually, the winner was Josh Lyon, a member of Kappa Sigma, who was imitating Marilyn Monroe. He was sponsored in last night's beauty pageant by Kappa Sigma.

Lyon was one of eight men who competed in the fourth annual "Dude Looks Like a Lady" beauty pageant to help raise money for charity. The event, sponsored by Sigma Sigma Sigma, featured fraternity members dressed in female attire performing musical and comical skits.

About 200 students paid $5 each to see the show.

There were three rounds in the pageant. In the first round, the contestants introduced themselves and the sorority or fraternity that sponsored them. The men strutted across the stage in their wigs, tight dresses, and push-up bras. They disguised their voices and introduced themselves using various women's names.

After the first round of competition, the audience watched a dance competition that featured two members of each sorority and fraternity that was present. The members of the organization danced collectively on the stage while the crowd cheered them on. The winner for the dance-off was decided by applause from the audience.

In the second round, the contestants showcased their talent and dancing abilities in what was the most comical portion of the pageant. The third round was the formalwear competition. The contestants wore formal dresses and were escorted onto the stage where they were asked a question.

In addition to the overall winner, two other titles were awarded. The "People's Choice Award" was given to B.J. Harrison of Kappa Sigma who was sponsored by Sigma Kappa. The first runner-up was Reed Madden of Pi Kappa Alpha who was sponsored by Alpha Sigma Tau.

"I believe that this is a great opportunity to improve Greek life on campus," said Dylan Doughty, a member of Kappa Sigma. "This makes the Greek unity stronger on campus."

The event is sponsored annually by Delta Zeta. It's called the "turtle tug" because the sorority's mascot is a turtle and the money they raise will be donated to their philanthropy, the Starkey Foundation and the Painted Turtle Camp.

There will be separate tug-of-war teams for men and women. Each team consists of five players. The loser of each match gets dragged into a vat of green Jello. There also will be a Jello eating contest to see who can eat the most in 90 seconds.

The other events are free but each tug of war team must pay $25 to enter the competition..

"This has always been a great  fundraiser for us," said Lara Johnson, a member of Delta Zeta who is chairmen of the competition this year. "It is fun for Greek organizations and it gets everyone involved in fundraising for speech and hearing."

The women in the sorority collected the items during their annual Football Frenzy Fall Social in McAlister Hall about 7 p.m. Thursday. About 30 people all dressed in football attire gathered in the mirror room of the building for food and games. Each person was asked to bring a donation for the shelter.

Helping Bethlehem House is an annual project for the sorority. In addition to the donations, the sorority members cook and serve food at the shelter.

The members also volunteer at Conway's Women's Shelter of Central Arkansas.

Chandria Marks, president of the sorority, said helping the community is one of their most important functions.

"I believe that it is important to give back to the community and it doesn't hurt to have fun while doing it, " Marks said.

The event features 16 short films, all less than 30 minutes long, made mostly by our students. The screening begins at 5 p.m. each day and lasts until 8 p.m. It's free.

The film genres are documentary, music video and short narrative. At the end of the showings on Saturday, award will be given for the best films. The awards include best picture, editing, sound design, actor, actress and visual effects. Both nights include an audience choice award. 

This is the third year the fraternity has participated in Arts Fest and Psi Delta Kappa president Kim Risi said she believes this one will have the highest turn out ever.

News6's Courtney Howard has more on the festival.