The Iota Pi chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity has teamed up with the Society for the Propagation of Black Culture to sponsor the “Best of Both Worlds” step competition. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

This year’s show includes Greek organization from throughout central Arkansas competing for $3,000 in prize money. Organizers expect the competition to attract an audience of hundreds of students.

The show orginally was scheduled for March 6 but had to rescheduled because of a shortage of police officers to provide security for the event. University police were preparing for a disaster drill they held March 11.

Phi Beta Sigma offers prize money to the top three finishers. The overall winner gets $1,500. Second place gets $1,000 and third place gets $500.

Tickets are $15 and available at the door.

After the show, Phi Beta Sigma will host a party at The Old Gin building downtown at 1016 Markham St. Doors open at 11 p.m.

Saturday, the Sigmas will host a party at Toad Suck Park. They will provide free food and music.

The association, which is based in North Little Rock, has teamed with the Conway Advertising & Promotion Commission to sponsor the series of events.

All events are open to alumni. Some events, such as tonight’s comedy and variety show, are open to the public.

Here is the schedule of weekend events:

Friday -

• 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. – Morning Yogerobics – Farris Center
• 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Registration – Student Center Ballroom
• 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Campus and Community Tour
• 1:30p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – Educational Workshop: What’s right and wrong with today’s educational system – Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center
• 3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – Business Workshop: What’s The Biz – Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center
• 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Jay Lamont Comedy/Variety Show – Ida Waldran Auditorium – $15 admission. $10 with UCA ID
• 10 p.m. – Until – The Prelude: Afterparty – Michelangelo’s

Saturday -

• 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Registration – Student Center Lobby
• 8 a.m. -9 a.m. – Morning Yogaerobics – Farris Center
• 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Golf Challenge – Arkansas Golf Center
• 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Chocolate Relax: Reunion Cookout & Grill – UCA Alumni Pavilion
• 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. – Social Networking – Brewer-Hegeman
• 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. – AAAA Scholorship / Awards Banquet – Brewer-Hegeman
• 10 p.m. – Until – The Interlude: Afterparty – Michelangelo’s

Sunday -

• 10:30 a.m. – Noon – Alumni Religious Service – True Holiness Saints Center

For more information about events, registration or sponsorship opportunities, contact Greg Hunt (Ghuntrealtor@sbcglobal.net), Oliver Lewis (olewis4537@aol.com) or Malikah Nelson (msnelson@memphis.edu).

Black Alumni Weekend

You can also follow this event on Twitter @ucabaw and Facebbok at “University of Central Arkansas Alumni Weekend 2010″

A petition drive, organized by UCA student Serina Washington, is underway to add 10 courses on African and African-American topics to the university’s African/African-American Studies program. There is a separate petition for each proposed course. Each petition needs at least 200 signatures to be submitted to the administration. Washington said she hopes to gather at least 250 signatures on each petition. 

Some of the proposed courses include: 

• African-American English
• African-American Culture in Hip Hop
• Black Radical Tradition in America

Washington said she is aware that not all 10 courses will be made available but she hopes to see at least two or three courses implemented within the next year or so. Washington says that her main goal is to improve the awareness of African-American culture and the choices students have to study it. 

Serena Washington

UCA offers both an African/African-American Studies major and minor. The additional courses are expected to be offered in the history, sociology and fine arts departments, depending on the enrollment in the classes. 

For more information about the petitons or to sign them, contact Serina Washington at washingtonserina@yahoo.com.

The Minority Services office honored the students with a reception during X-period in the Student Center. Each of the students maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher during the fall semester. 

The office selected the students from the university’s grade database and invited them to the event. About 40 attended. All their names will be posted on the Minority Services’ Wall of Fame on the first floor of Bernard Hall. The names will remain on the wall until May 2011. 

Minority freshmen at the reception yesterday

“Freshmen sometimes tend to get lost in the shuffle when it comes to recognition,” said Angela Jackson, interim director of Minority Student Services. “We put this reception together to let the rest of the campus know they’re here and they’re achieving great things.”

NABMU is a national nonprofit organization formed to help African-American men graduate from college. The organization is open to everyone, regardless of  gender or race.

“NABMU Week is a week that we put together to educate students on some of the main things that result in college dropouts. Not only do we educate, but we also have programs that are fun and exciting during this week,” said Matt Farr, NABMU’s director of events and outreach.

All events are free and open to all students. The schedule of events is:

• Monday – Stress management program with Wendy Holbrook – Student Center, Room 225 – 7 p.m.
• Tuesday -  “A Night of Music” music appreciation program with Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia – Student Center, Room 223 and 224 – 7 p.m.
• Wednesday – “The Dangers of Drinking” alcohol awareness program with 80 Proof and Kristy Jamerson as the guest speaker – Student Center, Room 225.
• Thursday – NABMU on the yard “Spring Membership Drive” -  Student Center Courtyard – X-period.
• Friday -  “One Act Plays” in Ida Waldron Auditorium – 7 p.m.

Learning how to deal with these issues can be difficult and Delta Sigma Theta wants to help. To do that, the sorority is hosting “My Cry in the Dark: A Mental Health Program” at 7 p.m. today in the Student Center, Room 215.

The program will explore many mental disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. It also will provide resources for help, including references to doctors and counselors who specialize in mental health.

Admission is free and everyone is invited.

Federal law ensures that all personal information you share with professionals at the program will remain confidential.

The theme for March Leadership Week this year is “Unleash your leadership… impact the world.” Several conferences are scheduled on campus this week. They include:

• “Empowering Men, Inclusive Communities” – A conference for male students at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Student Center, Room 213
• “Rising Above the Pressures of Leadership” – A co-ed conference at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Student Center, Room 213.
• Community Service Project – No further information is available on this yet but it is scheduled for Thursday.

The goal of March Leadership Week is to encourage and inspire students and faculty to empower both themselves and the campus with ideas to improve the campus climate and create an inclusive work and learning environment.

AIDS awareness ribbon

“Ain’t Nothing but a Thang” features UCA students as actors and is being presented by Minority Services as part of Black History Month observances on campus. The play is sponsored by the UCA chapter of the NAACP, the Keep a Child Alive charitable organization and the National Association of Black Men United.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is free but donations are accepted. All money will be used to aid recovery efforts in Haiti and support AIDS awareness programs. The play contains adult content.

The play was canceled earlier this month because of snow.

Bennett was crowned last night before a crowd of about 200 people in Reynolds Performance Hall. She also won the categories of People’s Choice, Miss Congeniality, Personal Interview and Most Ad Sales. The top prize included a $750 scholarship.

“I was very surprised at getting the crown,” Bennet said. “This was my first pageant and I didn’t really know what to expect. I wouldn’t change this experience for the world.”

Brittney Bennett

Joy Spellman was named first runner-up and won the swimwear and highest GPA categories. Spellman received a $200 scholarship. Candice Bailey won second runner-up and a $150 scholarship. Bailey also won the talent category.

As the new Miss Essence, Bennett is required to implement at least two programs with Students for the Propagation of Black Culture and compete in the Miss UCA pageant.

Six students competed for the crown. It is the 35th year UCA has held the pageant.

That’s the topic of a discussion sponsored by the UCA chapter of the NAACP during X-period today in room 213 of the Student Center. The event is one of several on campus this week in conjunction with Black History Month.

The discussion, billed as “What does it mean to be black in America,” will include the issues of racial tension, discrimination and the meaning of the term “black.” The meeting will include short presentations on stereotypes, misconceptions and common beliefs about being a black American. The format encourages comments and participation from the audience.

The topic of the discussion is based on CNN’s documentary “Black in America” by Soledad O’Brien, who was a guest speaker on campus last week. You can read about that here.

The event is free and open to everyone.